Carl Hansen

Carl Hansen opened his furniture workshop in Odense, Denmark in 1908 and soon became known for the high quality of his work. In the early days, the company produced bespoke furniture - including everything from dining room sets to bedroom suites. As the company grew and times changed, however, it gradually began to produce smaller series of its most popular pieces. This combination of hand craftsmanship and rational series production soon became the firm's hallmark - and continues to set it apart today.

Carl Hansen opened his furniture workshop in Odense, Denmark in 1908 and soon became known for the high quality of his work. In the early days, the company produced bespoke furniture - including everything from dining room sets to bedroom suites. As the company grew and times changed, however, it gradually began to produce smaller series of its most popular pieces. This combination of hand craftsmanship and rational series production soon became the firm's hallmark - and continues to set it apart today.

Holger Hansen's sales manager at the time, Ejvind Kold Kristensen, kept a close eye on the new breed of Danish furniture designers that began to emerge in the 1940s.

Kold Kristensen was especially impressed by Hans J. Wegner, whose designs won critical acclaim at exhibitions, but was relatively unknown outside of specialist circles. Kold Kristensen had no doubt that Hans J. Wegner was a designer who could propel Carl Hansen & Søn into the next level of growth.

Kold Kristensen approached Hans J. Wegner in the late 1940´s and the collaboration between Hans J. Wegner and Carl Hansen & Søn began shortly thereafter.

Hans J. Wegner designed four chairs especially for Carl Hansen & Søn in 1949 - all of which came into production and were launched in 1950. Among the first four chairs was the legendary Wishbone Chair, CH24 and the beautiful easy chair with seat and back in uninterrupted paper cord, CH25 - both which has been produced ever since. The wishbone chair has gone on to be offered in a great range of finishes including the CH24 Blue Series, CH24 Energy Series, CH24 Citus Series and also in the CH colours.

Today, Carl Hansen & Søn is the largest manufacturer of furniture designed by Hans J. Wegner. Carl Hansen & Søn has a close cooperation with the Hans J. Wegner Studio, which enables Carl Hansen & Son to introduce or re-introduce outstanding designs from the treasure chest that Hans J. Wegner left behind.

Some of the most notable designs are the CH20 designed in 1956, the CH33 designed in 1957,the CH445 designed in 1960, the iconic CH07 Shell Chair designed in 1963 and also the CH56.58 Bar Stools designed in 1985.