Carpenter Johannes Hansen

Written by Niklas Søgaard on

Johannes Hansen Furniture Joinery A/S

Master cabinetmaker – the carpenter behind Wegner's most iconic masterpieces

Master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen was one of the most important cabinetmakers in Danish furniture history and was behind the earliest and finest versions of Hans J. Wegner's iconic chairs. From The Chair (Den Runde Stol) to the Peacock Chair, Hansen created a workshop where uncompromising craftsmanship and sculptural understanding of wood were at the center. The furniture that Johannes Hansen Møbelsnedkeri produced is today among the most sought-after classics from the Danish Modern period.



Background and establishment

Johannes Hansen (1886-1961) established his workshop in Copenhagen in the early 1900s and quickly became known as one of the country's most skilled carpenters. His focus on quality, precision and craftsmanship made the workshop one of the most respected in Denmark.
He played a central role in the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild and helped shape the annual Cabinetmakers' Guild exhibitions – a forum where leading cabinetmakers and designers presented their most advanced furniture.


The collaboration with Hans J. Wegner

The meeting between Johannes Hansen and Hans J. Wegner around 1940 was the start of one of Danish design's most fruitful partnerships.

Hansen was an experienced and uncompromising master, and Wegner a young, visionary designer. Together they shaped a design language and a craftsmanship tradition that would define Danish modernism in the decades to come.

They collaborated closely on furniture for the Cabinetmakers' Guild exhibitions from 1941 until the mid-1960s. Wegner's most experimental and organic ideas could only be realized by craftsmen of the absolute highest level – and Johannes Hansen was precisely that workshop. Johannes Hansen produced Wegner's designs until the workshop closed.


Model JH 517 'The Buck Chair' in patinated oak and new textile. Made by master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen and designed by architect Hans J. Wegner, c. 1951.


Iconic Wegner furniture produced by Johannes Hansen

Johannes Hansen was behind some of Wegner's most important designs, including:

  • The Chair – JH501 (1949) – the version with a hand-woven seat (and the very early ones with a woven headboard), made primarily of teak and oak. Considered by many to be “the most beautiful chair in the world”.
  • The Chair – JH503 (1950s) – the variant with upholstered leather seat; same craftsmanship and elegance as JH501, but with softer comfort.
  • The Peacock Chair (JH550), 1947 – an early icon with a dramatic back, graphic slats and sculptural lightness. Made in collaboration with Johannes Hansen.
  • The Fish Cabinet (1944, unique) – Wegner's handmade cabinet with over 3,000 pieces of inlay; created specifically for Hansen's stand.
  • JH 505 Cow Horn Chair, JH 701 Dining Chair, JH 513 Armchair, JH 540 Jacket Rest, JH 512 Fireplace Chair, JH 574 Bench, JH 584 Dining Table, JH 539 Stool, JH 803 Sofa Set and many more.


The Chair – history, symbolism and meaning

“The Chair” was first shown in 1949 and is considered the culmination of Wegner's early work with circular and organic wooden forms.

JH501 – wicker : The original model features a hand-woven seat and an elegant, floating frame primarily in teak or oak. It quickly became known for its tactile comfort and perfect balance between art and function.
JH503 – upholstered : A later variant with upholstered leather seat, created to provide a more exclusive and soft experience, but with the same iconic back and arm formation.

“The Chair” became a global symbol of Danish design after the TV debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960, where both candidates sat in Wegner's chair – a breakthrough that cemented the chair as an international classic.

The earliest editions produced by Johannes Hansen are today the rarest and most sought-after; they are characterized by a particularly high degree of craftsmanship precision and a rich patina, which is only seen in the workshop's original production.


Craftsmanship and signature quality

Johannes Hansen was known for an exceptionally high level of carpentry. His hallmarks include:

  • Perfect pin joints and precise soft curves
  • Careful profiling and rounding done by hand
  • Exclusive woods such as teak, mahogany and rosewood
  • Minimal use of machinery – maximum craftsmanship control

Hansen managed to translate Wegner's sculptural drawings into reality at a level that still impresses professionals today.


PP Furniture – continuing the legacy

After Johannes Hansen's death in 1961, his son Poul Hansen took over the workshop and continued the collaboration with Wegner until the 1970s.

The company went bankrupt in the early 1990s, and several of Wegner's models were then taken over by PP Møbler, which continues to produce them handmade according to the original methods.

This applies, among other things:

  • The Chair / The Round Chair (both 501 and 503)
  • The Peacock Chair
  • JH 505 Cow Horn Chair

PP Møbler thus carries on the legacy of Johannes Hansen and ensures that the furniture is still manufactured with deep respect for the original craftsmanship tradition.


Discover Johannes Hansen at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK you will find selected, original furniture produced by Johannes Hansen – including early examples of The Chair, the Peacock Chair, the China Chair and other unique Wegner designs. All works are selected for their authenticity, craftsmanship and historical significance.

Contact us at support@klassik.dk or tel. +45 3333 9060 – or visit us at Bredgade 3, Copenhagen.