HANS J. WEGNER (Denmark, 1914 - 2007) for JOHANNES HANSEN.
"Peacock chair, model JG-550, first period, 1970s.
Solid ash frame and teak armrests. Wicker seat.
In perfect condition.
With publisher's stamp.
Measurements: 106/36 cm.
The Peacock chair was originally produced by Johannes Hansen (this being the case of the piece we are now bidding for, dating from the 1970s), but is currently produced by PP Møbler under model number PP550. It was never mass-produced during Wegner's lifetime and only a few were produced by Johannes Hansen. In terms of design, the Peacock chair borrows its morphology from the traditional English Windsor chair. When designer Finn Juhl first saw the chair's characteristic flat-axis backrest, it reminded him of a peacock's tail and he named it the Peacock Chair. Wegner also experimented with an upholstered version of the chair and exhibited it at the 1953 Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition.
Hans J. Wegner was a leading figure in furniture design, whose ideas contributed to the international popularity of Danish design in the mid-20th century. His work belongs to the modern school, characterised by a special emphasis on functionality. Throughout his career, this designer was awarded prizes such as the Lunning Prize in 1951, the Grand Prix de Milan at the Milan Triennale of the same year, the Prince Eugene Medal in Sweden and the Danish Exkersberg Medal. In 1959 he was appointed honorary royal designer for industry by the Royal Society of Arts in London. His designs are currently included in collections such as those of the MoMA in New York and Die Neue Samlung in Munich.