How to Identify an Original: Carl Hansen and Son
Take a seat!
A chair that captures the essence of Danish furniture design, the Wishbone Chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner is known not only for its iconic design but its long-lasting quality and stability. While the sculptural chair has created inspiration for designers across the globe, it has also become a common knock-off piece.
Read on to learn how to spot an original.
Identifying an original
One way to identify a Wishbone is to look at the curved top rail, the original backrest is made of one single piece, whereas most copies are made of three. The single piece gives it the sturdiness the chair is known for.
Not flimsy or weak, the seat of a real Hans Wegner chair will be sturdy and durable. An original Wishbone seat is tightly hand-woven, constructed with approximately 120 meters of woven paper cord, making for more lines in the center. Production of each seat takes one hour to craft, resulting in perfect 90-degree angles at all 4 corners.
The Y characteristic is another determining factor of the chair’s authenticity; the distance from the original seat to the Y is 10 millimeters, making for a more comfortable chair.
The finish of the Wishbone chair should be even and immaculate, derived from Danish oak, walnut, and ash.
About Carl Hansen and son
Founded in 1908, Carl Hansen & Søn represents iconic Danish furniture design by combining simplicity, functionality and passionate craftsmanship. The world’s largest manufacturer of furniture designed by Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Son also produces work by renowned design masters such as Arne Jacobsen, Børge Mogensen, Ole Wanscher, Kaare Klint, Poul Kjærholm, Bodil Kjær and Tadao Ando. For additional information visit www.carlhansen.com