Hans J. Wegner designed the Papa Bear Chair in 1951. Its tall, upholstered back opens into broad side wings, and the arms end in exposed wooden pieces resembling paws. PP Møbler began making its wooden frames in 1953. The chair therefore marked the beginning of the workshop’s long association with Wegner and is now designated PP19.
A solid wooden frame supports upholstery built up through several stages. PP Møbler describes the use of cotton, palm leaves, flax fibre and horsehair, together with metal springs in the back. These materials perform different tasks, from holding the outer shape to softening contact with the body. Buttons help adjust the final contour of the backrest.
The exposed legs and arm tips give a visible indication of the timber beneath the covering. In the illustrated example, pale fabric emphasizes the continuous wings and the deep seat cushion. The chair presents upholstery as a shaped construction with its own edges and points of tension. Its generous scale is balanced by the small areas where the wooden structure emerges.
Wegner modern chair
