Hans Jrgensen Wegner

2.04.1914 - 26.02.2007 - Danish Furniture Designer

CH445 Wing Lounge Chair The Hoop Chair Peacock Chair Shell Chair Papa Bear Chair
Hans J. Wegner is widely considered to be one of the leading figures in 20th century furniture design -
and a driving force in the Danish Modern movement that changed the way people looked at furniture in the 1950s and 1960s.
CH33 Chair CH33 The Wishbone Chair
Hans J Wegner is among the greatest of furniture designers, with over 500 furniture designs
and many in production today. His designs can be described as being Free from all trends, Timeless,
Everlasting and Perfect to the full extent of what is possible. A master carpenter first and a designer
second, With a deep respect for wood and its character, Hanss perfectly finished joints and exquisite forms
of furniture gave his pieces an organic and natural softness.
Born in Tnder, Denmark in the early 1914. Wegner first developed his first design whilst working
as an apprentice for H. F. Stahlberg and the age of 17. When Hans turned 20 he moved to Copenhagen
where he studied at the Artisan College which is now formally known as The Royal Danish Academy of
Fine Arts, School of Design.
During 1940 Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobson and Erik Mller was in a joint project, which involved
fitting out Aarhus Town Hall in Denmark. Also during 1940 began working with Johannes Hansen, who
played a large influence in introducing Modern Design to the Danish people.
In 1942 the then Copenhagen Industrial Art Museum (now known as the Design Museum
Denmark), purchased Wegners First Chair. The following year (1943) Wegner opened his own design
studio. In 1944 the China Chair was designed in a series inspired by the Chinese Emperors Thrones.
Click on round image for video link Click on round image for video link Click on round image for video link
HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE UNEXCEPITIONAL THINGS OF AN EXCEPITONALLY HIGH QUALITY.
Quote By Hans J. Wegner
One of Hans J. Wegners most famous well known chairs would be The Wishbone which he
designed in 1949. The Wishbone Chair was quoted To be the most beautiful chair, and was put on the
cover of Interior Magazine in 1950.
Reference Websites...
http://www.carlhansen.com/designers/hans-j-wegner/
http://www.pp.dk/index.php?page=designer&id=1
http://nordicdesign.ca/the-wishbone-chair-and-how-to-spot-a-replica/
Hans Jrgensen Wegner
2.04.1914 - 26.02.2007 - Danish Furniture Designer
Biography : http://www.pp.dk/index.php?page=designer&id=1
1914
Hans Jrgensen Wegner is born in Tnder
on the 2nd of April, 1914.
1928-32
Wegner enters apprenticeship with Master
of Crafts, Stahlberg in Tnder. In his
spare time, he carves wooden figures and
dreams of becoming a wood carver. At
the age of 15, he makes his first chair.
In March 1932, Wegner moves from
apprentice to journeyman and dreams of
opening his own workshop.
1932-35
Wegner enters military service in Copen-
hagen. Here, he sees Kbenhavn Sned-
kerlaugs exhibition and realizes that he
needs to improve before setting up shop
on his own.
1935
Wegner takes a two-and-a-half months
cabinet making course at Teknologisk
Institut and, subsequently, applies for
admit-tance at the School of Arts and
Crafts.
1936
Wegner enters the School of Arts and
Crafts, specialising in cabinet making.
Here he meets and befriends fellow Jut-
lander, Brge Mogensen.
1938
Wegner has his debut at Snedkerlaugets
exhibition with dining table and chairs, and
armchairs drawn for Master of Crafts, Ove
Lander.
1938
Architects, Arne Jacobsen and Erik
Mller set up office in rhus to start the
project of building the new town hall. On
rec-ommendation of his teacher, O. Ml-
gaard Nielsen, Wegner is hired to draw
furniture for the building and is, therefore,
granted one years leave from his studies.
However, his first assignment was to draw
the furniture for Nyborg Public Library for
Erik Mller and Flemming Lassen. For
a period, he is also sent to Nyborg to
conduct the building process.
1939
Dining room furniture for Snedkerlaugets
exhibition for Master of Crafts, P. Nielsen.
