Furniture manufacturer Carl Hansen & Son

Written by Niklas Søgaard on

Carl Hansen & Son (Founded 1908)

Danish furniture manufacturer – the birthplace of iconic Wegner designs

Carl Hansen & Søn is one of Denmark's most traditional furniture manufacturers and was among the country's leading producers of quality cabinet furniture throughout much of the 20th century. The company's historical production is closely linked to Hans J. Wegner , whose iconic chairs – including the Y chair and the CH series – were manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn during a period that is now considered one of the highlights of Danish furniture history.


Founding and early years (1908–1949)

The company was founded in 1908 by cabinetmaker Carl Hansen on Funen. Initially, the focus was on classic, solid cabinet furniture, produced in small series using traditional craftsmanship techniques.

After World War II, his son Holger Hansen took over the operation and modernized production without compromising craftsmanship. This marked the beginning of a new era in which the company managed to combine industrial potential with carpentry precision — a crucial prerequisite for the collaboration that was soon to follow.


Collaboration with Hans J. Wegner (1949–1960s)

In 1949, Holger Hansen began a collaboration with Hans J. Wegner that would define the company's historical identity. Wegner delivered a number of designs that are now among the world's most famous pieces of furniture.
The collaboration led, among other things, to the launch of the iconic Y-chair in 1950 — a piece of furniture that is still considered a masterpiece of Danish furniture design today.

Over the following years, Wegner and Carl Hansen & Søn developed a wide range of models, including the CH22, CH23, CH24, CH25 and CH26 series, all of which are distinguished by craftsmanship precision, awareness of form and use of natural materials.


Iconic furniture from Carl Hansen & Son's historic production

  • CH24 – The Y-chair (1950) – Wegner's most famous chair, with hand-woven paper cord and a characteristic back.

  • CH25 (1950) – lounge chair with paper cord weaving, handmade using techniques that require many hours of work.

  • CH22 (1950) – one of Wegner's first armchairs for the company, known for carved details and organic shape.

  • CH23 (1950) – early dining chair with double-woven seat and beautiful, molded backrests.

  • CH26 (1950s) – the dining table version of CH22, also with a hand-woven seat.

  • CH28 (1951) – lounge chair with sculptural armrests and elegantly angled back.

  • CH29 – The Sawhorse Chair (1952) – compact chair with impressive precision carpentry.

  • CH30 (1954) – dining chair with curved backrest and Wegner's characteristic design language.

  • CH36 and CH37 (1960s) – timeless dining chairs with woven seats.

This period constitutes Carl Hansen & Søn's golden age and has left an indelible mark on Danish furniture history.

An old and original dining room chair (model CH31) by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son in solid oak and paper yarn. Designed in 1956.


Materials and craftsmanship

The historical production at Carl Hansen & Søn is known for:

  • Solid wood, especially oak and teak
  • Manually braided paper string — often hundreds of meters of string per chair
  • Traditional joints such as tenons, wedges and moulded ridges
  • Hand sanding and finishing that emphasizes the wood's structure

It is precisely this craftsmanship that makes the old Carl Hansen models so sought after on the vintage market today.


Marking and identification

Marking of Carl Hansen & Søn's older production varies greatly, especially before 1960. Unlike many contemporary manufacturers, Holger Hansen insisted early on on marking the furniture — although with major differences between retailers, time periods and export requirements.

  • Early models (pre-1959) may be completely unmarked
  • The Danish Furniture Control mark only became common after 1959.
  • Illums Bolighus and other department stores often preferred their own labels
  • Serial number labels were gradually introduced from the late 1960s

As with many Danish pieces of furniture, authenticity is best judged by construction, joinery details, and materials — not just a brand.



Legacy and significance

Carl Hansen & Son played a crucial role in the spread of Danish furniture design in the mid-20th century. Their collaboration with Hans J. Wegner stands as one of the most fruitful in Danish design history and has resulted in furniture that is today considered among the finest and most sought-after examples of Danish modernism.

The historic production is characterized by timeless quality, exceptional craftsmanship and a design language that still feels modern.


Experience Carl Hansen & Son at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK you will find original vintage furniture from Carl Hansen & Søn — including early Y chairs, lounge series and rare CH models. All furniture is selected for its authenticity, patina and historical quality.

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