Papa Bear Chair & Ottoman

We are one of the very few companies in the United States that truly understands how to properly reupholster the Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair. From sewing the individual squares on the inside back, to redoing the seat deck with exposed webbing, to recreating the signature borderless center-seam seat cushion, we know the details that make this chair so special.

Reupholster your Papa Bear chair with Mod Restoration

At Mod, our goal is to preserve the integrity of the original Papa Bear Chair. Every reupholstery project is approached with deep respect for the chair’s original craftsmanship and construction. We upholster Papa Bear Chairs and ottomans using the classic fabrics that were traditionally used on these chairs, including:

• Kvadrat – Tonus, Tonica, Hallingdal
  Kjellerup Væveri – Blans, Diagonal, Watercolour
  Danish Art Weaving – Tweeds, Nice, Peru

We carry the iconic mid-century fabric lines so your Papa Bear Chair can be restored as faithfully as possible to its original look. You can browse fabric options and receive an instant quote by clicking the link below.

The History

Hans Wegner became one of the most well-known and popular Danish furniture designers during the mid-century Danish furniture design movement. He invented the groundbreaking AP-19 chair for AP Stolen, also knows at the Teddy Bear Chair or Papa Bear chair in 1951. It was produced until 1969 and was then out-of-production in Europe. In 2003, PP Møbler of Denmark re-launched the chair and ottoman into its collection for their 50th anniversary. The chair received its namesake after a critic commented that its armrests were like "great bear paws embracing you from behind."

What is the chair made of?

The original Papa Bear chair was initially manufactured with beech wood. Later versions were made of teak, oak or rosewood. The original chair back is made of 50 individually-wrapped springs, padding with sterilized horsehair and pure cotton. The seat core is made of foam rubber.

How much fabric or leather is needed to reupholster the Papa Bear Chair?

The Papa Bear Chair requires 8.5 yards of fabric, plus an additional ½ yard for the ottoman. For leather reupholstery, we use 2 or 3 leather hides, depending on the size of the hide. 

Services for the Papa Bear chair & ottoman

In addition to reupholstery, we also offer refinishing of the wood paws and legs, structural frame tightening, and replacement of the seat deck webbing.