CONTENT DINING CHAIRS 14 DINING TABLES 36 LOUNGE CHAIRS 54 SOFAS 84 COFFEE TABLES 98 BOOKCASES + CABINETS 106 OFFICE 112 CHILDREN 116 DESIGNERS 122 PRODUCT OVERVIEW 128 4 5 BRINGING DANISH DESIGN FORWARD The story and success of Danish Modern are built on two equally important factors: Well thought-out, simple, functional and timeless design – and outstanding craftsmanship and quality. Two factors which ensure the longevity of each individual piece of furniture. It’s a living idea and Carl Hansen & Søn is not only an important part of the history of Danish Modern Design but also of its future. Great pride in wood craftsmanship has RESPECT THE DETAIL always been the core of our business and the collaboration and commissioning In the 1950’s, it was still common to of work from designers is the key to produce whole sets of furniture for our success. That’s why we can proudly living rooms or bedrooms. But we say that Carl Hansen & Søn has been recognised that the new Danish designers an integral part of Danish Modern right wanted to free buyers from this old way from the beginning, as a manufacturer of thinking. Instead they created a design of quality furniture. philosophy that made it possible to mix pieces while maintaining a unified After WWII there was a lack of materials for look. Their focus was on functionality upholstery so simpler, wooden furniture and many of them had been through an took centre stage. Carl Hansen & Søn apprenticeship in carpentry so they had was already enjoying great success in intimate, hands-on knowledge of working producing this type of wooden chairs. with wood. None more so than Wegner As a family business of carpenters, we who would go into the workshop were striving to maintain the essence of and make a piece himself, if he was handmade craftsmanship while producing unsure of the details of his design. furniture on a larger scale. So we began to look to some of the young designers His knowledge of wood joinery was who took an interesting and democratic unsurpassed among furniture approach to furniture making. They designers. And while his designs may wanted good design to be functional look simple on the surface, they are in and affordable for a larger part of the fact characterized by very specific and working population. complicated details. Some of his earlier designs pushed our production methods In 1949, architect Hans J. Wegner was to the limits of what was possible. But one of the new, up-and-coming design- our highly skilled, handpicked craftsmen ers. As a trained cabinetmaker, he rec- always saw it as a challenge and a ognised our dedication to quality based privilege to make the designs come alive on skilled craftsmanship and a deeply and to manufacture large quantities ingrained understanding of wood. This viable without compromising on quality. union between the visionary designer and Carl Hansen & Søn was to become Wegner’s furniture is meant for daily a very fruitful marriage. Over the years, use and not to be set upon a pedestal. Wegner designed the larger part of our To live up to this goal, every piece must successful collection. And it was then be made with care and intelligence. that Holger Hansen, CEO and son of our Today our craftsmen continue to live up founder, brought Wegner’s designs to his ideals with the very highest pro- to America where the term duction standards at every level. To this Danish Modern was day, many of the processes are still born. done by hand at our production facilities in Denmark. The Wishbone chair that Wegner designed for us in 1949 is a great example. It takes more than 100 manual operations to manufacture each chair and each seat takes a skilled craftsman about one hour to weave. 6 7 THE LONG LIFE OF TIMELESS resources very seriously. Not just because DESIGN we depend on natural materials for our products but also because we believe it The strength of this strong union of is a common responsibility. I FEEL DETAILS AS MUCH AS design and quality that became Danish Modern has proven itself over Every day we strive to improve our time. Many of our models have been in production methods, logistics and sales I SEE THEM production for more than 50 years and efforts to work in ways that are as Wegner’s designs still appeal to young gentle as possible on the environment. PEOPLE TOUCH THE FURNITURE; and old and to minimalists and We only buy wood from sustainably traditionalist’s and 1960’s have been managed forests. Oak, beech and ash THEY SEE IT WITH THEIR HANDS passed down through generations and come primarily from Danish forests HANS J. WEGNER still look modern even though they have which are ma naged according to the been used every day. The Wishbone principles described in Denmark’s Chair is still being commissioned in National Forest Programme. Some of large quantities for completely new these wood types are also sourced buildings. from other similarly managed European forests or in the case of In the 1990’s, there was a surge of walnut