Hans Wegner
Shell Chair
Replica
Hans Wegner
1963
The Danish furniture tradition offers no precedent for Hans Wegner’s Shell Chair. Its memorable silhouette manages to convey a sense of both lightness and stability. The three-legged base and elegant seat, the ends of which curve upwards, is perfect from every angle. Despite its immediate visual appeal, Wegner was guided by more than purely aesthetic demands in developing it. He abandoned solid wood for form-pressed hardwood laminates and removed armrests, thus allowing the individual to take up more casual, lounging positions. The Shell Chair is a clear manifestation of Wegner’s belief that a chair should always be comfortable, have no back side and should be beautiful from all sides and angles. Although it failed to capture the public’s attention when first released in 1963, it is now among Wegner’s most popular designs.
Sculptural perfection
The Shell chair is listed on Forbes’ list of quality furniture that will last you a lifetime.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York and Die Neue Sammlung in Munich feature Wegner’s furniture.
In 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the Shell’s design, The Maharam Shell Project was launched at the 26th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. It combined 20 new options of wooden frames with colourful, patterened Maharam fabrics for a fun and relevant update on the chair.
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Clean Comfort
The gently curved shells of the seat and backrest are intended to embrace the individual in complete comfort. Its deep seat is so designed for remarkable relaxation. Polyurethane cushioning covered with top grain Italian leather form a comfortable seat which allows the individual to recline slightly. Because of its unique double frame, the three legged base flexes gently under the individual and is comfortable for extended periods of time.
Quality and Craftsmanship
The shell chair is handmade with the highest quality form-pressed wood, shaped into its signature smooth arched curves. The three-legged construction and double frame contribute to the dynamic appearance of the chair, offers absolute stability and also strengthens the backrest.
Hans J. Wegner, born in Tonder in Denmark in 1914, was amongst the most prolific Danish designers, helping to establish the popularity of mid-century Scandinavian design. In his lifetime he designed more than 500 chairs, of which more than 100 went into mass production. He completed 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 is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles.”
Hans Wegner
Product Literature
The seat and backrest shells are made from form-pressed veneer. Polyurethane cushioning is upholstered in top grain Italian leather. The front legs are shaped from a single, uniform piece of laminated wood. The three-legged construction of the frame affords great stability. Our version stays true to the original design.
Product Materials
Frame: Form-tensioned ash or walnut wood veneer
Chair upholstery: Top grain Italian leather or fine new wool
Chair padding: Polyurethane cushioning
Product Dimensions
Height: 74cm
Width: 92cm
Depth: 83cm
Seat height: 35cm
Carrying Weight: 120kg
Weight as shipped: 15kg
Care Instructions
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.
Make sure that your leather furniture is not positioned close to heat sources, so that it does not dry out and become brittle. In addition, we recommend that leather surfaces are not permanently exposed to intense sunlight, because direct sunlight over an extended time period can diminish the quality of the leather.
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.
Wood veneer: 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 veneer furniture is not positioned close to heat sources, so that it does not dry out and become brittle. We recommend that wood veneer 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 veneer.