One Good Chair

Legendary Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner in the Ox Chair in 1960. Photo credit: Designmuseum Danmark.

“If only you could design just one good chair in your life . . . But you simply cannot, ” said Danish designer Hans J. Wegner in 1952.

Called the ‘The King of Chairs’ or ‘Chair Maker’, Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) designed over 500 chairs which paved the way for Danish Design’s international breakthrough after World War II.

Marking the 100th anniversary of Han J. Wegner’s birth, Designmuseum Danmark in Copenhagen has launched the exhibition Just One Good Chair which runs until November 2, 2014. The exhibition tells the story of Wegner’s life and career by showing 150 of his major original works from the time, drawings, photos and models.

Guests can try out and touch over 50 newly produced Wegner-pieces in the exhibition. Showing how fine wooden furniture was made, the exhibition features film and furniture, by some of Wegner’s contemporaries including Charles & Ray Eames, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen and Mies van der Rohe.

The exhibition highlights some of the most significant post-war Danish and international designers and current international designs which have been inspired by Danish design.

“What makes Danish design special in relation to German, American and Italian design, for instance?,” asks Designmuseum Danmark. “And why is Danish design, and Wegner’s in particular, so popular in Asia today, serving as a model for so many of the greatest designers of our time – such as Jasper Morrison, Naoto Fukasawa, Tadeo Ando and Konstantin Grcic.”

Designmuseum Danmark
Bredgade 68
1260 København K
Website: http://designmuseum.dk