1644/​548

Hans J. Wegner (b. Tønder 1914, d. Gentofte 2007)

“The Chair”. A mahogany armchair, seat upholstered with reddish-brown leather. Model JH 503. Designed 1949. Made and marked by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen.

“The Chair” was first presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' 23th Guild Exhibition at Design Museum Denmark 1949, in a version with woven cane in seat and back, the year after this version with upholstered seat came out. “The Chair” was used by John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon at the legendary televised debates during the presidential election in 1960.

Literature: Grete Jalk [ed.], “40 Years of Danish Furniture Design”, vol. 3, p. 98–101 and p. 140–142.

Noritsugu Oda, “Danish Chairs”, 1999, p. 108–109.

Johan Møller Nielsen, “Wegner en dansk Møbelkunstner”, 1965, p. 44–45.

Per H. Hansen & Klaus Petersen, “Moderne dansk møbeldesign”, 2007, p. 145.

Condition

Minor wear due to age and use. Minor marks and scratches. Leather with surface scratches and soft creases.

Auction

Modern art and design, 1 November 2016

Category

Modern Furniture

Estimate

8,000–10,000 DKK

Sold

Price realised

10,500 DKK  

12 bids

When Bidder Bid
(Auto bid) 10,500 DKK
10,000 DKK
9,500 DKK
9,000 DKK
8,500 DKK
(Auto bid) 8,000 DKK
7,500 DKK
(Auto bid) 7,000 DKK
6,500 DKK
6,000 DKK
5,500 DKK
5,000 DKK