Hans J Wegner

HANS J WEGNER (1914-2007), was one of the most innovative and prolific of all Danish furniture designers that made mid-century Danish design internationally popular. His work belongs to a minimalist school, but preserves function. He is probably best known for his many chairs of genuine craftsmanship.

Born to a cobbler, he got an early start working as a child apprentice to a carpenter. After serving in the military he went to technical college and then to the School of Arts and Crafts and the Architectural Academy in Copenhagen. Even his earliest objects, like an armchair with sloping armrests like relaxed wrists (a 1937 design for an exhibit at the Museum of Decorative Arts), exhibited Wegner's approach of "stripping the old chairs of their outer style and letting them appear in their pure construction."

Wegner worked for some time for Arne Jacobsen, another famous Danish designer. After some years under Jacobsen, Wegner started his own company. Along with fellow architect, he drew furniture for FDB (a Danish chain of grocery stores), spearheaded by Erik Kold - who founded an organization of Danish furniture makers that launched Danish design abroad.

Wegner remained active throughout his life, continually showing new original ideas and concepts. Wegner has designed furniture for PP Møbler, Johannes Hansen, Carl Handen & Son, Fritz Hansen, Getama, Fredericia Stolefabrik and others. He designed over 500 chairs and retired from public life only in the last decade of his life.