Hans Wegner sofa

This rare and early example of the model 1935 shell sofa was designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Fritz Hansen in Denmark during the 1950s. The sofa features a two-seat, low-backed design with a sculptural, concave shell backrest and seat formed from bent teak veneer, mounted on a solid beechwood frame. This piece is an exemplary representation of the Danish functionalist movement and marks one of Wegner’s earliest experiments with molded plywood techniques.

The frame is crafted from pale beech, with rounded legs and gently tapered stretchers that contrast with the darker teak veneer of the seat and backrest. The curved, wing-like backrest and the softly scooped seat both display a warm medium-brown tone, with visible wood grain patterns and a matte finish that enhances the natural beauty of the materials. The original loose cushions are upholstered in a checked wool fabric in light beige with a dark grid pattern, characteristic of the upholstery used by Fritz Hansen during this period. The cushioning has developed a patina with age, but it remains intact, contributing to the authenticity of the piece.

The stamp on the underside of the wood bears the initials “FH” for Fritz Hansen, confirming its provenance. The sofa is in very good original condition, with only minor signs of wear consistent with age and use, particularly to the upholstery and the edges of the wood surfaces. These subtle imperfections enhance the vintage charm and character of the piece.

Hans Jørgensen Wegner (1914–2007) was a renowned Danish architect and furniture designer, widely recognized as a pioneer of modern Danish design. Known for his expertise in joinery and his focus on ergonomics and comfort, Wegner designed over 500 chairs during his lifetime, many of which have become iconic pieces in 20th-century furniture history. The model 1935 sofa, designed early in his career, showcases his developing vision for organic form and structural clarity.

Fritz Hansen, established in 1872, is one of Denmark’s most prominent furniture manufacturers, responsible for producing many of the defining pieces of Scandinavian modernism. The company’s collaborations with designers like Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, and Kaare Klint helped shape the mid-century Danish aesthetic and cement its place in the history of design.

The dimensions of the sofa are 137 cm in width, 55 cm in depth, and 72 cm in height, with a seat height of 38 cm. In imperial units, these dimensions correspond to approximately 53.9 inches wide, 21.7 inches deep, 28.3 inches high, and a seat height of 15 inches.