Hans Wegner
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(1914 – 2007)
Multi award winning Danish designer Hans Wegner was commonly referred to as ‘The King of Chairs’ was clearly destined to become one of the worlds most famous furniture designers.
Starting out as a young apprentice to master cabinetmaker H. F. Stahlberg and at just 15 years young he had made his first of many chairs. A couple of years after completing the apprenticeship Hans stayed with the workshop before joining the army in 1932. It was during his time with the army that cemented his focus to become a furniture designer after visiting exhibitions held at Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild. In 1935 his time with the army now over, Hans embarks on a cabinet making course at Teknologisk Institut and later enrols on the carpentry program at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts and some years later would return - this time as the teacher.
There are so many examples of Hans designs during his long and prolific career, one such example is the now iconic Round Chair. Some 10 years after its conception it was selected for the televised 1960’s US Presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. After his death in 2007 Hans left the furniture world his design legacies, to name a just a few – the Wishbone, Papa Bear and the Peacock Chair and some of his sideboard's with the stunning effect of the peacock plumage encompassing the lucky recipient.
In 2014, to mark his 100 year anniversary the Danish Museum of Art & Design opened the ‘Just One Good Chair’ exhibition to commemorate and celebrate his lifetime of work.
Starting out as a young apprentice to master cabinetmaker H. F. Stahlberg and at just 15 years young he had made his first of many chairs. A couple of years after completing the apprenticeship Hans stayed with the workshop before joining the army in 1932. It was during his time with the army that cemented his focus to become a furniture designer after visiting exhibitions held at Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild. In 1935 his time with the army now over, Hans embarks on a cabinet making course at Teknologisk Institut and later enrols on the carpentry program at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts and some years later would return - this time as the teacher.
There are so many examples of Hans designs during his long and prolific career, one such example is the now iconic Round Chair. Some 10 years after its conception it was selected for the televised 1960’s US Presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. After his death in 2007 Hans left the furniture world his design legacies, to name a just a few – the Wishbone, Papa Bear and the Peacock Chair and some of his sideboard's with the stunning effect of the peacock plumage encompassing the lucky recipient.
In 2014, to mark his 100 year anniversary the Danish Museum of Art & Design opened the ‘Just One Good Chair’ exhibition to commemorate and celebrate his lifetime of work.
