Hans Wegner
Round Chair
Replica
Hans Wegner
1950
Hans J. Wegner called it “The Round One”. Brits used to call it “The Classic Chair”. The Americans simply call it “The Chair” – an honor shared by no other before or since. It presents a perfect blend of sculptural lines, a minimalist art, created in a language of shape and construction that only Wegner spoke quite as fluently. The W-shaped finger joint is a signature feature. Modesty and simplicity is the essence of this exemplary chair.
Previous
Next
“Personally I think it (Round chair) is my best achievement. Not because of its export success, but because I have been more thorough with it than anything else.”
Hans Wegner
In 1960, ten years after its debut, the Round chair was shipped to America to be a part of history forever. It was chosen for its comfort and quality to be used in the first-ever televised U.S. presidential debate between candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Its feature in the debate earned it the name the Presidential chair, but also the nickname “The Chair”.
The American magazine ‘Interiors’ lauded it as “the most beautiful chair in the world” on their cover in 1950.
Share This Product
Classic Comfort
The Round chair offers gentle back and arm support, with curvaceous and smooth wood. The seat is wooden, wrapped in multi-density low profile Dacron foam. Upholstered in luxurious suede, adding warmth, comfort and a soft to the touch element, or top grain Italian leather.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Using very specific techniques, the Round chair is handcrafted from natural oak which is exceedingly strong and durable. The beautiful W-shaped finger joint which connects the backrest requires great skill and is a signature feature of the chair. Suede is a type of leather that is pliable, soft, supple and durable. High-density Dacron ensures the longevity of the seat.
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. The son of a cobbler, he had done an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker which gave him a profound insight into working with wood. Studies at the Copenhagen school of Arts and Crafts followed and led to his highly productive and illustrious career as the “master of the chair”. In his lifetime he designed more than 500 chairs, of which more than 100 went into mass production. By the end of his career, Wegner had received nearly all the major recognitions awarded to designers.
“If I had not been a craftsman, I would not have thought of this.”
Hans Wegner
Product Literature
The back of the Round chair is cut from a five-inch piece of solid oak into three pieces that are then joined after a triple sanding process, The front legs extend upward – meeting as the support structure for the arms. All four legs are angled inward, reducing the chance of the chair tipping, making it stand firmly on the ground. Interior mortise-and-tenons which fit together like puzzle pieces and hides the joints between the arms and legs. The wood frame gets kiln dried to a stabilized moisture level. Our reproduction of the Round chair adheres to the original specifications and techniques.
Product Materials
Frame: Natural oak
Padding: Dacron foam
Upholstery: Suede or top grain Italian leather
Product Dimensions
Height: 76cm
Depth: 52cm
Width: 63cm
Seat height: 44cm
Carrying weight: 120kg
Weight as shipped: 8kg
Care Instructions
Suede: Suede should be cleaned with a dry sponge or suede brush to remove dust and dirt. It can be protected against water stains and damage with a silicon spray.
Oak: Wipe the surfaces down with a clean, damp cloth. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading to the finish. It’s also important not to position in front of a heat source, as the constant change in heat will dry out your furniture. Waxing also protects the grain.
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.