Hans, His Chairs and The World
By Anne Blond

Danish Design Icon, Hans J. Wegner, comes alive in new children's book.

With his 100 years anniversary just around the corner, Danish design icon Hans J. Wegner has become the center of a renewed international attention - resulting in new literary projects and exhibitions. 

Photo courtesy PP Møbler
Hans J. Wegner with model

This richly illustrated book opens the world of the famous Danish furniture designer to the younger generations and draws attention to the old Water Tower in Tønder, Wegner's native town, that has been transformed into a permanent collection of the Danish iconic chair designs.

Photo courtesy Art Museum Tønder
The Water Tower


Image courtesy Art Museum Tønder
Book page

The idea behind the book is to make the Water Tower in Tønder and its permanent collection of Hans J. Wegner's chair designs more accessible to the youngest visitors to the Museum. For older visitors to the Water Tower, information about the Wegner collection is provided via model and drawing displays, as well as by factual texts and a film.


Image courtesy Art Museum Tønder
Book page


Photo: Katja Kejser & Kasper Holst Pedersen

Hans J. Wegner

The Teddy Bear Chair 1951

Photo: Jens Mourits Sørensen
Hans J. Wegner

The Cow Horn Chair 1952

Photo: Katja Kejser & Kasper Holst Pedersen
Hans J. Wegner
The Chair 1950

Photo: Jens Mourits Sørensen

Hans J. Wegner 

The Peacock Chair 1947


Photo: Jens Mourits Sørensen
Hans J. Wegner 

The Valet Chair 1953

The book relates the story behind Hans J. Wegner's motivation to become a cabinet maker. It also tells the story of Wegner's sources of inspiration and his international breakthrough as a furniture designer. The work practices of a cabinet maker are described as well. The book also talks about the environmental concerns that are an integral part of the production of Hans J. Wegner's chair designs.


Image courtesy Art Museum Tønder
Book page

Image courtesy Art Museum Tønder
Hans J. Wegner
Fish Cabinet 1944

Museum curator Anne Blond has written the text while artist and illustrator Birgitte Haahr Lund has created the illustrations for the book. Although the illustrations were created digitally on the computer, their inspiration stems from old wood block prints and the rough hewn texture of wood cuts. The final result is a unique mix of the classic and the contemporary. It traces its origins to the craftsmanship of the furniture designer Hans J. Wegner; yet it also appeals to the sensibility of today's children.

The book is available at the museum.