Carl Hansen Masterpieces

HANS J. WeGNer

CH23

ONe OF THe FirST mASTerpieCeS

CH23 ORGANIC FORMS AND ELEGANT DETAILS

CH23 FORM AND FUNCTION UNITED IN A SINGLE CHAIR The CH23, which made its debut in 1950, was one of the first masterpieces Hans J. Wegner designed exclusively for Carl Hansen & Søn at the beginning of his career. The dining chair’s clean, organic contours and refined styling bear testament to young Wegner’s unique design approach and insightful craftsmanship.

At first glance, the CH23 appears quite simple. Upon closer inspection, however, the dining chair reveals many fine, well-known Wegner details: the shape of the elegant cruciform cover caps in the backrest, the special double-woven seat pattern, the arched shape of the rear legs to ensure optimal stability, the form-pressed veneer backrest, and the refined woodwork. With all these elements intact, the CH23 remains faithful to Wegner’s original, hand-drawn sketches.

The expression of the inviting chair continues to appear as modern and timeless today as it did in 1950. The chair is clean and simple in its design, strong in its construction, comfortable to sit in, and elegant to behold. Uniting function and quality, it offers optimal comfort and a space-saving size that suits almost any table – even in smaller rooms.

The CH23 was one of the first chairs Wegner designed exclusively for Carl Hansen & Søn at the beginning of his storied career. The chair’s organic contours and refined details demonstrated the young prodigy’s considerable talents as a designer and a craftsman. Although Wegner’s designs in many ways represented a sharp break with tradition, the furniture was received with great interest.

HANS J. WEGNER MASTER OF FURNITURE DESIGN Furniture designer Hans J. Wegner is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of Danish modernism in furniture design.

Wegner was born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark, where he later completed his cabinetmaker training. This was followed by a two-year period of study at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen from 1936 to 1938, after which the 24-year-old Wegner went to work for architects Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller in Aarhus, Denmark.

In 1943, at the age of 29, Wegner chose to become an independent furniture designer.

Wegner’s life-long passion for quality craftsmanship and his continual pursuit of simple and precise design elements continue to make him a source of inspiration for new generations of furniture designers. With such iconic works as the Wishbone Chair and the Shell Chair, Wegner proved time and time again that well-conceived design never goes out of fashion.

Wegner earned extensive accolades for his work and his furniture can be found in design museums all over the world, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New york. He passed away in January 2007.

CH22, CH23, CH24, CH25 & CH26 vISIONARy DESIGN

CH22, CH23, CH24, CH25 & CH26 THE FIRST MASTERPIECES

Hans J. Wegner’s unique talent truly manifested itself with the fruitful partnership he established with Carl Hansen & Søn in 1950. Combining the company’s long-standing tradition of craftsmanship with his refined artistic vision, Wegner was able to develop furniture of the highest quality.

The first chairs Wegner designed for Carl Hansen & Søn were unique and set new standards for modern furniture design. The designs highlighted Wegner’s background in cabinetmaking, his deep understanding of the potential of various materials, and his fine sense of ergonomics. While working with a clear artistic vision, Wegner gave his furniture a human dimension, creating designs for everyday use.

Working closely with some of the finest cabinetmakers, Wegner, himself a very thoughtful craftsman, created the CH22, CH23, CH24, CH25, and CH26 chairs at the start of his career.

These innovative designs, which today hold iconic status, laid the foundation for Carl Hansen & Søn’s extensive Wegner collection.

Two of these chairs – the world-famous CH24, also known as the Wishbone Chair, as well as the woven CH25 lounge chair – have been crafted by Carl Hansen & Søn for over 65 years.

The other two, the CH22 and CH23, have now once again been put into production after hiatuses of various lengths. With the current reintroduction of the CH23 and the launch of the CH26 dining chair, all five of the master designer’s inaugural chairs are once again part of the Carl Hansen & Søn collection.

These first chairs represented a new and modern aesthetic while emphasizing an overt simplicity. Wegner’s excellent craftsmanship and appealing designs garnered broad admiration, quickly earning him a reputation as one of Denmark’s most innovative furniture designers.

