2013 Catalogue Archive

In 1944, Danish designer Hans Wegner began a series of chairs that were inspired by portraits of Danish merchants sitting in Ming Chairs. One of these chairs was the Wishbone Chair (1949), also known as the “Y” or “CH-24,” which has been produced by the Danish firm Carl Hansen & Son since 1950. The son of a shoemaker, Wegner was trained as a cabinetmaker before attending the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, after which he began his career as an architect. Just three years later, Wegner started his own design office, and his work soon caught the eye of the folks at Carl Hansen & Son. The light, sculptural Wishbone Chair was exactly what the Hansen company was looking for to supplement the heavier forms that were popular at the time. However, the Wishbone was a challenging chair to make, as this steam-bent solid wood frame demands perfect craftsmanship and an intimate knowledge of wood joinery. Even today, the seat is still hand woven from paper cord, a durable material developed during WWII as a substitute for jute. Using the best natural materials, the sculptural Wishbone is made to last for generations and offers outstanding sitting comfort.
Made in Denmark.