Mid-Century Modern Hans Wegner Peacock Chair

Details

Description

A PP550 ‘Peacock’ chair designed by Hans Wegner in 1947 for Johannes Hansen.

Modeled after a traditional American Windsor chair, … Read more A PP550 ‘Peacock’ chair designed by Hans Wegner in 1947 for Johannes Hansen.

Modeled after a traditional American Windsor chair, Hans Wegner’s Peacock chair strips the form to reveal its construction while retaining aesthetic, decorative impact. The chair reveals a modernist approach to designing around the human body and using natural materials, with one exception. The “rush” seat is actually made of paper cord: when the chair was first designed in 1947, shortages caused by World War II prevented Wegner from using jute. Fellow designer Finn Juhl gave the nickname of ‘Peacock,’ seeing the chair’s flattened spindles and magnificent arc resembling the bird’s plumage.

Dimensions:
41 3/4 in. H × 27 1/2 in. W × 20 1/2 in. D
Seat: 22 1/2 in. x 19 3/4 in. x 12 in. at back
Floor to top of seat: 14 in.
Top of seat to arm rest: 10 1/8 in.
Seat to top head rest: 31 3/4 in.

Condition: Excellent, with some minor wear throughout. Wood splits to three of the seat joints measuring 1 inch, 1/2 and 1/4 inch on either side, and 1/4 inch. Area of discoloration to arm, possibly from sticker, measuring approximately 3/4 inch. Some nicks to side of one arm. On the other arm, a scratch measuring 1 1/8 inches on the side.

Literature:
40 years of Danish furniture design: 1947-1956, ed. Grete Jalk, vol. 3 (Copenhagen: Lindhardt og Ringhof, 1987), pp. 15-17.

Arne Karlsen, Danish Furniture Design: in the 20th Century, vol. 2 (Copenhagen: Christian Ejlers, 2007), p. 90.

Christian Holmsted Olesen, Wegner: Just One Good Chair (Germany, Hatje Cantz Verlag GmbH & Company KG, 2014).

Johan Møller Nielson, Wegner en Dansk Møbelkunstner (Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 1965), pp. 42, 98, 103, 106.

Noritsugu Oda, Danish Chairs (San Francisco: Chronicle Books), 1996, pp. 106, 107.

Svend Erik Møller and Viggo Sten Møller, Dansk Møbelkunst, Københavns snedkerlaugs møbeludstilling 1927-1951 (Copenhagen: 1951), p. 90.

References:
Designmuseum, Danmark
High Museum of Art, 1981.1000.33
Vitra Design Museum, MSK-1152-1

Curator’s Note:
We have four Peacock chairs available. Please contact us if you are interested in a pair or the set of four. See less