Hans J Wegner's centenary is feted with a duet of Denmark shows and new launches at the Salone del Mobile

The Sønderjyllands Kunstmuseum in Tønder,
The Sønderjyllands Kunstmuseum in Tønder, Hans J Wegner's hometown, is marking the Danish designer's centenary with a new show that explores his childhood and training as a furniture maker
(Image credit: Hans J. Wegner)

Given his status as design national hero, it's no surprise that the Danes are celebrating the hundredth anniversary of Hans J Wegner's birth on multiple fronts. The Sønderjyllands Kunstmuseum in Tønder, Wegner's hometown, is honouring its favourite son with a new show that explores his childhood and training as a furniture maker at the local workshop of Herman Stahlberg.

Housed in an old water tower, the art museum is home to the only permanent Wegner exhibition in the country: a collection of what the designer called 'my 37 best chairs'. The new exhibition, 'Hans J Wegner: A Nordic Design Icon from Tønder', opens tomorrow on what would have been his 100th birthday and will include 150 pieces spanning not only furniture and lamps, but also art works and tools.

The museum has also invited five contemporary Nordic designers - David Ericsson from Sweden, Caroline Olsson from Norway, Harri Koskinen from Finland, Dögg Gudmundsdottir from Iceland and Søren Ulrik Petersen from Denmark - to create new pieces that draw creative inspiration from the Wegnerian legacy. A sizeable 380-page tome in Danish will be published by the museum to accompany the show, with an English version slated to be release in summer.

Already open at the Designmuseum Danmark in Copenhagen is 'Wegner: Just One Good Chair'. This survey uses 150 original pieces, 50 new versions of his designs, as well as drawings, photos and models, to show how Wegner's 'organic modernism' was rooted in traditional Danish craftsmanship and woodworking, and how he 'rationalised' those traditions for the industrial age.

It also places Wegner's work in the context of work by his contemporaries such as Charles and Ray Eames, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen and Mies van der Rohe and looks at how he has influenced contemporary designers such as Jasper Morrison, Naoto Fukasawa, Tadeo Ando and Konstantin Grcic. Similarly, the Designmuseum has also produced its own book: a reprint of Christian Holmsted Olesens' tome (from which the exhibition takes it name), with new material and photographs.

Wegner's centenary is also being marked next week during the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Furniture manufacturer PP Møbler, who worked closely with the designer during his life, is showing all of the pieces it produced in collaboration with him as well as launching the 'Tub Chair', a Wegner design that has never been put into production before. (For more on the new launch turn to our May issue, out on 10 April).

Paul Smith, a dedicated fan of Danish design, is showing his own Wegner tribute in Milan, re-upholstering a range of Wegner-designed chairs from Carl Hansen & Søn. The fashion designer's trademark stripes textiles have been produced in collaboration with Maharam. Carl Hansen & Søn, meanwhile, has re-adopted a Wegner-devised logo it dropped in the 1980s and put his 'CH88' chair into production, another of Wegner's endless chair designs - he came up with 500 during his lifetime - that didn't make it past the prototype stage.

Wegner as a PhD student at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts, circa 1937

Wegner as a PhD student at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts, circa 1937

(Image credit: press)

The exhibition, 'Hans J Wegner: A Nordic Design Icon from Tønder

The exhibition, 'Hans J Wegner: A Nordic Design Icon from Tønder', opens tomorrow on what would have been the designer's 100th birthday and will include 150 pieces spanning not only furniture and lamps, but also art works and tools

(Image credit: press)

The Tønder art museum, housed in an old water tower, is home to the only permanent Wegner exhibition in the country

The Tønder art museum, housed in an old water tower, is home to the only permanent Wegner exhibition in the country: a collection of what the designer called 'my 37 best chairs'. The chairs, which were chosen by Wegner himself whilst he was still alive, form a departure point for the exhibition

(Image credit: press)

Wegner's designs are being shown alongside paintings from the museum's collection, which has a special focus on Nordic art and design from the 20th century

Wegner's designs are being shown alongside paintings from the museum's collection, which has a special focus on Nordic art and design from the 20th century

(Image credit: press)

'Peacock' chair (left) and 'PP501' chair.

