Wishbone Chair

The Wishbone Chair was designed by Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner in 1949, not Arne Jacobsen. It was technically known as the CH24 and was first put into production by Carl Hansen & Søn in 1950. It remains one of the most famous pieces of Scandinavian modern furniture in history.

The distinctive Y-shaped backrest, which gives the chair its "Wishbone" nickname, was designed to provide unparalleled structural support to the steam-bent top rim. Hans J. Wegner used this shape to merge the backrest and the rear legs into a single, cohesive, and durable joint. The design merges structural integrity with a distinctly organic, sculptural profile.

The Wishbone Chair features a solid wood frame—often oak, walnut, or soaped beech—combined with a seat woven from natural paper cord. The steam-bent top rail requires over 100 individual manufacturing steps, and the seat alone utilizes nearly 120 meters of paper cord. This combination of solid wood and paper cord offers both extreme durability and ergonomic comfort.

A brand new, authentic Carl Hansen & Søn Wishbone Chair (CH24) typically retails for around $800 to $1,000 USD depending on the wood finish and upholstery. Because each chair still requires significant hand-crafting and over 100 manufacturing steps, it commands a luxury price point. Vintage 1950s models in good condition are also highly collectible and often retain their value.