PP19 “Teddy Bear Chair” by Hans J. Wegner
I am definitely a Hans J. Wegner fanboy, but for good reason. The man was a genius when it came to designing a chair and for me it doesn’t get much better than the ‘Teddy Bear Chair’ as proof.
Originally designed for A.P. Stolen in 1951, this chair has become an enduring symbol of comfort, craftsmanship and class. Its nickname of ‘Teddy Bear Chair’ derived from a critic who had referred to its armrests as “great bear paws embracing you from behind”, but the assembly of this piece is in no way child’s play.
As early as 1953, Danish manufacturer PP Møbler began supplying the frames for the ‘Teddy Bear Chair’ to A.P. Stolen. However, the chair fell out of production in 1969. Then in 2003, as part of the PP Møbler workshops 50th Anniversary, it resumed production of this amazing chair.
Each PP19 takes at least two weeks of thorough work by Danish craftsmen who create the frame from beech, then upholster the chair using only four basic natural materials; cotton fibre, palm fibre, tow and horse hair. Only the seat cushion is made up of foam. This is truly a dream chair and one that will be with you for life. There is a very good video about the PP19, including interview footage with former PP Workshop manager Ejnar Pedersen, on their website. View it by clicking here.
Note: There is a version of this chair that has been produced by California based company Modernica since 1994 that they claim to be to Wegner’s exact specifications. However, in comparison to the current PP Møbler and original A.P. Stolen productions there appears to be some differences in scale, finishes and materials. Modernica never worked with or for Wegner on any projects and does not own any licensing to this chair.