Hans J. Wegner

designer based in : TØNDER, DENMARK

the designer

Born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark, Hans J. Wegner is considered one of the pioneers of furniture design in the twentieth century. He created more than 500 chairs during his lifetime, many of which are considered timeless masterpieces. At the core of Wegner’s legacy is his focus on honest and pure design, producing furniture that is simple and functional, by respecting the characteristics of wood and other material.

He started his own design studio in 1943 and partnered with Carl Hansen & Søn from 1949 to 1968 which saw the introduction of many global classics. Hans J. Wegner passed away in Denmark in January 2007, aged 92.

“Many foreigners have asked me how we created the Danish style,” Wegner once said. “And I’ve answered that it was a continuous process of purification and of simplification – to cut down to the simplest possible design of four legs, a seat, and a combined back- and armrest.”