CH24 Wishbone chair – Soft silver grey, natural papercord – Carl Hansen & Søn

The Wishbone CH24 chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949 and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn, is an iconic piece of Scandinavian design, embodying the minimalist and functional aesthetic of Danish modernism.

Design and Characteristics

The CH24 chair, nicknamed “Wishbone” because of its Y-shaped backrest, is a distinctive creation that combines elegance and ergonomics. Wegner, often called the “master of chairs”, designed this piece with a solid wood structure, usually in oak, ash, walnut or cherry, using steam bending to achieve organic curved lines. The hand-woven paper cord seat is a key element, requiring approximately 120 meters of cord and one hour of work per chair, according to Carl Hansen & Søn. This artisanal technique imparts a warm texture and impressive durability, making the chair both light and sturdy.

The Y-back, which merges the back and armrests into a single piece, provides ergonomic support while maintaining an airy silhouette. This design, inspired by Chinese chairs from the Ming dynasty, reflects Wegner's approach of simplifying forms while highlighting the construction.

Historical Background

The Wishbone CH24 chair marked the beginning of the collaboration between Hans J. Wegner and Carl Hansen & Søn, founded in 1908. Introduced in 1950, it has remained in continuous production, a testament to its durability and timeless appeal. Wegner, born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark, designed nearly 500 chairs during his career. The CH24 is part of a series of chairs inspired by portraits of Danish merchants sitting on Ming chairs, an oriental influence that shaped its aesthetic, as detailed in How An Iconic 17th Century Chinese Chair Inspired Two Danish Design Classics.

Manufacturing and Artisanal Processes

The production of the CH24 is a meticulous process, requiring more than 100 steps, mostly manual. The seat, woven from paper cord, takes a skilled craftsman about an hour to make, using 120 meters of material to ensure exceptional stability and durability. Carl Hansen & Søn is committed to using sustainable, FSC™-certified materials, with finishing options such as soap, varnish, oil or paint. This artisanal approach reflects the company's philosophy, which combines tradition and innovation. The wood is carefully selected, hand-curved, and each piece is tested to guarantee consistent quality, making the chair both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Popularity and Cultural Impact

The Wishbone CH24 chair is one of Wegner's most famous creations, often considered the “ideal chair”, capturing the essence of modern Danish design. Its worldwide popularity is particularly strong in Japan, where it accounts for more than a quarter of annual production. This popularity is reinforced by an entire book dedicated to the chair, published in Japanese, testifying to its cultural impact.

It is widely used in modern interiors, from private homes to hotels and restaurants, thanks to its versatility and sleek aesthetic. Its presence in museum collections, such as that of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and its use in international exhibitions underline its status as a design icon.

Hans J. Wegner

A prolific furniture designer, Hans Wegner is one of the founding fathers of Scandinavian design. Born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark, the son of a shoemaker, he completed his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker at the age of 17 with H.F. Stahlberg, under whose guidance he had his first formal experiences with wood, before leaving for Copenhagen at the age of 20 to attend the School of Arts and Crafts from 1936 to 1938, which enabled him to set up as an architect.

It was as an architect that the young Hans J. Wegner joined Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller in Århus. With them, he worked on the design of furniture for the reception hall of the new Århus town hall in 1940. In the same year, Wegner began to collaborate with the master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, whose technique played a considerable role in the development of Danish furniture.

Hans J. Wegner created his own design office in 1943. In 1944, he designed his first “Chinese chair” inspired by portraits of Danish merchants seated in Ming chairs. One of these chairs, nicknamed the “Wishbone Chair” (CH24), designed in 1949, was so successful that it has been manufactured continuously since 1950 by Carl Hansen & Son in Odense.

Hans J. Wegner is considered one of the most creative and productive Danish furniture designers. He has been awarded almost every design prize in existence, such as the Lunning Prize, the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale, the Prince Eugen Medal in Sweden and the Danish Eckersberg Medal. Many of the world's great museums pay tribute to him, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Die Neue Sammlung in Munich, by displaying his furniture in their permanent collections.

 Hans J. Wegner died in Denmark in January 2007.