Drop-leaf dining table, Model AT-309, designed by Hans Wegner in the early 1950s and manufactured by Andreas Tuck.

Hans J. Wegner became world-renowned for his chairs, but he also designed a broad range of tables, where he was just as thorough and artistic on the proportions, construction, function and style as with the design of his chairs. To Wegner, the most important part of this type of furniture was not the table-top, but rather what was underneath. For the supporting structure he was, as with many of his other designs, heavily inspired by furniture designs of the past and here he used cross legs, which have a long tradition in history and are for example known from 17th century Spanish tables.

On this version that has a grain that has come out beautifully over time, the slender cross legs are strengthened by thin metal struts, which hold the crossed legs together, while emphasizing the light and floating design. The table has a wooden pull-out frame to support the two folded extra leafs, providing extra space. Especially with the leaves out Wegner’s tables are so expressive that they - like his best chairs - turn into grand sculptures that claim their space in the room almost effortlessly. The table is stamped at the bottom with the manufacturer’s and maker’s mark.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. 

Dimensions:

50 in folded / 89 in unfolded W x 34 in D X 28 in H

128 cm folded / 226 cm unfolded W x 86 cm D x 71 cm H 

About the designer:

Hans Wegner (1914–2007) is considered as one of the most influential designers of Scandinavian design. Danish-born Wegner became a national and international design idol for shaping the history of design in the 1950s and ‘60s.

In his designs, the sharp edges defining Modernism were smoothened, creating his iconic chairs. As a pioneer of the modernist style, often described as “organic functionality”, Wegner described his method as “stripping the old chairs of their outer style and letting them appear in their pure construction.”.

At 14 years old, he began his apprenticeship with Danish master cabinet maker H. F. Stahlberg. After serving in the military he moved to Copenhagen, and attended the School of Arts and Crafts, before setting out as a furniture designer. In 1943, he established his own studio, producing designs for manufacturers like AP Stolen, Fredericia Stolefabrik, and in later years, PP Møbler.

Wegner designed more than 500 chairs in his lifetime, refining an approach that combined a variety of natural materials and pushed traditional joinery techniques to extreme tolerances and distillations. Wegner’s background as a cabinetmaker gave him a deep understanding of how to integrate exacting joinery techniques with exquisite form, realizing the perfect combination with form and purpose. Wegner is most renowned for his “Papa Bear” (1950) and “Round” chair (1949)—later known simply as “The Chair”—which starred in the 1961 presidential debates between Nixon and Kennedy.

The core of Wegner’s legacy remains his focus on showing the inner soul of furniture pieces through a simple and functional exterior. ~H.