Know Your Chairs: The Wishbone Chair by Hans Wegner

When discussing iconic pieces in my recurring series of Know Your Chairs, few are as instantly recognizable--or as universally revered--as the CH24 Wishbone Chair. Designed in 1949 by Danish master Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn, the Wishbone Chair is a hallmark of modernist simplicity and craftsmanship, blending form, function, and beauty in a way that has endured for over 70 years.

Wishbone chair, in the collection of the National Museum of Norway

Hans J. Wegner, often dubbed the “Master of the Chair,” was one of the leading figures in the Danish modern movement. In collaboration with Carl Hansen & Søn, he set out to create a chair that was both practical and sculpturally elegant. Inspired by portraits of Danish merchants sitting in Chinese Ming Dynasty-era chairs, Wegner distilled this aesthetic through the lens of Scandinavian minimalism.

The result was the CH24, commonly referred to as the Wishbone Chair or Y-chair due to the distinctive Y-shaped back support that provides comfort while echoing the organic form of a wishbone. The chair was designed as a single piece, meant to be lightweight, strong, and comfortable without the need for upholstery.

Each Wishbone Chair is a testament to high-level craftsmanship. It takes over 100 individual steps to produce just one chair, including the hand-weaving of the seat from more than 120 meters of paper cord—a durable material that adds warmth and texture to the piece.

The frame is traditionally made from solid wood, such as oak, beech, ash, or walnut, and finished in a range of natural or lacquered options. This blend of natural materials and meticulous attention to detail speaks to the values of quality and sustainability that have kept the chair in continuous production since its release.

The CH24 is more than just a piece of furniture—it’s a symbol of the post-war design movement that prioritized honest materials and human-centered design. It helped to define Danish modernism and has influenced generations of designers worldwide.

Its elegance and versatility have made it a favorite in both residential and commercial interiors, fitting seamlessly into dining rooms or living areas as an occasional chair. And because of its history, it can live comfortably in traditional or contemporary schemes.

by Chambers & Chambers

by Commune Design

by Studio Shamshiri

by Commune Design

by Mandy Cheng Design

Astonishingly, the Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair has never gone out of production. It’s been manufactured continuously since around 1950. You can purchase one from authorized dealers Carl Hansen & Søn, Design Within Reach, and Hive Modern.

Happy designing!

"Architects & Chairs" by Jorge Arévalo

This is "Know Your Chairs" month here at the ol' FID blog and I will be sharing with you a very interesting chair on the 24th, but for now, I want to show you the delightful work of master illustrator Jorge Arévalo. He created a series called "Architects and Chairs" where he puts the architect on or near the chair they designed which defines their individual legacy (some designers have more than one!). The precise, pointy style in which he renders people feels a little retro, perfect for the subject of Modernist furniture. All these are available as prints at the shop on his website!

Happy designing!

Know Your Chairs: The Africa dining chair

For this installation of Know Your Chairs, I am presenting a truly gorgeous seat, a sculptural work of art: the Africa dining chair.

Few pieces of furniture so effortlessly blend a handmade/organic sense with modernist refinement as the Africa Dining Chair by renowned Italian husband and wife designers Afra and Tobia Scarpa which shows the Scarpas' ability to bridge tradition and innovation, resulting in a piece that is as functional as it is poetic.

The Africa Chair was designed in 1976, during a fertile period in the Scarpa duo’s career when they were deeply engaged in redefining Italian modernism. The chair was produced by Maxalto, a division of B&B Italia launched that same year with the goal of creating fine furniture using traditional cabinetmaking techniques. Maxalto means “the highest” in Venetian dialect—a fitting name for a collection that emphasized artisanal quality and sculptural beauty.

With the Africa Chair, the Scarpas set out to create a dining chair that would honor both form and craftsmanship. Constructed from richly stained wood, often walnut or mahogany, and paired with a simple leather or upholstered seat, the chair combines clean lines with subtle curves, exuding a quiet sophistication. The name “Africa” conjures a certain primitivist style, evoking natural forms and a tactile simplicity that contrasts with more industrial mid-century aesthetics.

What sets the Africa Chair apart is its joinery and attention to proportion. Its silhouette is straightforward—minimalist, but its construction is intricate, revealing the Scarpas’ reverence for historical craftsmanship and their deep understanding of materials. It stands as an object of contemplation as much as comfort.

