Hans J. Wegner, “The Wingchair”, model AP-45 – AP Stolen 1960s

“The Wingchair”, model AP-45. Designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1960. Rare and very early example executed at AP Stolen, Denmark in the 1960’s.

This model is one of Wegner’s more sculptural and expressive lounge chair designs. It reflects his ongoing exploration of organic form, balanced proportions, and comfort—all hallmarks of his approach to furniture. Although the Wingchair was designed in 1960, it remained a relatively little-known piece for decades. It was produced only in very limited numbers. It wasn’t until 2006—nearly half a century later—that the chair was reintroduced by Carl Hansen & Søn, based on Wegner’s original drawings and specifications.

Beneath the upholstery – in this case a beautifull burnt orange colour in Kvadrat Hallindal fabric – the chair’s frame is constructed from solid beech, while the seat and backrest are shaped with carefully molded foam. Despite its bold presence, the chair maintains the understated elegance that defines much of his work.

About Hans J. Wegner

Hans J. Wegner ( Tønder 1914 – Copenhagen 2007) was a Danish furniture designer whose refined craftsmanship and intuitive sense of form helped define mid-century Scandinavian design. Best known for his chairs—over 500 of them—Wegner had a rare ability to create pieces that felt both sculptural and functional, modern yet deeply rooted in traditional woodworking.

Born in 1914 in Tønder, a small town in southern Denmark, Wegner showed an early interest in working with his hands. He trained as a cabinetmaker in his teens, a foundation that remained central to his approach throughout his career. After attending the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, he worked with architects Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller, contributing to the furnishings of Aarhus City Hall. In 1943, he opened his own design studio in Copenhagen.

Wegner’s breakthrough came in the 1940s and 50s, when he began designing for Carl Hansen & Søn, a collaboration that produced some of his most enduring work. One of the earliest successes was the Wishbone Chair (CH24), introduced in 1949. With its graceful Y-shaped back and paper cord seat, it blended lightness with stability and has remained in continuous production ever since.

Another landmark design was the Round Chair (1949), later known simply as The Chair. Its seamless wooden arms and understated elegance drew international attention, especially after it appeared in the first-ever televised U.S. presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. This moment helped introduce Danish design to a global audience.

Wegner continued to refine and explore variations on the chair throughout his life. Other notable pieces include the Peacock Chair (1947), with its fan-shaped backrest; the Shell Chair (CH07, 1963), an early example of molded plywood with a floating seat; and the Ox Chair (1960), one of his bolder and more sculptural designs.

Though most associated with Carl Hansen & Søn, Wegner also designed for other Danish manufacturers, including PP Møbler, Getama, AP Stolen and Johannes Hansen. His designs always emphasized simplicity, ergonomics, and a deep respect for wood as a material. He once said, “A chair is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles.”

Wegner received numerous accolades during his lifetime, including the Lunning Prize (1951), the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale, and the Prince Eugen Medal (1961). Yet he remained modest, more interested in the quality of the work than in fame.
Hans J. Wegner passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on in the homes, offices, and museums where his designs are still admired and used daily. Quietly revolutionary, his furniture continues to represent the best of Danish modernism—timeless, well-crafted, and human in scale.