Wegner – 100 Years

This year is the centenary of the birth of Wegner. It has been marked with publications, relaunches of his furniture and critically acclaimed exhibitions around the country. In the spring, Designmuseum Danmark opened the exhibition “Wegner – Just one good chair”, while at Kunstmuseet in Tønder they host the exhibition “Hans J. Wegner – A Nordic design icon from Tønder”. At Bruun Rasmussen, we entered into collaboration with both museums, lending them a number of pieces for their exhibitions.

The Grand Finale

We have the pleasure of finishing off the Wegner year with a large-scale themed auction, which shows the extensive range of his designs. Over the past year, we have been on the lookout for Wegner furniture made by the original manufacturers. The mission is now complete, and we proudly present the largest selection to date of his most iconic designs – from the earliest and rarest pieces created at the end of the 1930’s through the beloved classics to his most recent pieces from the end of the 1980’s. The auction therefore presents examples of the Dolphin Chair, the China Chair, the Round Chair, the Papa Bear Chair, the Peacock Chair, the Flag Halyard Chair, the Crocodile Cabinet and many, many more.

“Whatever you make, it is never final!”

This Hans J. Wegner said on more than one occasion. To him, creating a perfect piece of furniture was a utopia. This view was reflected in a certain way of working, which he pursued throughout his life. Many of his pieces served as archetypes, which he later further developed into other variations. And so there are echoes of the China Chair in the Y-chair, just as the folding furniture was a theme he returned to again and again. Wegner was not afraid to experiment. He saw each experiment as a step along the way and viewed errors of judgement as part and parcel of the creative process.

The story of Wegner is also the story about a shoemaker’s son from Tønder. It is said that when he was just a boy, he made figures out of the wooden blocks his father used as shoe templates. Having completed his training as a cabinetmaker in his hometown, he moved to Copenhagen, where he qualified as an architect in 1938. This dual background gave him an in-depth feel for the natural character of the wood and a unique sense of design. Not only did he abide by principles of aesthetic and craftsmanship, but his furniture was also made on the basis of thorough analyses of body positions.

The Breakthrough for Danish Design

Wegner goes down in history as the greatest and most prolific Danish designer, and it was he who put Danish furniture design on the world map. His international career took off after the launch of the Round Chair, which was referred to in the American magazine ”Interior” as the most beautiful chair in the world and named ”The Chair”. Another milestone in Wegner’s career, and for Danish design in general, was when The Chair played a visible part in a historic media event. In 1960, an election debate was broadcasted to viewers for the first time ever, and the rivals, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, were each sitting in The Chair.

Join us for talks on Wegner!

On the opening day of the preview, we will also mark the centenary of Wegner. At 5 pm, Peter Kjelgaard, head of our design department, will introduce the auction, and then follows former manager at Wegner’s design studio, Anders Grannov Brun, with the talk ”Well seated – Hans J. Wegner ”. Lastly, Christian Holmsted Olesen from Designmuseum Danmark will provide a holistic presentation of Wegner titled “Playful seriousness – Wegner today”. At 2 pm on the following days of the preview, our design specialist Peter Tholstrup will give a tour of the exhibited Wegner pieces up for auction.

Auction: Wednesday 3 December at 4 pm at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen
Preview: From 20-24 November at the same address

Everyone is welcome!

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