Hans Wegner

Hans J. Wegner ( born April 2, 1914 in Tønder, † January 26, 2007 in Copenhagen) was a Danish carpenter, architect and furniture designer.

Life

First, Wegner trained as a carpenter and then studied 1936-38 at the School of Applied Arts ( Kunsthåndværkerskolen ) in Copenhagen. He worked as an independent architect and taught from 1946 to 1953 furniture design at the School of Applied Arts. From 1940, he put his work focus mainly on the design of furniture. So he designed in 1940 for the chairs and tables designed by Arne Jacobsen City Hall Aarhus. But even cutlery, wallpaper and lamps were designed by Wegner.

Works

Hans J. Wegner became famous especially with its chairs. He designed over 500 different models, most of the designs were pure wooden chairs. Many are still made ​​in Denmark, among other things, the company Carl Hansen & Son, Fritz Hansen and PP Møbler. The best known were:

• China chair ( Kinastolen ) from 1944, Fritz Hansen
• Peacock chair ( Påfuglestolen ) from 1947, PP Møbler
• Round chair ( the round stol ) of 1949, PP Møbler. The rounds chairs were used in 1960 by CBS for the first live televised American presidential candidates TV debate. John F. Kennedy insisted on the model, a comfortable chair because he gave preference due to his back injury. The following day was "The Chair" in numerous newspaper reports praise and recognition.
• Wishbone Chair (Y -stolen ) from 1950, Carl Hansen & Son
• Valetstuhl / Valets ( Jakkens Hvile ) of 1953, PP Møbler
• Ox chair ( Pøllestolen ) 1960, Erik Jørgensen.

In 1964, some works of Wegner at documenta III in Kassel in the Department of Industrial Design were shown.

Honors

In 1997 he received the 8th International Design Award in Osaka and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art in London. In art-historical museum in his hometown of Tønder is to visit since 1998, a permanent exhibition of Wegner's works. It is located in the former water tower next to the Museum. In 1982 he received the C. F. Hansen medal.