HANS J WEGNER, A set of five Cowhorn Chairs, JH-505, manufactured by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Denmark 1950-60.
Mahogany, the backrests with palisander inlays. Seats with fretted rattan. Height to seat 42 cm, width c. 58.5 cm, total height 74.5 cm.
Damaged seats. Wear and marks due to age and use.
Leopold and Irja Marjatta Rönnman, Helsinki, Finland.
Leopold Rönnman (born Gustav Adolf Rönnman) and his wife Irja Marjatta Rönnman, née Tuominen, ran the interior design shop Interiors during the Golden Age of Scandinavian design. The shop was located on Fredrikinkatu in Helsinki. Interiors had exclusive rights in the Finnish market to sell products from leading contemporary Danish, Swedish and Norwegian designers and manufacturers of furniture and luminaires. The little family business had close co-operation with designers, such as Hans J. Wegner, Hans-Agne Jakobsson and Björn Wiinblad. This co-operation developed into a deep friendship, allowing the Rönnmans to acquire exclusive objects into their personal apartment and summer house. Towards the end of the 1970s, Stockmann purchased the Interiors’ furniture rights and Interiors focused on lighting only. After Leopold passed away at the end of the 70s, Irja continued to carry out the business.
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory, tortoiseshell and palisander. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
Hans Jørgensen Wegner was a Danish architect and furniture designer, well-known both in Denmark and internationally. He designed over 500 different chairs, including the Wishbone Chair (the "Y chair"), which today is considered a design icon. The chair is a magnificent example of Wegner's design, with its wooden frame and laced seat. Other examples of iconic chairs designed by Wegner are The Smiling Chair and Sawbuck Chair.
In his design, Wegner combined beauty and function. With a background as a cabinetmaker, he knew how to make ergonomic, high-quality furniture.
During his career, Wegner did several significant projects with other designers, such as Arne Jacobsen, Erik Møller, and Børge Mogensen. Wegner was also involved in the concepts Danish Modern and Scandinavian Modern after the Second World War.
Wegner's design classics are found in many Scandinavian homes and are represented in the most prominent design museums worldwide.