Hans Wegner

Private collection of a Johannes Hansen employee, 1954
Thence by descent
Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen, May 31, 2012, lot 1196

Johan Møller Nielsen, Wegner: en dansk møbelkunstner, Copenhagen, 1965, pp. 69-70
Grete Jalk, ed., Dansk Møbelkunst gennem 40 aar, vol. 3: 1947-1956, Copenhagen, 1987, p. 281
Christian Holmsted Olesen, Wegner: just one good chair, exh. cat., Design Museum Denmark, Copenhagen, 2014, pp. 63, 158, 174

Overall in very good condition. The wood surfaces present with light surface scratches, nicks and some minor abrasions consistent with age and gentle use and largely concentrated to the lower portions of the legs. This lot has been recently professionally re-upholstered with Scandinavian Savak "Gabriel" wool fabric. The burnished brass with natural tarnishing and traces of wear, light scratches and rubbing consistent with use and touching. As an adjustable reclining chair one can noticed dark marks where the metallic reclining bar rests on the hooks of the legs. Characterized by a weightless, yet powerfully dynamic silhouette, the molded plywood seat and back retain a plasticity of form that is supportive and enveloping. Supporting the upper arm in place of the more traditional lower arm support, the chair demonstrates not only and achievement in scientific execution, but also in functional form. Extremely complex and expensive to produce, the chair was only realized in a few examples.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Noted in the 1954 Cabinetmaker's Guild Exhibition as the "comfiest chair in the exhibition…excellent for knitting and reading," Wegner's "Tub" Chair demonstrates an evolution and improvement on his early experiments with molded plywood in the late 1940s. Thin, dynamic, sleek and visually pleasing, the chair was intended to be utilized and viewed from a variety of angles. The use of molded plywood technology within the furniture industry began to gain traction following World War II. First developed by Charles Eames in the United States, Wegner followed suit by the end of the decade.  His first foray into the world of molded plywood furniture saw a 2-D shell form chair, produced by Fritz Hansen. By 1949, Wegner was captivated by the design possibilities and even envisioned exhibiting a room entirely of molded plywood pieces. His close collaborator, cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, was not fully convinced, not least because the technology tended towards industrial production and away from hand-made craft. Wegner continued to experiment with the notion off and on for the next several years and in 1954, Wegner realized his "Tub" form chair. Characterized by a weightless, yet powerfully dynamic form, the molded plywood seat and back retain a plasticity of form that is supportive and enveloping. Unlike many of Wegners early plywood designs which eliminated the armrest element completely, this design incorporates the armrest into the main body of the chair. Supporting the upper arm in place of the more traditional lower arm support, the chair demonstrates not only an achievement in scientific execution, but also in functional form. Extremely complex and expensive to produce, the chair was only realized in a few examples.