WEAVING
The designs that Carl Hansen & Søn inherit are produced using the same hand-crafted techniques they were first created with. Each technique has evolved as new materials were pioneered and designers developed their own signature styles. Weaving has been a cornerstone of Danish craftsmanship for several hundred years. Danish chairs from the 18th century featured seats made from twisted straw and, in the following century, rattan became a popular material. During World War II, and in the years that followed, shortages caused designers – like Hans J. Wegner – to search for materials that were more readily available. The result of this innovation was paper cord, a natural material now closely associated with the Danish Modern period. Beloved for its strength, the paper cord we use today is sourced from sustainable Swedish forests and woven by hand in a variety of styles at the Carl Hansen & Søn factory.
ENVELOPE WEAVING
In 1949, Hans J. Wegner adapted an existing technique known as ‘envelope weaving’ to paper cord when designing his iconic CH24 Wishbone Chair. It went on to become a trademark for the Danish designer.
Ever since Kaare Klint’s Faaborg Chair was designed in 1914, its elegant backrest has been crafted from Indonesian cane with a ‘French weaving’ technique that has existed for hundreds of years. This intricate process sees each small hole fixed with a piece of string and then closed by hand by a craftsman over the course of 20 hours.
DOUBLE WEAVING
Hans J. Wegner also developed the ‘Danish weaving’ technique, a double weaving pattern seen on Hans J. Wegner’s CH25 Lounge Chair. It requires 10 hours of dedicated work to achieve their exacting design.
The BM0488 Table Bench by Børge Mogensen features a double-woven cane wicker surface that sits on top of its solid oak frame. While the bench's slender design strips away any superfluities, this intricate criss-cross design adds a subtle decorative element to its quiet simplicity.
