The iconic CH24 ‘Wishbone’ chair turns navy blue

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The CH24 ‘Wishbone’ chair is one of the most recognisable pieces of furniture there is, and it’s long been a favourite of mine. So, I was very excited when details of a new limited-edition version popped into my inbox.

Originally conceived in 1949, the ‘Wishbone’ was the first of five chairs created for Carl Hansen & Son by legendary Danish modernist designer Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007). His ethos centred around refining shapes, exploring the potential of wood and ensuring a balance between form and function, and in a bid to simplify the idea of a chair he combined the back and arm rests into a single, steam-bent piece. The famous Y-shaped support was added for stability and comfort, together with a hand-woven seat made from 120m of paper cord. The chair was put into production in 1950 and soon became a Scandinavian icon thanks to its purity of form and high-quality craftsmanship. It’s been manufactured continuously ever since, and is still largely assembled by hand at Carl Hansen & Son’s factory on the island of Funen.

Today would have been Wegner’s birthday, and each year Carl Hansen & Son marks the occasion by unveiling a special version of the ‘Wishbone’ that’s available for one month only. Previous birthday editions have included elm, ancient oak and walnut with a red-leather seat, and for 2020 – which also happens to be the chair’s 70th anniversary – it’s been reimagined in a glossy navy blue.

The striking finish was developed in collaboration with London-based designer Ilse Crawford, who took her cue from Wegner’s long-standing fascination with Asian crafts. She explains:

“The blue refers to a colour that has been so much a part of Chinese culture, from the blue and white china that obsessed the world for so many centuries to the dark blue of indigo textiles. Symbollically in China, blue is associated with the east, spring and wood. The high-gloss finish, meanwhile, references traditional Chinese lacquer.”

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to style the birthday edition in my own home, and I loved the deep and moody hue. I’ve never really introduced any blue pieces into my house before as I tend to stick to neutrals, but this particular shade of navy is sophisticated and incredibly versatile. It adds a subtle pop of colour to the monochrome scheme in my dining room, and it works beautifully with the natural oak table. It’s also a joy to accessorise: inspired by the contrast between the shiny frame and the paper-cord seat, I finished the look off by playing around with textures and materials, adding a soft linen throw, metals and matte and glossy ceramics.

The striking colour means the chair looks just as good on its own, and it’s comfy enough to lounge in for hours with a book and coffee. I can also see it sitting brilliantly with grey and beige decor, and I think the high-gloss finish would look wonderful against concrete, raw plaster or mineral-paint walls.

The limited-edition ‘Wishbone’ chair is made from FSC-certified wood finished with a water-based lacquer, and features a discrete brass plate engraved with Wegner’s signature and date of birth. It’s available from Carl Hansen flagship stores and authorised dealers worldwide from today until the 30th April, with a recommended retail price of £632 / €720 / $950 (excluding VAT). It’s certainly a stunning reinterpretation of a timeless classic, and something to be treasured and admired for decades to come.

All photography by Abi Dare