Hans Wegner JH-501 "The Chair" Armchair: Identification & Value

The Hans Wegner JH-501 — known simply as "The Chair" — is a mid-century modern lounge chair designed by Hans Wegner and made by Johannes Hansen. The frame is solid teak; the seat was offered several ways, including woven cane, natural papercord, and upholstered leather or fabric. It is a single armchair, and it was frequently bought and sold in matched sets.

Design is attributed to Hans Wegner. It was manufactured by Johannes Hansen. Its model number is JH-501.

The clearest tell is the joinery: the exposed finger-joints where the arm rail meets the backrest are the signature of an authentic example — crisp, hand-cut, and integral to the sculpted line. Confirm attribution with the maker's stamp, usually wood-burned into the underside of the seat rail: "Johannes Hansen · Copenhagen · Denmark" with the workshop logo. Solid teak framing and a cane, papercord, leather, or fabric seat are consistent with the model, but the finger-joints and the stamp are what settle it.

How much a piece like this is worth depends heavily on how it's sold. Curated retail runs $3,800–$4,500. That is what a fully restored, well-presented example brings through a dealer with a storefront and established selling accounts. Most private sellers can't realistically reach it — it takes refinishing or reupholstery, dealing with the public, and shipping heavy freight. Selling it yourself sits below that, and takes longer. On local marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist) a private seller typically nets well under curated retail and waits weeks to months for the right buyer. A quick outright sale — the wholesale, trade-in reality — runs $950–$1,250, depending on condition. It is close to what a dealer pays to buy one outright: like a car trade-in, less than retail, but immediate and without the work, cost, or risk of selling to the public. These are observed ranges from real transactions, not offers or appraisals. Actual figures vary with condition, originality, restoration quality, and timing.

The frame is solid teak, seen in tones from a warm dark brown to a lighter honey finish. Seats came several ways: woven cane, natural papercord, and upholstered leather or fabric — the black-leather-on-teak combination is the most familiar. Original and refinished surfaces both appear; refinishing and reupholstery can affect value versus an all-original example.

Commonly measures approximately 25in wide, 20in deep, and 30in high. The variation buyers care about most is the seat treatment — cane, papercord, leather, or fabric — and the frame tone. Dimensions themselves vary only slightly across production runs.

Demand is driven by attribution to Hans Wegner and Johannes Hansen manufacture, along with condition and originality. Refinishing, replaced upholstery, and structural repairs to the joinery tend to reduce desirability. Single chairs sell, but matched sets are the most sought-after and command a premium per chair — this piece is at its best in a set.

The Hans Wegner JH-501 "The Chair" is one we've handled several times — Hans Wegner's work is a steady part of what comes through our doors. Teak examples appeal to the Scandinavian-leaning buyer and show their age gracefully once re-oiled. On seating like this we pay closest attention to the joints and the original lines; comfort sells it, but the joinery is what holds the value. We see it most often in matched sets, and that is where it does best — a clean set moves for a stronger price per chair than a single one ever will.

In curated retail, comparable pieces have taken around 164 days to sell on average. A quick dealer sale typically closes in days to a couple of weeks. Local marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist) usually take weeks to months. Curated ecommerce (1stDibs, Chairish) can take weeks to a year or more. Price, presentation, location, and demand all affect speed.

Originality is a major factor for this piece. Veneer chips, water rings, and sun fading are common on examples of this era. Veneered surfaces should be inspected for lifting or prior refinishing. Replacement hardware and reupholstery are common and can affect value versus an all-original example.