'Peacock' chair (left) and 'PP501' chair.

(Image credit: Torben Eskerod)

The museum has also invited five contemporary Nordic designers - David Ericsson from Sweden, Caroline Olsson from Norway

The museum has also invited five contemporary Nordic designers - David Ericsson from Sweden, Caroline Olsson from Norway, Harri Koskinen from Finland, Dögg Gudmundsdottir from Iceland and Søren Ulrik Petersen from Denmark - to create new pieces that draw creative inspiration from the Wegnerian legacy

(Image credit: press)

In Copenhagen, meanwhile, the Designmuseum Danmark is staging its own tribute to the designer, with a survey entitled 'Wegner: Just One Good Chair'

In Copenhagen, meanwhile, the Designmuseum Danmark is staging its own tribute to the designer, with a survey entitled 'Wegner: Just One Good Chair'

(Image credit: Pernille Klemp)

This survey uses 150 original pieces, 50 new versions of his designs, as well as drawings, photos and models

This survey uses 150 original pieces, 50 new versions of his designs, as well as drawings, photos and models, to show how Wegner's 'organic modernism' was rooted in traditional Danish craftsmanship and woodworking.

(Image credit: Pernille Klemp)

'PP 225 Flag Halyard' chair, 1950.

'PP 225 Flag Halyard' chair, 1950.

(Image credit: Pernille Klemp)

The Copenhagen show places Wegner's work in the context of work by his contemporaries such as Charles and Ray Eames

The Copenhagen show places Wegner's work in the context of work by his contemporaries such as Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen and Mies van der Rohe and looks at how he has influenced contemporary designers. Wegner is pictured here with Charles Eames in New York, 1959

(Image credit: press)

The exhibition offers a glimpse into the designer's personal life, including his private home

The exhibition offers a glimpse into the designer's personal life, including his private home

(Image credit: press)

Wegner came up with 500 chairs during his lifetime.

Wegner came up with 500 chairs during his lifetime.

(Image credit: Pernille Klemp)

Also on show is one of Wegner's rarer pieces, his 'Knibtangstol' chair (right).

Also on show is one of Wegner's rarer pieces, his 'Knibtangstol' chair (right).

(Image credit: Pernille Klemp)

Wegner's centenary will also be marked next week during the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

Wegner's centenary will also be marked next week during the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Furniture manufacturer PP Møbler, who worked closely with the designer during his life, is launching the 'Tub Chair' (left), a design that has never been put into production before. It will also show all of the pieces it produced in collaboration with him, including the iconic 'PP 501' chair

(Image credit: press)

'Peacock 521' chair, by Hans J Wegner, for PP Møbler

'Peacock 521' chair, by Hans J Wegner, for PP Møbler

(Image credit: Hans J Wegner)

Paul Smith, a dedicated fan of Danish design, is also showing his own Wegner tribute in Milan

Paul Smith, a dedicated fan of Danish design, is also showing his own Wegner tribute in Milan, re-upholstering a range of Wegner-designed chairs from Carl Hansen & Søn

(Image credit: press)

The fashion designer's trademark striped textiles have been produced in collaboration with Maharam

The fashion designer's trademark striped textiles have been produced in collaboration with Maharam

(Image credit: press)

Among the Wegner designs receiving a Paul Smith transformation is his 1950 'Wishbone Chair'

Among the Wegner designs receiving a Paul Smith transformation is his 1950 'Wishbone Chair', the three-legged 'Shell Chair', the minimalist 'CH28', the 'CH163' sofa and contemporary classic, the 'Wing Chair'

(Image credit: press)

The collection comes upholstered in two worsted wool textiles, which explore stripes at dramatically different scales

The collection comes upholstered in two worsted wool textiles, which explore stripes at dramatically different scales

(Image credit: press)