Carl Hansen CH07 Shell Chair

Few lounge chairs balance engineering and artistry quite like the Carl Hansen CH07 Shell Chair. Designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1963 and still handmade in Denmark today, it takes its nickname, the Smiling Chair, from the gently upturned curve of its wing shaped seat, a detail as functional as it is beautiful. The three legged frame might look daring, but it is in fact the most stable configuration a chair can have, always resting evenly whatever the floor. Wegner shaped the seat and back from a single piece of form pressed veneer, then tapered the legs so the whole structure appears to hover rather than sit, a feat of quiet Danish engineering that has kept the CH07 in production for over sixty years.

Every chair begins life as sustainably sourced oak or walnut, worked by Carl Hansen's craftsmen in Denmark using techniques passed down since the company was founded in 1908. You can choose an oiled finish (in oak or walnut) that deepens beautifully with age, or a white oiled or black painted oak for a more contemporary look. The seat and back come upholstered in premium Kvadrat fabric or fine leather, giving you real freedom to match the chair to your interior, whether that is a Scandinavian inspired living room, a considered reading corner, or a statement piece in a hallway or bedroom.

As with every design we sell, sustainability sits at the centre of the story. Carl Hansen & Son uses FSC certified timber and produces to order, avoiding the waste and short shelf life of mass manufactured furniture. Buying a CH07 means buying a chair built to be repaired, reupholstered and handed down, not replaced.

As with everything we sell at Utility, every CH07 Shell Chair is a genuine, authorised Carl Hansen & Son original, sold with a five year manufacturer's warranty. We are also happy to price match, so if you have seen the chair elsewhere for less, get in touch before you buy.

Finishes
Soap - The closest to raw wood; grain and structure are visible; light in colour
Oil - Grain and structure are visible; lighter than soap; creates lustre and brings out contrast in grain and structure. Darkens over time to a rich patina
White Oil - Same as oil with grain and structure visible with a light tinge.

See other Lounge Chairs.
See more Ole Wanscher designs
See the Carl Hansen & Son collection.