Hans Wegner
Hans Jørgensen Wegner was born on April 2 in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark (then Prussia, as part of the German Empire). Wegner was born to cobbler Peter Mathiesen Wegner and Nicoline Lausen. At an early age, Wegner showed interest in arts and crafts and could draw and create paper cuttings before he learned to walk. At home, Wegner was drawn to woodcarving and created wood sculptures based on Royal Copenhagen figurines he saw at the Tønder Museum.
He began his apprenticeship with Danish master cabinetmaker H. F. Stahlberg when he was just 14 years old. Later on, he moved to Copenhagen and attended the School of Arts and Crafts from 1936 to 1938 before setting out as a furniture designer. In 1938, Wegner was approached by architects and designers Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller, and started designing furniture for the new Aarhus City Hall. During the same period, Wegner began collaborating with master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, who was a driving force in bringing new furniture design to the Danish public at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions.
The core of Wegner’s work is his focus on showing the inner soul of furniture pieces through a simple and functional exterior. Wegner’s background as a cabinetmaker gave him a deep understanding of how to integrate exacting joinery techniques with exquisite form. His aesthetic was also based on a deep respect for wood and its characteristics, and a vast curiosity about other natural materials that enabled him to bring an organic, natural softness to formalistic minimalism.
Wegner established his own design studio in 1943 and created a series of lightweight chairs for Carl Hansen & Søn from 1949 until 1968, including the Wishbone Chair, which has been in production at Carl Hansen & Søn ever since. Wegner is seen as one of the most renowned and creative Danish furniture designers. He was among the handful of Danish designers who were recognised in their own time as well. Accordingly, he received an incredible amount of design awards and honours, including the Lunning Prize in 1951, the Grand Prix of the Milan Triennale in 1951, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ Eckersberg Medal in 1956, Sweden’s Prince Eugen Medal in 1961, the Danish Furniture Prize in 1980, the C. F. Hansen Medal in 1982, and the 8th International Design Award in 1997. He was made an Honorary Royal Designer for industry by the Royal Society of Arts in London in 1959, became an honorary member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1995, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate by the Royal College of Art in 1997.
Almost all the world’s major design museums, from the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Designmuseum Danmark in Copenhagen to Die Neue Sammlung in Munich, exhibit his works. Often referred to as the master of the chair, Wegner created almost 500 in his lifetime – many of them considered masterpieces. His iconic Wishbone Chair has been in continuous production since 1950. Wegner is most renowned for his “Papa Bear” (1950) and “Round” chair (1949) - simply as “The Chair” - which starred in the 1961 presidential debates between Nixon and Kennedy. Hans J. Wegner died in Denmark in January 2007, aged 92. ~H.
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Price category: 7,500 - 10,000 usd / eur
This rare “AT-309” dining table was designed by Hans Wegner in 1955 and its title of ‘iconic’ is well deserved. As it is no longer produced, this model has become a collector’s item created by a designer who is credited as one of the main driving forces of the mid-century Danish modern movement.
The “AT-309” model is also commonly referred to as the “saw-horse” for its trestle base. In woodworking, a saw-horse is a trestle structure used to support a board similarly to this model’s case. While Hans J. Wegner became world-renowned for his chairs, he also designed a broad range of tables, where he was just as thorough and artistic about the proportions, construction, function, and style. With a clear statement of simplicity, quality and respect for materials, this table is a great example of Danish Modern design. The massive teak tabletop with drop-leafs is stunning on its own, showcasing the wood’s grain and offering plenty of space with the extendable solution. However, to Wegner, the most important part of his tables was not the top, but rather what was underneath. For the supporting structure he used the distinctive saw-horse look with crossed legs and brass braces. The diagonal brass reinforcement is not only a significant structural feature, it is also a visually appealing detail that gives character to this dining table. Looking beneath the top, the elaborate oak structure becomes visible, showing both Wegner’s and the manufacturer’s expert skill and knowledge.
Over the course of his career, the designer collaborated with several renowned manufacturers, including Andreas Tuck. The company was one of the greatest Danish furniture design companies of the mid-20th century, producing pieces that epitomize classic Danish craftsmanship. Wegner worked with the company for many years, creating iconic designs such as this “AT-309” table.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The tabletop has been refinished.
Dimensions:
51.96 in W (89.76 in when extended) x 33.66 in D x 28.14 in H
132 cm W (228 cm when extended) x 85.5 cm D x 71.5 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 cabinetmaker 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.
The core of Wegner’s legacy remains his focus on showing the inner soul of furniture pieces through a simple and functional exterior. ~H.