Kennedy Chair by Hans Wegner

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'The Chair', 1949. The Chair best represents Wegner's design philosophy of 'continuous purification...to cut down to the simplest possible elements of four legs, a seat, and a combined top rail and armrest'3] The Chair was a collaboration of Wegner and furniture maker Johannes Hansen (now made by PP Mobler as models PP501/PP503). The construction features 11 pieces of wood joined by 12 mortise and tenons and two large finger joints. The finger joints orient the wood grain as the back rail wraps around the body to maximize material strength. The Chair was offered with a solid upholstered seat, or a seat of airy woven caning. It rose to prominence in the 1960 televised debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Both presidential candidates sat in The Chair during the debate.