Hans J. Wegner was born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark, the son of a shoemaker. At the age of 17, he finished his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker with H. F. Stahlberg, in whose workshops Wegner’s first design experiments took form. He moved to Copenhagen as a 20 year-old, and attended the School of Arts and Crafts from 1936 – 1938 before he began working as an architect. As a young architect, Wegner joined Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller in Århus, working on furniture design for the new Århus city hall in 1940. It was during the same year that Wegner began collaborating with master cabinetmaker, Johannes Hansen, who was a driving force in bringing new furniture design to the Danish public.
Among Danish furniture designers, Hans J. Wegner is considered one of the most creative and productive. He is often referred to as the master of the chair – having designed more than 500 of them; many of these are considered masterpieces of chair design and continue to be collector’s items around the world.
Affectionately known as the Mama Bear Chair, the CH78 Lounge Chair by Hans J. Wegner was originally introduced in 1954 as an extension of his CH71 Chair (1952) design. An antidote to the often-heavy lounge chairs of his time, Mama Bear’s sculptural silhouette is defined by a series of inviting curves that offer up a warm embrace. Frame, armrests, and legs are crafted for stability from solid FSC™-certified wood. An optional headrest in leather or corresponding fabric completes the design. Neckpiece sold separately.
33"w x 31.5"D x 41.5"H, 15.5" Seat Height
Available in a selection of oak or walnut finishes and a wide range of fabrics/leathers.
Neck Cushion available separately.
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