Even before finishing his conducting as-
signment in Nyborg, Wegner is called to
rhus for the town hall project.
1939-42
Furniture for rhus Town Hall is completed
(produced by I.C.A Nielsen and Planm-
bel). Alongside his work in the drawing
room, Wegner starts cooperation with Mas-
ter Woodcutter, Michael Laursen in rhus
and Johannes Hansens Mbelsnedkeri in
Copenhagen.
1940
Rocking chair for Michael Laursen. The
rocking chair is the first Wegner model to
go into mass production.
1941
An unbroken row of 26 consecutive ap-
pearances at Snedkerlaugets udstillinger is
initiated.
Wegner signs with Planmbel for three
series of office furniture.
The office furniture for Planmbel and
Wegners assignment for Jacobsen and
Mller melt together in that the furniture for
Planmbel also end up at rhus Rdhus
in slightly different versions.
Wegner sets op drawing office as indepen-
dent designer in rhus.
1943
Fritz Hansen asks Wegner for suggestions
for their bent-wood-production. The results
are The Chinese Chairs of which two go
into production (FH 4283 and FH 1783
- later as PP 66 at PP Mbler). Wegner
continues drawing for Fritz Hansen until
the mid fifties.
Brge Mogensen establishes contact be-
tween Wegner and FDB.
Wegner gains membership of Akademisk
Arkitektforbund (MAA) and Kunstersam-
fundet.
1944
Wegner designs the childrens furniture
Peters Chair an Table) and the rocking
chair, J16. Both enters production at Tarm
Stole- og Mbelfabrik, owned by FDB.
Today Peters Chair and Table is being
produced by Carl Hansen and the Rocking
Chair by Fredericia Furniture.
Wegner draws and completes the intarsia
work on The Fish Cabinet (JH).
1945-46
Wegner and Brge Mogensen cooperates
on designing for Snedkerlauget.
1946
Wegner moves to Copenhagen and, thus,
closer to Johannes Hansens workshop and
the creative environment where he feels
most inspired.
1946
Wegner and Brge Mogensen wins first
prize in Magasin du Nords competition on
practical and up-to-date hotel furniture.
1946-51
Wegner becomes a teacher the School for
Arts and Crafts and is also employed by
Professor, Palle Suensons drawing office.
1946-48
Furniture for the ship Venus for Palle
Suensons Tegnestue.
1946-
Due to the fact that Wegner moves to
Copenhagen his cooperation with Johannes
Hansen gets closer. Johannes Hansen
allows Wegner to make whatever furniture
he likes at his workshop, and Wegner
becomes close friends with the foreman,
Niels Thomsen who starts working at the
workshop in 1947. The Peacock Chair
from 1947 is the first of many unique
pieces of furniture.
1948
Shell Chairs in moulded plywood for Mo-
MAs competition on low-cost furniture.
Chair, table, and sofa in moulded shells
for Fritz Hansen
Wegner gets his national break-through
with his furniture for Snedkerlaugets ex-
hibition.
Wegner initiates cooperation with Carl
Hansen & Sn on light chairs.
1949
The Round One/The Chair with straw-
bottom seat, the folding chair, and the
three-shells shell chair (all JH). The
Y-Chair (CH 24).
Wegner is exhibition architect for Forenin-
gen af Dansk Kunsthndvrk.
1949-52
Furniture designed by Finn Juhl, Brge
Mogensen, and Wegner are chosen for the
American magazine Interiors who publishes
an article in february 1950. Among the
chosen furniture are The Round One,
The Peacock Chair, and the tree-shell
chair. Soon American costumers start
making requests for especially The Round
One.
1950
Wegner starts cooperation with further four
producers, each with their own specialty:
Andreas Tuck (tables), Getama (Furniture
with loose cushions), Ry Mbler (cabinets
and closets), and A.P. Stolen (uphol-
stery). Simultaniously he designs furniture
for Carl Hansen.
1950
Wegner designs the chairs CH22, CH23,
and CH25 and the upholstered version of
The Round One (JH).
The Flag Halyard Chair is designed with
no particular producer in mind, but is soon
given to Getama. PP Mbler took over the
production of The Flag Halyard Chair in
2002.