The Africa dining chair in the home of architect Alexander Liberman.
via Architectural Digest

The Africa dining chair at the Parisian home of Lenny Kravitz.
via Architectural Digest

Because the Africa Dining Chair was out of production for many years, it remains a coveted collector’s item and a testament to the enduring legacy of Afra and Tobia Scarpa. Of course originals fetch high prices at auction but the distinguished Italian furniture manufacturer Tacchini has revived the design for sale at select retailers around the world!

Africa chair by Tacchini

Happy designing!

Know Your Chairs: The F300 by Pierre Paulin

I have posted about French furniture and interior designer Pierre Paulin and his wonderful creations previously here. Not all of his pieces are still in production but thankfully Danish furniture company GUBI, started in 1967, just reintroduced one of Paulin's iconic designs. So for this installation of Know Your Chairs, let's look at the refreshed F300 chair!

Created by Paulin in 1965 and released by furniture manufacturer Artifort that same year, the first F300s were produced in fiberglass or injected polyurethane, allowing for contoured ergonomic comfort while maintaining a visually light expression. GUBI says they have responsibly upgraded the production of the F300 for the 21st century, which is now crafted in Italy from the engineered polymer HiREK®, made using industrial plastic waste. Retaining the durability of plastic, HiREK is lightweight and resistant to UV, weathering, and pressure. Most importantly, HiREK produces a smooth, high-gloss surface without requiring additional finishing processes, perfectly replicating the performance and aesthetic of the original materials while minimizing waste created during production.

I love how, despite the fact that the chair references a certain, sleek, man-made aesthetic, it still managese to present an alluring organic shape. And I really love how the uphosltery creeps down the legs a bit...

Like so many pieces of furniture from Europe in the mid-sixties through the seventies, many Paulin pieces showed up in sci-fi films and television shows (the Paulin Ribbon chair was a staple on "Space: 1999" and even had a cameo in "Blade Runner 2049") and the F300 is no exception! It appeared in the film "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock" and on several episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

You can now have your own Pierre Paulin F300 chair from GUBI or Design Within Reach, available in two colors for the frame and many fabric and leather color options for the upholstery.

Happy designing!

Know Your Chairs: The Bertoia Diamond Chair

This installation of Know Your Chairs focuses on a hallmark of mid-century design. Harry Bertoia's wire-framed Diamond chair emerged from the luxury of the time and space required for its creation.

Bertoia was born in Italy but moved to the United States at the age of 15 with his older brother, Oreste. He learned English and studied jewelry making from 1930 to 1936. But in 1937, something happened that would change his life and contribute to art and design in a meaningful way. He received a scholarship to study at the Cranbrook Academy of Art where he encountered Walter Gropius (founder of the legendary Bauhaus School in Germany, previously here), Ray and Charles Eames (influential pioneers of architecture and design, previously here), and Florence Knoll (architect and interior/furniture designer who, along with her husband Hans, started the revolutionary company Knoll Associates, now known simply as Knoll).

After moving from a student of painting to teaching jewelry and metal work, he was recruited to join Charles and Ray Eames in California to work on the development of their molded plywood products. But what happened next is a wonderful example of networking and simply putting yourself "out there" as the saying goes. The official Knoll site describes it well:

"On the suggestion of Herbert Matter, who had worked alongside Eames and Bertoia, Florence and Hans [Knoll] traveled to California and encouraged Bertoia to move east and set up his own metal shop in a corner of Knoll’s production facility. Having studied with Bertoia at Cranbrook, Florence was sure that he would produce something extraordinary if given the time and space to experiment.

Characteristic of the early environment at Knoll, Hans and Florence never demanded that Bertoia design furniture, but instead encouraged him to explore whatever he liked. They simply asked that if he arrived at something interesting, to show them. Needless to say, Harry Bertoia arrived at something outstanding. His iconic wire furniture collection, introduced in 1952, is recognized worldwide as one of the great achievements of 20th century furniture design."

The chair can be used without a seat pad for outdoor--or even indoor--lounging...

The pad provides some cushion and presents an opportunity to introduce color into a space.

The Diamond Chair is also offered with a full body pad!

The Diamond Chair is still in production and can be purchased from Knoll or Design Within Reach!

Take a look at the official Harry Bertoia website to see his marvelous paintings and sculptures as well.

Happy designing!