Another outstanding creation by Hans J. Wegner that combines style and elegance with a high level of comfort. The CH445 Lounge Chair, commonly known as the Wing Chair, was designed as a fresh, modern take on the comfortable, chunky upholstered lounge chairs found in elite gentlemen’s clubs. At least due to its complicated manufacturing process, the chair remained just a prototype for 46 years before being rediscovered and mass-produced in 2006.
Story
Hans J. Wegner, also known as “The Master of the Chair”, designed the wing chair. It was his great passion for chair design that eventually made Wegner a legendary figure in Danish modernism and a world-renowned furniture designer. He created more than 500 chairs, many of which went into mass production. The wing chair prototype was introduced in 1960 and sadly shared the fate of many Wegner designs from the period, including the Oculus chair and the Elbow chair. The chair remained a prototype for nearly half a century before gaining enough attention and becoming commercially available.
The wingback chair was brought back to life by furniture company Carl Hansen & Son. Thanks to the close collaboration with Hans J. Wegner’s atelier, which provided Carl Hansen & Son with Wegner’s original sketches from the atelier’s archives, the final version of the chair was ready for series production by 2006. Produced under the new brand, it met with immediate commercial success and fulfilled Wegner’s core beliefs. that a chair is only complete when someone actually sits in it.
design
To the trained eye it is obvious that the CH445 shares many features with other Wegner designs from the period. The generous backrest, the sloping armrests and the tubular steel frame can also be found in the Ox Chair and Oculus Chair. The shape of the chair is refined and rather unusual, but modern and pure. Its design embodies its creator’s famous creed: “A chair should have no rear view.” It should be beautiful from all angles and angles. “In fact, the chair, with its famous organic shape, looks very appealing and futuristic from every angle. Its shell consists of several beech wood parts that are connected with dowels. The frame is then polished to a smooth, seamless finish.
The sophisticated manufacturing techniques used in the production, including wood bending and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling, show very clearly why the chair was impossible to manufacture with the technology available in the 1960s. The shell of the CH445 lounge chair revolves around the person sitting in it, giving the chair its famously cozy, intimate feel. Its sloping armrests and generous backrest give the chair its royal, throne-like appearance. The high level of comfort is due to the high-density urethane foam, which is then covered with either supple, high-quality leather or wool pads in various colors. Perhaps one of the most distinctive features of the CH445 lounge chair is the pointed corners of its backrest. Hence the name of the chair – “The Wing Chair”. The wing chair rests on an inclined, brushed stainless steel frame made of welded round tubes. The base ensures optical lightness and offers a balanced contrast to the spacious seat. In order to achieve the highest level of comfort and relaxation, customers can combine the Wings Chair with the matching ottoman CH446.
Although the chair looks like a masterpiece of modern art, it is fully functional and very comfortable. The shape allows the user to adopt different positions. Its innovative, futuristic design coupled with impeccable craftsmanship have given the chair a very special place in interior design history. This timeless piece of furniture still looks extravagant and fascinating and is a great, tasteful addition to any modern interior.
