The following error occurred: The requested URL was not found on this server. Please check the URL or contact the webmaster.Furniture : Seating : Dining & Side Chairs : Wegner The Chair - PP503 Wegner The Chair - PP503 Design: Hans J. Wegner The Round One' as Wegner referred to it with his usual provincial modesty, is one of the most famous Danish pieces of furniture - and certainly the most significant and distinct Danish. In it's own modest and simple way it sums up the very essence of traditional Danish wood working and design philosophy. And it is absolutely the most important work of Hans J. Wegner. Upon the introduction of the upholstered version of The Round Chair in 1950, it was noticed by the American magazine for design and architecture, 'Interiors' - they referred to it as 'the most beautiful chair in the world'. This turned out to be the beginning of Danish design's great international breakthrough. Yet, Wegner remained rather unimpressed with his own creation "They could have made this hundreds of years ago - nothing new here" he uttered at several occasions, referring to the basically very traditional construction.
When John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon met in the first ever televised election debate in 1960, they sat in The Round Chair. It was chosen mainly for its comfort and genuine quality - made in Denmark and shipped to the USA to play an important role in this historic event. Eventually the Americans came up with a new and more telling name for this chair. They called it 'The Chair'. Wegner The Chair - PP503 Dimensions: W 63cm D 52cm H 76cm | W 24.8" D 20.47" H 29.92" Lead Time:Approx. 6-8 weeks Step 1Select a FinishOne of the most important and influential designers in history, Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) is commonly credited as a driving force in the midcentury Danish modern movement—an era that forever changed the way the world looks at furniture. Born in 1914 in Tønder, in Southern Denmark, Wegner was the son of a shoemaker. From 1928 to 1932, he was apprenticed to the cabinetmaker H.F. Stahlberg; at the age of fifteen, Wegner made his very first chair.
He studied at The Danish School of Arts and Crafts (1936-1938) under Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen before going on to work as a designer in Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller’s noted architectural office. During this period, Wegner also designed furniture for the Åarhus City Hall in Denmark and began working with master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, as well as Michael Laursen. In 1940, he designed a rocking chair for Laursen, which became Wegner’s first mass-produced chair. Wegner opened his own studio in 1943 in Gentofte. Championing modernism, craftsmanship, and Nordic functionality in combination with the unexpected influence of Chinese furniture, Wegner designed over 500 chairs in his lifetime. Over 100 of these were produced, and several became icons in the international furniture design arena, including: the Peacock Chair (1947); the Wishbone Chair (1949); the Round Chair (1949)—which the American magazine Interiors called “the world’s most beautiful chair” (and was featured in the first ever televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1961);
the three-legged Shell Chair (1949)—which was designed for MoMA’s historical competition on low-cost furniture; Papa Bear Chair (1950); Flag Halyard Chair (1950); Dolphin Chair (1951), the Valet Chair (1953); and Wing Chair (1960). His designs were at once functional and graceful; his solid wooden chairs, for example, featured limbs that elegantly tapered and curved, and which were often paired with woven rattans or leathers. Wegner utilized traditional construction techniques, mixing materials such as plywood, metal, upholstery, caning, and paper cord. While he is best known for his chairs, Wegner also created memorable cabinetry, desks, tables, beds, and lighting fixtures. Over the course of his career, the designer collaborated with several renowned manufacturers, including AP Stolen, Carl Hansen & Søns, Fredericia Stolefabrik, Getama, Fritz Hansen, Erik Jorgensen, Louis Poulsen, Ry Møbler, PP Møbler, and Andreas Tuck. Wegner’s furniture is included in the permanent collections of the world’s most respected museums.
He is also the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Grand Prix at Milan’s Triennale in 1950, the Lunning Prize in 1951, the Eckersberg Medal in 1955, and the 8th International Design Award in 1997, among others. Wegner passed away in Copenhagen in 2007 at age 92, leaving a remarkable legacy of design and craftsmanship for future generations to enjoy. His designs, vintage Wenger chairs in particular, fetch high prices at auction houses and are in constant demand by vintage lovers and art collectors alike. 14 Day Money Back Guarantee The Kennedy chair is the piece of Hans Wegner furniture with the best known story. It is said that CBS originally purchased this chair in 1960 for the legendary TV duel between Nixon and his rival Kennedy. The chair created so much interest that after the programme it was simply referred to as 'The Chair' by commentators and critics alike. Our products are reproduced to the style of the original design. Our showroom is based in Stoke Newington, North London.
We have around 80-100 items (of 13,000+) on display at any one time. Viewings by appointment, give us a call before planning your visit so that the items your want to see can be there. Our opening times are 09.30-17.30 Monday-Friday. Weekend viewings are also possible, but need to be arranged in advance. Our delivery policy and return policy Delivery By Courier Company Hans J. Wegner was a world renowned Danish furniture designer. In his lifetime, he designed over 500 different chairs, over 100 of which were put into mass-production and many of which have become recognizable design icons.Born in Denmark in 1914 to a cobbler, the young Wegner was interested in wood-sculpturing from an early age. He completed apprenticeships as a teenager before going to the Danish School of Arts and Crafts and the Architectural Academy in Copenhagen. When architects Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller established a studio together to design and build Åarhus City Hall in 1940, they took Wegner on as a trainee.