and cherry, from North Danish Modern in auction houses American forests. around the world and the demand for the classic, timeless look quickly grew. We use every possible bit of these fine At Carl Hansen & Søn, we saw this as hardwoods in our furniture production our cue to reintroduce some of the in Denmark. Leftover bits and pieces Wegner designs that had gone out of of wood are used to produce other production. Some, like CH07, The Shell products or recycled in district heating Chair, CH29 and The Sawbuck Chair, plants. We are consistently investing in became instant successes and won the most modern and energy-efficient international accolades. equipment and set annual targets for reducing the amount of energy used to Recently we have included pieces by produce the average piece of furniture. other design icons like Mogens Koch, Shipping cartons are also made using Ole Wanscher and Kaare Klint. Masters as few materials as possible and who like us share the same dedication airfreight is kept to a minimum. to craftsmanship and design. Wegner, Klint, Koch and Wanscher’s designs complement each other in the simple, TOMORROW’S CLASSICS modern way they aimed for when they were young designers. We look forward We are still the largest producers to seeing what the joined legacies of of Wegner’s furniture today. Danish these design icons can bring to the Modern is the combination of timeless future. design focused on functionality and quality production. That’s why Danish Modern isn’t something from the past RESPECT FOR NATURAL - but a concept that’s very alive today. RESOURCES Our collection include pieces from young designers like Strand+Hvass There is nothing “throw away” about and Thomas Bo Kastholm who have our furniture. Sustainability of design embraced the legacy of the great and products is an inherent core value designers before them and are taking for us. We take concerns about the this legacy into the future by creating sustainability of the world’s natural tomorrow’s classics. 8 9 BEHIND EVERY PIECE OF FURNITURE THERE LIES VISION, CAREFUL THOUGHT AND SKILLED CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT’S WHY WE SAY THAT EVERY PIECE COMES WITH A STORY AND WE HOPE YOU’LL ENJOY MAKING IT A PART OF YOURS 10 11 DINING CHAIRS DINING CHAIRS 14 15 DINING CHAIRS CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR The Wishbone Chair from 1949 was one of the very first models Hans J. Wegner designed especially for Carl Hansen & Søn. It has been continuously in production since 1950. CH327 DINING TABLE CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR TABLE TOP Oak soap FRAME Oak oil FRAME Oak soap SEAT Natural papercord 16 17 DINING CHAIRS CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR 4 x CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR FRAME Oak oil FRAME Beech, natural white FRAME Beech, light blue FRAME Beech painted black SEAT Natural papercord SEAT White papercord SEAT Natural papercord SEAT Black papercord CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR It was originally the last part of a series inspired by portraits of Danish It takes a skilled craftsman about merchants sitting in Chinese Ming chairs. Wegner took a giant leap in furniture 1 hour to weave the seat with design with this series by creating chairs with top rail and arms in a single approximately 120 m of paper cord. piece. The characteristic “Y” provides comfortable back support and offers the The impressive durability of paper user a variety of seating positions while giving stability to the steam-bent top. cord makes the chair strong and long lasting. It takes more than The Wishbone Chair is uniquely its own and holds a special position in the 100 manual operations to world of chairs. Many perceive it as being a very “sound” chair, because it manufacture each chair. fulfils the functional demands of comfort and stability while having a distinct look. In other words: it exemplifies the essence of modern Danish Design. 2 x CH24 WISHBONE CHAIR FRAME Walnut oil FRAME Beech painted black SEAT Natural papercord SEAT Black papercord 18 19 DINING CHAIRS CH88 CH88 Although primarily known and renowned for his work with wood, Hans J. Wegner was always interested in exploring and working with other materials. His CH88 chair, which combines wood and steel, eminently illustrates Wegner’s commitment to understanding various materials’ potential and compatibility. CH327 DINING TABLE 2 x CH88 DINING CHAIR TABLE TOP Oak oil SEAT SIF90 LEGS Oak oil BACK Oak whiteoil LEGS Stainless steel 20 21 DINING CHAIRS CH88 3 x CH88 DINING CHAIR 4 x CH88 DINING CHAIRS SEAT AND BACK Beech orange red SEAT AND BACK Beech red brown SEAT AND BACK Beech berry red SEAT AND BACK Beech black LEGS Black powdercoated steel LEGS Black powdercoated steel LEGS Black powdercoated steel LEGS Black powdercoated steel CH88 CH88 was first shown in 1955 as a prototype at the international H55 Characteristically, the upper Exhibition in Helsingborg, Sweden.