Created in 1938, the Carl Hansen & Son FH38 Windsor Chair stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of solid wood and expert carpentry. In production from its inception until 2003, the Windsor Chair has been relaunched by the brand, adding another piece of iconic contemporary design to their range.
Hidden within the chair’s pared-back form are a number of artisanal challenges, pushing the skill of Carl Hansen & Son’s carpenters and joiners to the absolute limit. All transitions and curves on the chair are sanded by hand, relying on a ‘feel test’ for the final finish. This makes each chair completely unique, epitomising the beauty of traditional craftsmanship that has been refined over the centuries.
Dating back to the 16th century, the Windsor Chair design is a timeless design that is renowned across the world for its elegance and grace. Frits Hennigsen's design is an eye-catching sack-back or double-Windsor, originally popularised in the United States, featuring a bow-shaped armrest and an arched upper frame holding the spindles.
Frits Henningsen (1889-1965) was known as an uncompromising designer. He viewed quality craftsmanship as the most important element of his work, making it his focus when developing new furniture.
In his designs he was able to capture traditional expressions from other style periods and reinterpret them with a modern and organic flavour. Drawing inspiration form earlier styles such as French Empire, Rococo and the British 17th-century furniture.
Henningsen saw himself as constantly developing with great attention to detail, and due to this permitted only very few of his furniture pieces to be produced outside his own workshop. Carl Hansen & Son was shown this trust.
