Hans Wegner
Papa Bear Chair
Replica
Hans Wegner
1951
The design of the Papa Bear chair defies traditional design ideas and brings playfulness to a cozy classic. Intended as a modern take on a high wingback chair, it features a more open construction and a whimsical flair. The space under the armrests allows more leg movement and greater variety of sitting positions, making it exceptionally comfortable. It got its pet name after a journalist at the time said it looked like a giant teddy bear coming to wrap its arms around you. Its unique visual character creates a strong focal point in any space.
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“A chair is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles.”
Hans J. Wegner
This is the top listed chair featured in GQ Magazine’s feature “These Are the 12 Most Iconic Chairs of All Time”.
The chair has been on display in various art museums and institutes, including the MOMA in NYC, in a complete retrospective of Wegner’s works at the Designmuseum Danmark and is also on permanent display at The Tonder Art Museum.
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Exceptional Comfort
“Hans Wegner’s Papa Bear tops the comfort list by a long shot. For years I’ve heard designers cite the Papa Bear with no hesitation when asked to name the most comfortable chair they’ve ever relaxed in” wrote Brad Dunning for GQ Magazine. The Papa Bear chair is the gold standard for iconic comfort. The openly constructed wingback design offers the individual unprecedented freedom of movement whilst still feeling cuddled up in the arms of a gentle bear.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Much like a properly tailored suit, different materials with different properties are essential to ensuring the Papa Bear’s shape and comfort. Individual coil springs are sewn into bags of linen fabric for backrest support. The backrest is hand-tufted around the spring and tightened by the addition of buttons which give the chair its ergonomic shape. The seat is suspended on a grid of jute straps. The internal sides of the chair are padded with shaped tow and then covered with horsehair and cotton before being upholstered. Unlike most other comfortable easy chairs, the only foam is in the seat’s cushion. Structurally, the chair’s rear legs become armrests, making its construction highly durable and solid. The “paws” of durable natural wood make it just that little bit more hard-wearing as it protects the fabric and hides the joinery underneath.
Hans J. Wegner, born in Tonder in Denmark in 1914, was amongst the most prolific Danish designers, helping to establish the popularity of midcentury Scandinavian design. In his lifetime he designed more than 500 chairs, of which more than 100 went into mass production. He had done an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker which gave him a profound insight into working with wood. By the end of his career, Wegner had received nearly all the major recognitions awarded to designers.
“A chair isn’t finished until someone sits in it.”
Hans J. Wegner
Product Literature
Over 100 different production processes are involved in making the Papa Bear Chair, all accomplished with extreme care, hand sewn and crafted. The solid wood frame is joined by hand. The chair’s rear legs become the armrests, making its construction highly durable and solid. The “paws” are of the same durable natural wood as the legs. Fifty individually-wrapped coil springs are sewn into bags of linen fabric and then onto jute straps. The internal sides of the chair are padded with shaped tow and then covered with sterilized horsehair and cotton before being upholstered and tightened by the addition of buttons which give the chair its ergonomic shape. Individual springs are added in the backrest. The backrest is hand-tufted around the springs. The only foam used is in the seat’s cushion (memory polyurethane). For the leather version, three leather hides are used to upholster the chair and a single hide for the ottoman. Our replica is a faithful reproduction of the original design.
Product Materials
Frame: Natural wood
Upholstery: The finest quality fabrics or top grain Italian leather
Cushioning: Cotton fibre, palm fibre, flax fibre and horsehair, polyurethane foam and springs
Product Dimensions
Height: 101cm
Width: 90cm
Depth: 95cm
Seat height: 42cm
Arm height: 65cm
Carrying weight: 150kg
Ottoman
Height: 40cm
Width: 71cm
Depth: 45cm
Weight as shipped: 50kg
Care Instructions
Wood: Wipe dry with a dry, soft cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Clean the surface periodically with a soft cloth dampened with a quality cleaner formulated for wood furniture. Liquid spills should be immediately dabbed dry and wiped off. Make sure that your wood furniture is not positioned close to heat sources, so that it does not dry out and become brittle. We recommend that wood products should not be exposed to intense sunlight for prolonged periods of time as ultra-violet rays may eventually damage the finish.
Do not use an abrasive material on the wood.
Fabric upholstery: Regular cleaning is important in order to keep the fabric looking its best and will prolong its life. Dust and dirt wear down the fabric and also reduce its dirt-retardant properties. Vacuum frequently, ideally every other week, at half power. Wipe the fabric with a dry or moist (but not soaking) cloth. May also be vacuum cleaned with a soft brush. Keep fabric away from direct sunlight and extreme heat.
Stain removal: Act quickly. Remove any liquids with an absorbent napkin or cloth. Gently scrape away any residue with a spoon. Vacuum away any loose particles. Remove non-greasy stains by carefully dabbing with a lint-free cloth or sponge wrung out in warm water. Edge marks can be avoided by dabbing gently in circular motions towards the centre of the stain with a clean lint-free cloth. Remove greasy stains by using appropriate detergents or solvents. Always test stain-removal agents on an inconspicuous area first to see if there is any effect on the fabric.
Allow the fabric to dry fully before resuming use. Low-intensity use of a hairdryer may avoid enduring edge marks.
Professional cleaning:
Use a reputable service provider. A pH-neutral carbon dioxide cleaning solution is recommended as it avoids the use of soap. Appropriate maintenance and regular cleaning can prolong the textile’s life. Regular maintenance and cleaning removes dirt before it settles in the fabric and damages the fibers. Upholstered furniture in normal commercial use should be cleaned professionally at least twice a year. Upholstered furniture in private households should be cleaned professionally once a year.
Leather:
Occasionally remove dust from the leather with a damp, lint-free cloth. Small soiled spots can be gently removed with a colourless eraser. Liquid spills should be immediately dabbed dry and wiped off with a little water. Once a year, the leather should be treated with a special leather care product, but never with any type of strong cleansing agent. Only use quality leather products which do not leave residue. Oily build-up on the leather makes it susceptible to bacteria, which can destroy the leather. Clean the stitching with a soft-bristle brush.