Wegner is awarded the Grand Prix at the
Milano Triennale.
The Round One (pp503) is selected by
both audience and a professional board
as best design on the exhibition Good
Design in USA.
1951
Wegner and Finnish Tapio Wirkkala are
the first to be awarded Lunningsprisen.
1951
The Teddy Bear Chair (AB), The Dol-
phin Chair (JH) and CH28.
1952
The Cow Horn Chair (JH) The Saw-
horse Chair (CH29).
Cooperation with C. M. Madsens factories
is initiated due to an increasing demand
for light Wegner chairs.
Wegner becomes supervisor of the teach-
ing at the School for Arts and Crafts.
Wegner and his wife take a three-month
study trip to USA and Mexico. During
the trip, Wegner is offered to have his
carpentry-based furniture produced by a
high-tech company, but says no.
1953
W1 and W2 (CMM)
The Valet Chair (JH)
Wegner receives honorary diploma and
gold medal at the Milano Triennale.
1955
Wegner draws the office swivel chair
(JH), which is inspired by Professor, Eigil
Snorrasons effort to make designers focus
on ergonomics. This can be seen in e.g.
the chairs low back support.
Wegner receives the Eckersberg medal.
Wegner receives Dansk Kbestvnes
annual medal.
1956
Inspired by the increase in student hostels,
Wegner draws his first bed settee (GE).
1957
Wegner receives the silver medal at the
Milano Triennale.
1958
Wegner draws lamps and conference tables
(JH) for UNESCO in Paris.
Wegner receives Dansk Snedkerlaugs
annual award.
Wegner is appointed Royal Designer for
Industry in London, and receives Citation
of Merit at the Pratt Institute in New York,
USA.
1959
Wegner draws his own holiday home at
Hald Strand on Northern Sealand.
The GE290 series of armchairs and sofas.
1960
The Ox Chair (AP)
Wegner receives the International Design
Award byt the American Institute of Deco-
rators for Furniture Design.
Wegner receives the Swedish Prins Eugen
medal.
1961
The Bull Chair (JH)
1962-65
Builds own house in Gentofte in coopera-
tion with architects, Arne Karlsen and Allan
Jessen.
Hans Jrgensen Wegner
2.04.1914 - 26.02.2007 - Danish Furniture Designer
Biography : http://www.pp.dk/index.php?page=designer&id=1
1968
Wegner draws furniture for several student
hostels (GE). Among these are Kampsax
and Ostenfeld.
Wegner loosens his ties with JH, but is
welcomed at another workshop, namely
PP Mbler, who has produced wooden
frames for AP Stolens Wegner furniture
since 1953.
Wegner starts drawing for PP Mbler and,
in the midseventies, PP Mbler takes over
a large part of Wegners table-collection
from Andreas Tuck.
1969
Wegners the first furniture for PP are
pp201 and pp203.
Wegner draws furniture for retirement
homes.
Wegners house wins him an award from
Gentofte Kommune.
1971
Wegner is awarded Diploma di Collabora-
zione at the Milano Triennale.
1973
Furniture (GE) and lamps for Hotel
Scandinavia.
1974
Furniture for Herlev Hospital (GE).
Wegner rethinks his chair for Brge Mo-
gensens spindle back bench (FH).
1975
Wegner draws furniture for Amagercentrets
theatre and cinemas (GE).
Student hostel furniture for Ashdown
House at MIT, USA (GE+CMM).
Wegner wins first prize in a competition
concerning streetlamps for environments
worthy of preservation. His daughter Mari-
anne, who has worked at his studio since
1973, is in on this project. The lamp
goes into production two years later after
a few revisions.
1976
Butterfly (GE460)
By the end of the 70ies, Ry Mbler and
A.P. Stolen close. JH now takes over
production rights for Wegners upholstered
furniture.
1977
Conference tables for Vejle Amtsrd (JH).
Conference tables for Politiken (JH).
Wegner serves as member of Dansk
Designrd from 1977-81.
1978
Furniture for Snderjyllands Amtsrd (JH).
