[Ad] A design classic revived – the CH20 Elbow chair by Carl Hansen & Son

Often the best design looks deceptively simple and you would never know all the hard work that goes into it – just like a swan gliding gracefully along in the water. When I visited the factory of Danish brand Carl Hansen & Son back in 2023, I was lucky enough to have a peek behind-the-scenes and see the beautiful CH20 Elbow chair being made. It was a lesson in finesse and time honoured techniques.

Founded in 1908 by Danish cabinetmaker Carl Hansen, the company started as a small furniture workshop quietly perfecting its craft. Today, Carl Hansen & Son continues to keep Danish design and traditional craftsmanship alive by reissuing design classics and introducing contemporary designs. Almost all of Carl Hansen & Son’s furniture is still made in Denmark, in a large factory space on the island of Funen that employs over 400 cabinetmakers. All of their wood is FSC-certified or from other responsible sources, and the same two sawmills have been supplying them since the Fifties.

From start to finish, Carl Hansen & Son’s designs go through a painstaking making process. The production process of the Wishbone Chair, for example, involves 100 steps, from shaping the backrest, through sanding the legs to hand-weaving the seat. Trust me, we tried something as simple as sanding and it is not as easy as it looks! Each piece of a chair’s wooden frame is rubbed and smoothed, creating a tactile, ergonomic form that will stand the test of time. The CH20 Elbow chair is a particularly evocative example.

[Ad – This is a paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Son]

The CH20 Elbow chair was never meant to go into production. It was designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1956 as a single prototype; part of his experiments in crafting ’round chairs’ – meaning chairs that have a singular horizontal backrest that curves to form the armrests. In the 1950s, with production not as advanced as today, it seemed like an almost impossible task to create a backrest from one solid piece of wood. The chair was then put in the archive and forgotten about for fifty years, until in 2005, when Carl Hansen & Son were able to bring it back to life.

Today, the backrest is steam-bent to achieve the characteristic curve, gently hugging the back of user. The upholstered seat seems to float on the frame, while softly tapered legs give that signature mid-century look.

This particular chair is finished in white-oiled oak with Re-wool 0408 fabric in a speckled green colour, which perfectly matches the soft green tones in my home. I always think the combination of warm natural wood and green goes so well, lending a space a feeling of tranquility and calm.

Hans J. Wegner believed that a chair should be beautiful from all sides, and with the CH20 there’s no bad angle. From the front it looks lightweight and open, from the side it welcomes you with its soft curve. Upholstered chairs can often appear bulky and cumbersome, diluting the design style in favour of comfort, but this is a design that manages to balance simplicity with support. A revived design classic that deserves its place in the modern home.

Find out more about the CH20 Elbow chair at carlhansen.com