One of the (many) reasons to watch Danish TV crime dramas such as The Killing or Borgen is to catch a glimpse of the interiors. Often spotted on screen is the Wishbone chair by Hans J Wegner (1914-2007), a Danish classic.
Wegner designed it for Carl Hanson & Son in 1948 and it has been in production ever since – a powerful testament to its enduring design. It was one of several chairs he designed in the 1940s, which were inspired by portraits of Danish merchants sitting on Ming-era chairs.
Wegner, the son of a shoemaker, started as a cabinetmaker and became an architect in Copenhagen. He worked with Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller – key figures in the development of the Danish modern movement. He designed so many chairs he became known as the “chair master”.
The Wishbone chair is by far his most famous. The beauty of it is its sculptural almost delicate shape, made from steam-bent solid wood combined with the craftsmanship of the hand-woven seat. It looks light – especially in its original ash wood.
The back of the chair incorporates a wishbone shape and the seat, which is made from 120m of paper cord, takes an hour for an experienced craftsperson to make. Carl Hanson now makes the chair in several colours.
The Asian market, which buys about a quarter of the Wishbone chairs produced, prefers the darker colours, but the northern European market prefers blond woods and Denmark is still the biggest market.
As well as a choice of wood – from ash and maple to cherry and walnut – there are several finishes, from painted to oil, and the chair comes in different sizes and heights.
Fake Wishbone chairs are everywhere and easy enough to spot. The tell-tale detail is the curved top rail. It should be made from a single piece of wood – fake chairs have joins. Also in the originals, tapered dowels support the seat which are tightly woven and made from paper cord.
