Hans Wegner Chairs

Q: A friend has ten Hans Wegner dining room chairs, eight side chairs and two armchairs. They were bought in Denmark in the early 1960s. They are wood with leather seats and backs. There is some cracking of the leather. Should the leather be replaced? Will this lower the value of the chairs?

A: Hans Wegner (1914-2007) was a Danish furniture designer best known for his innovative chair designs. He designed over 500 different chairs, as well as hundreds of beds, desks, tables, and lighting. Leather chairs should be kept out of the sun, away from heat, and in a room with enough humidity to keep the leather from drying out. Leather should be dusted regularly and can be cleaned with a special leather cleaner or by wiping with a damp cloth and soapy water. If the chair is unusable in its present condition, your friend should have a professional replace the leather. As long as a professional restoration is done using real leather, it will not lower the value of the chairs significantly.