Hans Jørgensen Wegner is one of the most prolific Danish furniture designers of the modern age. Considered a visionary, he is best known for his chairs and designed more than 500 in his lifetime. However, his iconic Wishbone Chair is probably the best-known piece and has been in continuous production since 1950, thanks to its universal appeal. The beauty of the Wishbone Chair, like many of his designs, is that it can be placed in any room of the house, not just the kitchen or dining room. As a result, it stands the test of time in terms of quality, craftsmanship, and timeless aesthetic.
At Papilio, we’ve always admired Hans J Wegner’swork and take inspiration from his ethos and the Golden Age of modern Danish design. The style is simplified and allows the materials to sing. He was one of the fathers of the much-loved ‘Scandi-style’, where function, simplicity and the beauty of natural materials shine.
Later in his career, Wegner designed furniture for the new Aarhus City Hall in Denmark and collaborated with master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, who was a driving force in bringing new furniture design to the Danish public at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions. Wegner’s designs are considered sculptures among many, and although the utility is at the heart of his works, we agree that his designs go beyond purpose.
For our Richlite Kitchen, we designed a modern handmade kitchen. Inspired by Wegner, and fellow Danish designers Garde Hvalsøe studio, the pivotal aspect of the design was a sensational kitchen island. More of a sculpture than a piece of furniture, it was cut by hand from a single section of oak, allowing the grain to weave its way along the entire length naturally. Exposed finger joint detail highlights the skill of the Papilio team. In addition, naturally occurring cracks in the timber were filled with resin and held firm with hand-cut brass ties to celebrate this natural façade further.
Not just a visionary, Wegner had a deep understanding of joinery techniques, a deep respect for wood, and an unrivalled curiosity for natural materials. We also like to showcase raw materials in our handmade kitchens and love highlighting wood, marble or metals such as copper or stainless steel in their most natural forms.
For our Scandinavian Kitchen design, we use stripped timbers and vibrant colours. The contemporary space in Bristol was blessed with floods of natural light, and our client wanted a colourful, social space that was also modern and functional for constant use. We utilised natural oak veneers throughout the cabinetry to highlight the finish. The added texture contrasts with the stainless steel and breaks up the clean lines of the Scandinavian kitchen.
*Portrait image of Hans Jørgensen Wegner courtesy of H Gallery.
