CH24 Wishbone Chair

Overview

The CH24 Wishbone Chair dates to 1949 according to Carl Hansen & Søn, and the dining chair has been in continuous production since 1950. The backrest and armrests are one steam-bent piece, braced by the Y-shaped back that gives the chair its name.

Construction

• Frame: fourteen components cut from seasoned heartwood, shaped, turned and sanded, joined with glued mortise and tenon joints assembled by hand
• Backrest: the wishbone back is made from four pieces that combine into one
• Seat: envelope-pattern paper cord, woven by hand from over 120 m of FSC-certified cord
• Woods: FSC™ Mix-certified oak, beech and ash, or walnut; natural or black cord

Image source: Carl Hansen & Søn — CH24 Wishbone Chair · © Carl Hansen & Søn and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Specifications

• W 55 × D 51 × H 76 cm; two further heights on the side drawing, 70 cm and 45 cm, are not labelled
• 40 wood, finish and cord combinations listed on the product page
• Leather seat cushion CU CH24 offered as a related product in three colours

From the Chinese chairs to the Wishbone

Carl Hansen & Søn's story page says that between 1943 and 1945 Wegner drew a series of chairs inspired by the thrones of Chinese emperors, and that the CH24 of 1949 is the most recent and precise example. Wikipedia places the same line of work in Wegner's earlier Chinese Chair series for Fritz Hansen, inspired by Ming-era chairs.

Making it possible to build

Wikipedia, citing the company history By Design, reports that Holger Hansen was at first displeased with Wegner's designs and with how complex they were to manufacture: the back legs of the Wishbone Chair had to be turned by a sub-supplier and the steam bending done at an outside factory. All four chairs went into production the following year.