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Wishbone Chair
In 1944, Danish designer Hans Wegner began a series of chairs that were inspired by portraits of Danish merchants sitting in Ming Chairs. One of these chairs was the Wishbone Chair (1949), also known as Ypsilon for the Latin letter “Y”.
DESIGNER | Hans Wegner, 1949
Wishbone Chair
H 29.5″
W 22″
D 20″
In 1944, Danish designer Hans Wegner began a series of chairs that were inspired by portraits of Danish merchants sitting in Ming Chairs. One of these chairs was the Wishbone Chair (1949), also known as Ypsilon for the Latin letter “Y”. It earns its name from the wishbone-shaped vertical bar that reinforces the slender top rail and provides an unobtrusive backrest. The chair was initially produced in solid teak. It is made from a steam-bent solid wood frame which demands perfect craftsmanship an intimate knowledge of wood joinery. The seat is handwoven from a paper cord, which was a good substitute for jute, which was unavailable during World War II. The wishbone chair is one of the most representative designs of the Danish Modern era that displays a reinterpretation of the shaker style for the modern market. The chair has been in continuous production since its introduction.
Hans Jørgensen Wegner
Hans Jørgensen Wegner, (April 2, 1914 – January 26, 2007), was a world-renowned Danish furniture designer. His influence contributed to the international popularity of mid-century Danish design. His style is often described as Organic Functionality, a modernist school with an emphasis on functionality. In his lifetime, he designed over 500 different chairs, over 100 of which were put into mass production and many of which have become recognizable design icons. He became and I remember of the Royal Danish Academy for fine arts in 1995, and an honorary doctor of the Royal College of Art in 1997. He died at the age of 92 in Denmark.
Wishbone Chair | c.1949
Manufacturer
Original: Carl Hansen & Son | Denmark
Current: Carl Hansen & Son | Denmark
Build
Dimensions: 22″W x 20″D x 29.5″H
Material: wood frame; paper cord seat