Carl Hansen & Søn

Introduction

Carl Hansen & Søn is one of Denmark's most respected furniture manufacturers and has played a defining role in the history of Danish Modern design. Founded in 1908, the company has earned an international reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, careful material selection and a commitment to preserving the traditions of Danish cabinetmaking. While closely associated with Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn has collaborated with many of Denmark's most influential designers, producing furniture that has remained in continuous production for generations.

Origins

The company was founded by Carl Hansen on the Danish island of Funen, initially producing handcrafted furniture for the local market. In 1934, Carl's son Holger Hansen took over the business and began steering the company towards collaborations with leading designers, recognising the growing importance of modern furniture during the post-war years.

This vision would shape the company's future. Rather than simply manufacturing furniture, Carl Hansen & Søn sought to combine progressive design with the highest standards of traditional craftsmanship, creating pieces intended to last for decades rather than follow changing trends.

Design Philosophy

Carl Hansen & Søn has always maintained that outstanding furniture begins with exceptional craftsmanship. Every stage of production, from timber selection to final assembly and finishing, reflects a respect for both the material and the maker.

Solid wood remains central to the company's identity, with carefully selected oak, teak, walnut and beech shaped using a combination of traditional hand-finishing and precise modern manufacturing techniques. Complex joinery, sculpted components and woven natural materials such as paper cord are executed with remarkable consistency, preserving the character that defines Danish cabinetmaking.

Rather than pursuing short-lived design movements, the company has consistently focused on producing furniture where function, proportion and longevity take precedence.

Designers and Collaborations

Carl Hansen & Søn is best known for its longstanding partnership with Hans J. Wegner, which began in 1949. Together they introduced many of the most celebrated pieces of Danish furniture, including the CH24 Wishbone Chair, CH25 Lounge Chair, CH22 Lounge Chair, CH33 Dining Chair and numerous other designs that remain part of the collection today.

Over the decades the company has also produced furniture by some of Denmark's most respected designers, including Ole Wanscher, Børge Mogensen, Kaare Klint, Poul Kjærholm, Mogens Koch, Vilhelm Lauritzen, EOOS, Anker Bak, Nanna Ditzel, Bodil Kjær, Rikke Frost, and Ilse Crawford. These collaborations have expanded the collection while remaining faithful to the company's commitment to timeless craftsmanship.

Notable Designs

Although Carl Hansen & Søn manufactures a wide range of furniture, its collection is especially renowned for its dining chairs, lounge chairs and tables. The CH24 Wishbone Chair has become one of the most recognisable chairs ever produced, while designs such as the CH33, CH36, CH88, CH25, CH22, OW149 Colonial Chair, and BM Seriesdemonstrate the breadth of the company's catalogue.

Many of these pieces have remained in continuous production for more than half a century, a testament to their enduring relevance and lasting quality.

Lasting Influence

Today, Carl Hansen & Søn continues to manufacture furniture in Denmark, combining advanced production techniques with the traditions of skilled cabinetmaking that have defined the company for more than a century. Original vintage examples are highly sought after by collectors, while newly produced pieces continue to furnish homes, workplaces and public interiors around the world.

More than a manufacturer, Carl Hansen & Søn has become a steward of Danish design heritage. Its enduring collaborations with leading designers and uncompromising approach to craftsmanship have helped establish many of the defining works of Scandinavian furniture design, ensuring their continued relevance for future generations.

Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007)

Early Life

Hans Jørgensen Wegner was born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark. At the age of fourteen he began an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker under master craftsman H.F. Stahlberg, where he developed an exceptional understanding of woodworking and traditional joinery. This practical education formed the foundation of his design philosophy and remained evident throughout his career.

After qualifying as a cabinetmaker, Wegner attended the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Rather than pursuing architecture alone, he combined formal design education with his extensive workshop experience, allowing him to bridge craftsmanship and industrial production with unusual confidence.

Design Philosophy

Wegner believed that a chair should be understood from every angle. His designs are characterised by clean lines, sculptural forms and carefully resolved construction, where every joint and transition serves both a structural and visual purpose. Rather than concealing how an object was made, Wegner often celebrated traditional cabinetmaking techniques, allowing the craftsmanship itself to become part of the design.

Comfort was equally important. He devoted significant attention to ergonomics, ensuring that each chair felt as natural to sit in as it appeared effortless. His famous observation, "A chair is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles," encapsulates his holistic approach to furniture design.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Wegner worked with many of Denmark's finest manufacturers, each renowned for exceptional woodworking and production quality.

His longest and most celebrated collaboration was with Carl Hansen & Søn, which began in the late 1940s and continues today through the company's ongoing production of many of his classic designs.

He also designed for distinguished Danish manufacturers including Johannes Hansen, PP Møbler, Getama, Andreas Tuck, AP Stolen, Fredericia Furniture, Ry Møbler, and C.M. Madsen. These collaborations enabled Wegner to explore both handcrafted and industrial production while maintaining uncompromising standards of quality.

Notable Designs

Hans J. Wegner's body of work includes some of the most recognisable chairs ever produced.

The Wishbone Chair (CH24), introduced in 1950, remains his best-known design, celebrated for its Y-shaped backrest and woven paper cord seat. The Round Chair (PP501/PP503) achieved international recognition after appearing in the 1960 Kennedy–Nixon presidential debate, earning the nickname "The Chair."

Other important designs include the CH25 Lounge Chair, distinguished by its hand-woven paper cord seat and back, the elegant CH07 Shell Chair, the sculptural CH28 Lounge Chair, the CH33 Dining Chair, and the China Chair, inspired by traditional Ming Dynasty furniture. Each demonstrates Wegner's ability to reinterpret historical influences through a distinctly modern Scandinavian lens.

Lasting Influence

Hans J. Wegner helped define the international reputation of Danish furniture during the post-war decades and played a central role in establishing Denmark as a leader in modern furniture design. His work demonstrates that functionality, craftsmanship and aesthetics need not compete, but can exist in complete harmony.

Today, original vintage pieces are highly sought after by collectors, while many of his designs remain in continuous production more than seventy years after their introduction. Museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Designmuseum Danmark in Copenhagen, hold Wegner's furniture in their permanent collections, reflecting his lasting contribution to twentieth-century design history.

Delivery

Larger pieces of furniture require a different approach than standard parcel shipping. Items such as sideboards, dining tables, chairs and cabinets are transported by experienced furniture couriers who specialise in handling vintage pieces with care.

Within the Netherlands, delivery is arranged through a selection of trusted partners, including Brenger, as well as local couriers when appropriate. For international deliveries, I work with Magic Movers, a specialist in transporting vintage and design furniture across Europe.

For these items, you'll see "Local Pickup or Courier" as the available delivery option during checkout. Courier costs are not calculated automatically, as they depend on the destination and the size of the item. Once your order has been placed, I'll get in touch with you to discuss the available transport options and provide a quotation before anything is arranged.

Prefer to know the transport costs in advance? Feel free to get in touch before placing your order. Just send me the product you're interested in together with your delivery address or postal code through one of the contact options, and I'll gladly prepare a personalised quotation.

If you prefer, you're always welcome to collect your purchase yourself from the showroom in Vinkeveen. Local pickup is free of charge, and we'll simply arrange a convenient time for collection.

Collection in our Showroom

You're always welcome to collect your purchase from the showroom. Simply select Local Pickup during checkout, and I'll get in touch to arrange a convenient time.

The address can be found on our contact page! 

The coffee will be ready when you arrive.

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