Wegner utilized advanced elements such as steam-bent backrests, organic forms, complex constructions, and seats of paper cord and light wood – all united in a simple and elegant expression and focused on ergonomics and comfort.

The first chairs were, in many ways, ahead of their time.

Wegner quickly became known for his uncompromising approach and his ability to continuously push the envelope to unify fine craftsmanship with ideal form in the workshop. His success in this realm is evident throughout his life’s work – as it is in his first chairs for Carl Hansen & Søn.

every piece comes with a story When you choose a Carl Hansen & Søn product, you gain more than just a piece of furniture.

You become part of a proud tradition of distinctive and beautiful craftsmanship, where nothing has been left to chance. Where all furniture is manufactured with great love for design and the history of the crafting process. Where each piece passes through numerous expert hands before taking pride of place in your chosen space, recounting a story of masterful design in quality wood from sustainable forests.

We hope you will continue to tell the story.

That is why we make furniture.

CH23 HANS J. WEGNER 1950

The CH22 and CH26 are available in oak and walnut as well as in a combination of these woods in a variety of finishes.

The backrest is form-pressed veneer. The seat is available in natural or black paper cord. The backrest cover caps are available in your choice of either oak or walnut.

The CH23 is available in oak and walnut as well as in a combination of these woods in a variety of finishes. The seat is available in natural or black paper cord. The backrest cover caps are available in your choice of either oak or walnut.

CH22

CH23

78,6 cm 30,9”

hans j. wegner 1950

61,5

78,6 cm 30,9”cm 78,6 30,9” 44,5 cm 17,5 44,5 ”cm

79,8

hans j. wegner 1950

51,9

79,8

1:10 1:10

OAK 51,9

44,5

44,5cm

soap LACQUER oiL

51,9cm

WALNUT OAK/WALNUT

59,2 59,2

51,9 51,9

59,2cm

59,2cm

51,9

51,9

51,9cm

Chair Oak or walnut Seat Paper cord soap LACQUER oiL

WALNUT OAK/WALNUT

50,3cm

50,3cm

Chair Oak or walnut Seat Paper cord

44,5 59,2

44,5 79,8

50,350,3 cm cm 19,8” 19,8”

50,3cm

79,8cm

OAK

50,3cm

50,3 cm 19,8”cm 50,3 19,8”

61,5

61,5

50,350,3 cm cm 19,8” 19,8”

69,5cm

61,5cm

44,5cm

17,5 ”

36,8cm

61,5 61,5

69,5cm

CH26

61,5

72,6 36,8

72,6

36,8

61,5cm

69,5 69,5

50,3 cm 19,8”

78,6cm

72,6cm

50,3 cm 19,8”

69,5

44,5 cm 17,5 ”

36,8

hans j. wegner 1950

72,6

CH22 and CH26 HANS J. WEGNER 1950

WHITE OIL black

WHITE OIL black

The CH25 is available in oak and smoked oak in a variety of finishes. The seat and backrest are available in natural or black paper cord.

CH24

CH25

hans j. wegner 1950

45

76

70

hans j. wegner 1950

35

The CH24 is available in beech, oak, ash, cherry, walnut, and smoked oak in a variety of finishes. The seat is available in natural or black paper cord.

73

CH25 HANS J. WEGNER 1950

55

CH24 HANS J. WEGNER 1950

71 55

51

73

35 73,0cm

Chair Beech, oak, ash, cherry, walnut or smoked oak Seat Paper cord

Chair Oak or smoked oak Seat and back Paper cord

soap LACQUER oiL

soap LACQUER oiL

WHITE OIL black

Beech

OAK

Oak

Smoked oak

Ash Cherry Walnut Smoked oak

73

73

35,0cm

71 71,0cm

51

51

35

55,0cm

51,0cm

73.0cm

55

73 71

51 51

55,0cm

55

51,0cm

51

45

45,0cm

73,0cm

71.0cm

73

55 55

4570

76

7076

76,0cm

WHITE OIL black

carlhansen.com

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