Konference table for Ishj Byrd (JH).
1979
Lamps (LP) and conference tables (JH)
for Industriens Hus.
Conference table for A. P. Mller (JH).
1980
Element sofa GE280
1981
Wegner draws a special chair for the Moa
Museum in Japan (PP).
Wegner receives the C.F. Hansen medal.
1982
Dining table pp75
1983
Chairs and tables for the canteen and
Sikker Hansen-salen at Politikens Hus
(GE).
1984
Rocking chair pp124
Furniture for Mrdrup church in Espe-
rgrde (PP).
Production of the Ox Chair is overtaken by
Erik Jrgensen Mbelfabrik.
1985
Conference table Carlsberg in Hong Kong
(JH).
Chairs for Salling Ungdomsskole (GE).
In the mid-eighties, Wegner participates
in several SE exhibitions, which started in
1983 as a continuation of Snedkerlaugets
exhibitions.
1986
Conference table for Apotekerforeningen
(PP)
The Circle Chair (PP130) draws a lot of
attention at the SE exhibition.
Wegner receives Dansk Designrds design
award.
1987
Armchairs PP58 and 68.
1988
Stack and connectable chairs for Kolding-
hus Slot (JH).
Wegner receives honorary grant from Na-
tionalsbankens Jubilumsfond.
Wegner receives grant from Ole Haslunds
Kunstnerfond.
1989
The Chinese Chair with upholstered seat.
(PP56)
1990
Conference chair PP240.
Wegner draws furniture for The Maersk
McKinney Mller Centre for Continuing Ed-
ucation in Cambridge, UK (PP and GE).
Conference table for IBM in Lyngby (PP).
The Chair is depicted on stamps.
JH closes and PP takes over the produc-
tion of many well-known Wegner designs.
1991
Tables for KPMG in Copenhagen (PP).
Fredericia Furniture takes over a num-
ber og Wegner models after JH. FF and
Wegner have cooperated previously in the
mid-seventies and this time, as well as
last time, the cooperation lasts a couple
of years.
1992
Wegner draws the Rdding Chair
(PP93/193) for Rdding Hjskoles
150ieth birthday.
Wegner stops drawing but continues as
supervisor for his daughter, who has grad-
ually taken over responsibility for Wegners
furniture.
1993
Tnder water tower is renovated and made
into a Wegner museum. The collection
consists of 36 Wegner chairs all donated
by Hans and Inga Wegner.
Wegner is made honorary member of
Akademiet for de Sknne Kunster.
1995
Wegner becomes honorary doctor at the
Royal College of Art in London.
Wegner receives The 8th International
Design Award in Osaka, Japan.
2004
Wegner celebrates his 90ieth birthday.
130 of his models are still in produc-
tion and the demand for his furniture is
increasing.
2007
Wegner passes away leaving a remarkable
legacy of design and craftsmanship for
future generations to enjoy.
1963
The three-legged shell chair (JH).
1964
Furniture for Tuborg in Hellerup (JH).
Wegner is awarded Kbenhavns Snedker-
laugs annual award.
1965
Wegner draws The Little Steel Chair
(JH) for his new house.
CH44-series of chairs and stools.
1966
Snedkerlaugets exhibitions end. At this
point, Wegner has entered every year
since 1938 except 1940, and has won
24 prizes in the competitions associated
with the exhibitions. Approximately half
the furniture from these exhibitions go into
production.
Wegner receives the International Design
Award from The American Institute of Inte-
rior Designs, New York, USA.
Wegner becomes a member of IDD, Dan-
ish Designers (today MDD).
1967
Rocking chair which can be assembled
and taken apart at will (GE).
Over the previous few years, Wegner had
experimented with laminated wood and now
presents among others, the Hangmat Chair
(GE).
Wegner is awarded Citation of Merit by
The American Institute of Interior Design-
ers.
(The above only covers a small selection
of Wegners production. He made more
than 2500 workshop drawings and sketch-
es for almost 1000 pieces of furniture.)
(The producers mentioned above are the
ones to whom the model were drawn,
originally. Many models have since then
changed to other producers - however,
always to one of the above mentioned
workshops.)