Hans Wegner - Master Of Chair Design

y">guinea pig for how it looked and how well it did
In 2007, the great furniture designer Hans Jthe intended job. Along with his daughter, he is
Wegner passed away. He entered this world inalso considered to have invented the pole light
Tonger, Denmark, 93 years ago and over timeback in the 1970's.
became the most successful and noticed individualMuch of the furniture (wegner mobler) Hans J.
at the Danish Modern school of design. HisWegner is renowned for are chairs. One of his
beautiful and unobtrusive style is composed ofbetter-known designs was the wegner ch25 from
clean and simple lines.1950. He crafted four chairs with woven seats for
Hans J Wegner began his career choice as aCarl Hansen and Son, but this design was unique in
carpenter only to have it interrupted to serve inhaving rope weaving in both the seat and the
the military. Wegner was enrolled in Copenhagenback of the chair, along with engineering that had
Architectural Academy as well as the School ofthe front legs being straight and bearing most of
Arts and Crafts. He trained in a technical schoolthe load. The rear legs were angled, allowing
for a time, and received professional training.greater stability than most other lounge chairs of
Later he worked learning from the masters Erikits type.
Moller and Arne Jacobsen.Chair 25 was designed with the use of several
The thing he was most proficient at was buildingdifferent woods, and had a paper rope for the
chairs. He viewed these items not only in termsseat and the back of the chair. Also interesting
of their functionality, but as sculpture. Thisabout the design is the side of the seat, which is
philosophy extended to design, such that theremade from one piece that curves and becomes
should be no "back" to the structure. No matterthe back legs. Often Chair 25 is grouped with
which way one gazed at the chair, it would bewicker furniture (mobler), as some consider it to
engaging to look at. Not only should the finishedlook wicker in style, but Wegner's design is in a
product be fluid, it should never be boring. Theleague apart from flimsy wicker furnishings.
construction would involve a variety of shapesCatalogue names were given to Hans J Wegner's
and parts.work instead of design names. The PP203, for
He did not restrict his work to totally basic chairs,example, was an item seen by millions when used
though, making intricate designs such as hisby television networks during the famous
"peacock" style for design competitions, and alsoKennedy-Nikon debates of 1960. The PP203 was
creating some beds, cabinets and tables. Hechosen for its simple and clean lines, as well as
created a valet chair after using himself as thebeing comfortable.