Hans Wegner
Wishbone (“Y”) Chair
Replica
Hans Wegner
1950
The Wishbone Chair, or Y Chair, is named for its distinctive back design. Of the 500-odd chairs that the legendary Danish designer Wegner conceived in its lifetime, this was his most successful (it has been in continuous production since 1950) and arguably, his most celebrated. Wegner’s research into classical Chinese Emperor’s thrones resulted first in the 1943 Chinese Chair, and from there developed to the Wishbone chair, which epitomises his passion for natural materials and skilled joinery. The chair’s production involves over 100 different steps, including the hand-weaving of the seat from more than 120 metres of paper cord. The end result is a light, attractive and comfortable dining chair with the characteristic Y-shaped back. A triumph of craftsmanship with a simple design and clean lines.
“Cut down to the simplest possible design of four legs, a seat, and a combined back- and armrest.”
Hans Wegner
Hans J. Wegner is regarded as one of the world’s outstanding furniture designers and is often referred to as “The master of the Chair”. He is an honorary member of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art in London. He was the first ever recipient of the Lunning Prize and received the 8th International Design Award in Osaka, Japan. His works are exhibited at major international museums including The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and Die Neue Sammlung in Munich.
The Wishbone chair is often referred to as the supermodel of chairs for the amount of front cover splashes it gets on interior and decor magazines around the world.
It is permanently displayed in the “Just One Good Chair” exhibition at the Design Museum in Denmark. Over the years The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has exhibited the Wishbone Chair a number of times.
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Stylish Comfort
Apart from being stylish, the Wishbone chair is also very comfortable and hardwearing, thanks in part to the hand-woven seat made of paper cord that can easily last over 50 years. This woven seat gently gives way to the individual and then returns to its original shape. The steam-bent back and arm rail, together with the distinctive wishbone support, fulfills all the functional demands of a comfortable chair that supports the back and the arms. It is a pure and simple design that is grounded in comfort and stability.
Quality and Craftsmanship
The Wishbone Chair was especially designed as a light, sculptural substitute for the heavy, fully upholstered dining chairs that were popular at the time. It is simple, appealing, functional and made of sustainable resources. The chair stands on four cylindrical wooden legs, which are spanned with dowels at the front and the back, as well as rectangular slats on the sides. All four legs are slightly tapered at the bottom. The front legs are rounded at the top, in order to avoid sharp corners. The curvy, steam-bent back legs provide a fixture for the top part of the backrest. The backrest is manufactured from a solid piece of wood, which is steam bent into its characteristic rounded shape. Utilizing high-quality natural materials, the chair is made to last for generations.
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.
“A chair should have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles.”
Hans Wegner
Product Literature
The Wishbone Chair is made up of 14 separate components which require 100 individual processes to chisel, carve, sand, and shape, adding nearly three weeks of preparation time before the chair can even begin to be assembled. The hand-woven seat takes a craftsman another hour to create. The 120 meters of paper cord creates a durable, stable seat. Our reproduction of the Wishbone chair stays true to the original specifications.
Product Materials
Frame: Natural wood
Weave: Natural paper cord
Product Dimensions
Height: 76 cm
Armrest Height: 70cm
Seat height: 45 cm
Width: 55 cm
Depth: 51 cm
Carrying Weight: 120kg
Weight as shipped: 7.5 kg
Care Instructions
Soaped Wood: Do not use washing-up liquid.
Apply a soap solution (made from 1.5 tbsp soap flakes mixed with 5 litres of lukewarm water) using a dry cloth or sponge and sweep in the direction of the grain. Wait about ten minutes. Tightly wring out the cloth with hot water and wipe the chair to remove excess soap. Allow the chair to dry. If the wood fibres rise slightly after the first few soap treatments, you may sand gently, using 240-grit sandpaper. Always sand in the direction of the grain. For everyday care, use a clean, soft cloth wrung out with lukewarm water. Do not use wire wool, washing-up liquid, oils or any cleaning agents or chemicals on the chair.
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.
Paper Cord: Never use washing-up liquid on paper cord.
Woven paper cord seats require little maintenance. The paper cord is strong, designed to last for years and is designed to patinate over time. If you do want to freshen up the seat, follow these instructions not more than twice a year.
Wipe the paper cord seat with a soft cloth and soap solution (made from 1,5 tbsp undyed soap flakes mixed with 5 litres lukewarm water). It is advisable not to do this too often as it can wear or fluff up the paper cord.
Seats made of natural paper cord can be discoloured by dyed fabrics, like the indigo dye on a pair of new jeans. To prevent this from happening, use a cushion on the seat.
The paper cord is treated with a thin layer of wax to prevent stains, but it will not be able to combat grease, red wine, fruit juice or the strong colour of spices in curry powder. To treat stains, remove as much of the fluid as possible with a soft cloth wrung out with lukewarm water and blot the affected area. Do not rub.