JH-513 Armchair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1960s

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Condition: frame made of solid teak. Seat and backrest upholstered in dark gray faux leather. There is a tiny blemish … Read more Condition: frame made of solid teak. Seat and backrest upholstered in dark gray faux leather. There is a tiny blemish on the backrest.



hans wegner was a danish furniture designer, architect, and university professor. Wegner was one of the most creative and prolific figures of danish modernism. Many of his approximately 500 chair designs are now considered iconic masterpieces.


he began his professional career at the age of fourteen with an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker, which he completed in 1931. He then studied at the school of arts and crafts in copenhagen, where he later worked as a teacher.

after collaborating with arne jacobsen and borge mogensen, the young wegner opened his own studio in 1943. From then on, wegner designed chairs with near-obsessive dedication. He developed a unique symbiosis of exquisite aesthetics and perfect craftsmanship. The style of his often sculptural works is today referred to as organic modernism.


even john f. Kennedy found a favorite chair among his designs.

during the first televised u.s. Presidential debate between john f. Kennedy and richard nixon, wegner’s model #503 was selected as the seating for the candidates. For kennedy, who suffered from chronic back pain, wegner’s minimalist design offered the perfect support. The chair became kennedy’s favorite and is therefore unofficially known today as the “kennedy chair.”

the elegant jh-513 armchair offered here is a design from 1963.


hans j. Wegner died in copenhagen in 2007.


his remarkable legacy is now on display in leading design museums worldwide. In japan, a museum was established exclusively for the chairs of the “master of the chair.” i have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
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