PP530 Tub Chair by Hans J. Wegner

Green Tub Chair by Hans Wegner
Black Tub Chair by Hans Wegner
The green PP530 Tub Chair by Hans Wegner I saw in the Design Museum Danmark in Kopenhagen.
PP Mobler about it:

Conceived in 1954 the Tub Chair was a pioneering experiment, and it turned out to be the most advanced shell chair design Wegner ever did, as the back of the chair is a complicated double bent shell comprising two individual shapes: One that is bent and one that is both bent and twisted.

Even besides the complexity of the back, the Tub Chair is a unique fusion, where Wegner merge the moulded plywood technique with upholstery and traditional work in solid wood and even adding a metal angle adjustment mechanism for the back. It is one of the most striking and brilliant examples of Wegner’s vision and courage, and still it is a most practical, usable and comfortable chair.

However, the Tub Chair was not technically possible to produce in a rational way within the lifetime of Wegner. As our techniques have developed, PP Møbler has been able to produce this great tribute and introduce this bold design in celebration of the 100 years anniversary of Wegner, one of the greatest designers of all times.

The black one I found at the auction site of Phillips where an early model was sold for UK pound 50,000 in October 2015

The Catalogue about it:

The present lot is one of two known period examples of the ‘Tub’ chair, a model which did not enter into wider production during Hans J. Wegner’s lifetime. The chair seat is composed of two pieces of fabric-covered moulded plywood. It rests on a dramatically angled oak base and is supported by a brass mechanism that allows for adjustment of the back angle. Its complexity prohibited fabrication in greater number, though it was included in the 1954 Cabinetmaker’s Guild exhibition in Copenhagen. The chair is a notable example of Wegner’s explorations into the possibilities of plywood, but ultimately the demands of employing both laminate and solid wood construction concurrently were too great and he chose to focus on the latter.

The design of the ‘Tub’ chair shares the intuitive elegance of Wegner’s other furniture, and references certain features of his most well-known chair designs specifically. While structurally more elaborate, the clamshell-form seat relates to the ‘Peacock’ chair (1947) and the forceful forward movement of the base to the ‘Folding’ chair (1949). The ‘Tub’ most closely anticipates Wegner’s ‘Shell’ chair of 1963. It is notable that even a decade after the introduction of the ‘Tub’, the ‘Shell’ form was still considered too radical for its time. It was following the ‘Shell’ chair designs that Wegner closed the chapter on his experiments with plywood. However by 1989 it was picked for the cover of the catalogue for the exhibition celebrating Wegner’s 77th birthday and has since become one of his most iconic masterpieces. The present chair is consequently a rare illustration of some of his earliest career-defining ideas.

Low Pad by Jasper Morrison

Low Pad by Jasper Morrison

Jasper designed the lowpad for Cappellini. The fact that Cappellini was able to find a car chair making company who could make the leather seating pads perfect, greatly contributed to the success of this chair.


Jasper had a solo exhibition in Grand Hornu, Belgium, named Thingness, in June 2015 where I took this photo.

Donald Judd Chairs

Donald Judd   set of six chairs   Wright

Donald Judd Chairs

Six chairs by Donald Judd fetched $ 25,000,- at the February 2014 Wright Auction.

Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders

Black Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders

Golden Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders

Delft Blue Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders

MW Portrait Stedelijk

Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders

Was designed in 2013, but I couldn’t find decent photo’s until Marcel Wanders produced some one offs or personal editions for his solo exhibition in the prestigious Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum for Modern Art from January till June this year.

Will it beat the Supper Legerra with its weight of approximately 800 grams?

It reminds me of Marcel’s breakthrough Knotted Chair of 1996.
It is inspired by work of Hester Oelermans.

Thonet Balloon Rocker by Hester Oerlemans

Thonet Balloon Rocker by Hester Oerlemans

Thonet Balloon Rocker by Hester Oerlemans

Before I post my next post I want to feature this chair installation by Hester Oerlemans.