Hans J. Wegner

HANS J. WEGNER (Denmark, 1914–2007)
“Valet JH540/PP250” Chair. Designed in 1953.
White-lacquered wood and brass hardware.
In good overall condition. Shows signs of use and isolated areas where the lacquer has worn off, visible mainly on the edges, seat, and areas subject to friction.
Measurements: 102.5 × 52 × 60 cm.
The Valet Chair JH540 / PP250, designed in 1953, is known in Danish as “Jakkens Hvile,” which roughly translates to “the jacket’s rest.” It was originally manufactured by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen and later by PP Møbler. The Met itself has an example dated around 1953. The idea is that, upon arriving home in the evening, instead of leaving your clothes on a chair, the chair itself becomes a sort of nightgown. It is a very pure example of Wegner’s philosophy.
Hans Jørgensen Wegner is considered one of the key figures in 20th-century Danish design. Initially trained as a cabinetmaker, he studied at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts and later worked with architects such as Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller. In 1943, he opened his own studio, where he began to develop a body of work characterized by formal simplicity, ergonomics, and extraordinary attention to materials and construction.Wegner is particularly known for his chairs, including the Round Chair, the Wishbone Chair (CH24), the Shell Chair (CH07), and the Valet Chair (JH540/PP250). His work was instrumental in the international spread of the so-called “Danish Modern” movement, which put Danish design on the international map during the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout his career, he received numerous international awards, and his furniture was included in the collections of major design museums around the world.