Imagine a chair designed in 1949 that is still being made almost unchanged today – a masterpiece of simple elegance that feels both homely and iconic. That's exactly what Danish designer Hans J. Wegner achieved with the now-legendary Wishbone Chair (CH24), without ever making a fuss about his ambition: he simply wanted to create "unassuming things of exceptionally high quality".
Join us as we explore the life and work of this great furniture designer – from his passion for wood to the creation of a chair that has found its way into living rooms, hotels and collections around the world.
The essentials at a glance:
- Early life, training and woodworking
- His principles: simplicity, natural materials and craftsmanship
- The breakthrough: the Wishbone Chair
- Hans J. Wegner's legacy
Early life, training and woodworking
Hans J. Wegner was born in 1914 in Tønder, southern Denmark, the son of a shoemaker – a traditional craft business. He was fascinated by wood from an early age: he trained as a cabinetmaker and later continued his studies at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen.
This combination of craftsmanship and design ambition shaped him. Unlike many designers who later focused primarily on form, Wegner had a deep understanding of the material – how it could be bent, joined and tensioned – and the techniques behind it.
In 1943, he opened his own studio, and soon afterwards began working with the furniture maker Carl Hansen & Søn, which brought several of his most important designs into serial production.
His principles: simplicity, natural materials and craftsmanship
What defines Wegner's style? He once put it this way:
"Many people from abroad have asked me how we created the Danish style. I have answered that it was a continuous process of purification and simplification – to cut down to the simplest possible design of four legs, a seat, and a combined back- and armrest."
In short: simple in expression, precise in detail and high-quality in material. Wood played a central role, often alongside paper cord or woven seats. Wegner had a deep respect for the nature of the material and traditional cabinetmaking techniques.
His furniture brings together organic, inviting shapes and clear function – so that it not only looks beautiful but is also comfortable and stands up to everyday use.
The breakthrough: the Wishbone Chair
Many of his numerous designs are now classics, but one stands out: the Wishbone Chair, also known as the CH24, designed in 1949 and in continuous production since around 1950.
Why has this chair become one of the best-known pieces in modern furniture history? Here are a few key reasons:
Form and inspiration: Wegner drew inspiration from traditional Chinese chairs of the Ming dynasty and transformed their elegant lines into a design of his own.
The distinctive detail: the Y-shaped back is both a design feature and ergonomic support – hence the nickname "Wishbone".
Handwoven paper-cord seat: every seat is made by hand from more than 100 metres of durable, handwoven paper cord.
Craftsmanship and quality: production called for exacting techniques – bent wood and woven seats – and placed high demands on the makers.
Timelessness and everyday use: the chair looks light and elegant, but by no means fragile. That balance is what makes it relevant today.
Consistency: made almost unchanged for decades – a rare example of continuity in the design business.
The Wishbone Chair became a symbol of the "golden age" of Danish design – and of Wegner's belief in creating furniture that is both beautiful and useful.
Today, the classic is available in different types of wood, with oiled, soaped or stained finishes, and in a range of lacquered colours – all based on Hans J. Wegner's original design.
Hans J. Wegner's legacy
Wegner designed almost 500 chair variations in his lifetime – an extraordinary output. Many went into serial production, and several pieces that are popular today reflect his approach to form.
His work is now exhibited in some of the world's leading design museums, from Copenhagen and Munich to New York.
What can we take from his work? Perhaps this: a piece of furniture can be more than a functional object – it can bring together material quality, craftsmanship, design history and everyday comfort. Wegner showed how furniture can speak – quietly, but with impact.
A new way of looking at the chair
The next time you see a chair – perhaps one with a curved back or woven seat – take a moment to notice it. What materials were used? How do its lines and surfaces work together? Do form and function feel balanced?
And if it's a genuine Wishbone Chair, you're sitting on a piece of design history, designed by Hans J. Wegner – the master of chairs.
