The Wegner "Teddy Bear" chair, so called in part because its armrests have been compared to paws embracing the person seated. Designed in 1951 by Hans Wegner, the teddy bear chair is another example of a Wegner chair design pushing into new territories of modernism. Wegner continually explored new ways to form wood into chairs, to experiment with materials and provide the workshop with exciting and difficult tasks. In a recent Elie Tahari ad, a model in a slinky dress poses with an orange lounge chair wearing a pair of the designer's heeled sandals. The chair is no random, ordinary prop. Mr. Tahari, a designer best known for polished, urbane clothing, says he is a big fan of that style of chair. Twenty years ago, Mr. Tahari was initially attracted to "the look and structure of it" and Mr. Wegner's use of natural materials. He knew nothing of Mr. Wegner back then. "I couldn't even pronounce his name. I'm not a maven of history or of art. I just go by feel." It was the feel that sold him. "You feel like it's hugging you. You feel like you're protected. It feels good."
