Hans J. Wegner

The name Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) is inseparable from his unrivalled chairs, which helped Danish design to achieve its international breakthrough. Every design fan has his or her favourite from among Wegner's approximately five hundred creations.

Today, there is hardly a glossy interior design magazine that does not include an illustration of the elegant China Chair (1943) or the Y Chair (1950), and even John F. Kennedy sat on his Round Chair, which is now simply called The Chair (1949).

Trained as a furniture maker, Wegner usually made his prototypes himself by hand, using traditional joinery techniques such as tongue-and-groove or finger joints. In the process, he pushed the limitations of wood, giving his designs an unmatched elegance.

His sense of humour did not fall by the wayside, either, as evidenced by his splendid Peacock Chair (1947) or the masculine Ox Chair (1960), the latter of which is available with or without horns.

Hans J. Wegner by Rasmus Koch is a testament to this legendary designer's work. (German edition ISBN 978-3-7757-3808-8)