Hans J. Wegner

Hans J. Wegner (Apr 2 1914 – Jan 26 2007) is one of the most respected furniture designers that are responsible for making the Danish world popular. He is known worldwide for designing some stunning chairs of great quality and art.

He was fortunate to get a kick start in this field. In his early years he worked as a child apprentice and then a carpenter. He then went to a technical school to gain knowledge in this field. After learning the basics things from there, he joined the School of Arts and Crafts and the Architectural Academy in Copenhagen.

During the middle years of his career, he worked for Arne Jacobsen who was also a designer from Denmark. He was appointed in the Aarhus Municipal Hall where there was furniture designed by Jacobsen. After getting some real life exposure working with him, Wegner created his own firm.

His later years were spent working for PP Mbler. It is the firm which still produces many of his designs. Wegner produces some really cool designs for them and also aided the manufacturing process giving them design and production ideas. He was very active during these years while he was working for them. In 1985, with his help they redesigned the Hoop Chair which was earlier made using a steel tube base – to complete wooden furniture. The Hoop Chair was a model of 1965.
During his whole life, he had worked with many entrepreneurs and firms including but not limited to Johannes Hansen, Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen & Son, Fredericia Stolefabrik and Getama. He was very active during his career and the firms and people who worked with him were pretty happy with his service.

He retired from this field only a decade before his death. But by that time he had designed almost 500 chairs and other furniture.

Butterfly chair
The Kastrup (“Airport”) Chair
OX-Chair
CH 07
Bamsestol (Bear chair)