To celebrate Hans J. Wegner's enduring legacy and more than 70 years of collaboration, Carl Hansen & Son have partnered up with the London-based designer, Ilse Crawford, to develop a new colour palette for a limited-edition release of the first chairs that Wegner created for Carl Hansen & Son in 1950.

The visionary First Masterpieces collection includes five of Hans J. Wegner's most iconic chair designs. Among these are the world-renowned CH24, also known as the Wishbone Chair, and the woven CH25 lounge chair, which have been in production at Carl Hansen & Son for more than 70 years. On this occasion, Ilse Crawford has dressed the masterpieces in five earthy shades that give a fresh perspective to the collection. The environmentally friendly, water-based colours all have a slightly transparent finish, which allows the chair's original oak wood grain to shine through, creating a nuanced sense of colour and texture.

"We wanted to develop a set of colours that reflect the times we live in, and we believe these subdued and muted tones will resonate with a contemporary audience," explains Crawford. "We were inspired by the paintings of the late Danish artist, Per Kirkeby, whose interest in nature and geology was brilliantly manifested in his work. These are not easy, trend-driven or standard decorative colours, but ones that add depth and complexity to any interior."

The muddy, painterly tones nod to the raw beauty of the Nordic landscape and they are intended to work both as a group and independently. "Colour is so closely tied to our emotions, to our mood," notes Crawford, "And we think these subtle tones will contribute to the creation of a warm, relaxed and natural environment."

 

More than 70 years of collaboration

Hans J. Wegner and Carl Hansen & Son began working together in 1949, and after an intense year of working with some of the most skilled artisans, the CH22, CH23, CH24, CH25 and CH26 chairs were ready to be launched in 1950. The five designs have very different expressions yet are all bearing Wegner's unique fingerprint and emphasis on impeccable craftsmanship.

As the largest manufacturer of furniture designs by Wegner, Carl Hansen & Son has been associated with the prolific Danish master for seven decades, and Wegner continues to be central to the company's identity.

"Hans J. Wegner is an inherent part of our DNA," says Carl Hansen & Son CEO, Knud Erik Hansen, "These pieces were the forerunners for what would develop into an impressive collection of some of the most iconic pieces of furniture in the world, and to be able to refresh them for a new generation is a great pleasure. Ilse has an ability to imbue any project with great insight and relevance, and this new colour scheme has its own cultural history, rooted in Nordic abstraction."

The limited-edition First Masterpieces will be in stores from May 2021 at Carl Hansen & Søn and at selected dealers