A scholar and architect with the heart of an artist, Ole Wanscher helped define the functional, clean-cut style that formed the core of modern Danish furniture design. Influenced heavily by his world travels, Wanscher gained inspiration from English, Asian, Egyptian and traditional Shaker furniture, and he incorporated elements from these styles into his revered mid-century designs.
Wanscher’s deep respect for the use of traditional materials such as quality wood is reflected in his work, which is valued for being both beautiful and built to last. He was also a leader in the postwar “design for everyone” movement, creating many pieces intended for everyday life within the small confines of the average Danish household. Later, Wanscher became a prolific writer on the subject of furniture design. He is considered one of the most significant influences on the world of Scandinavian modernism.
The son of an art historian and a painter, Wanscher studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. From 1925 to 1927, Wanscher worked under the great Danish designer and professor Kaare Klint, who became one of the greatest stylistic influences on his output. Wanscher would go on to work as a professor at the academy from 1955 to 1973.
Wanscher founded his own furniture manufacturing company in 1929. Here he employed the top cabinetmakers of the day, most notably A.J. Iversen, with whom Wanscher collaborated for many years. While the workshop produced seductive handmade furniture with organic materials such as teak and mahogany, Wanscher intended to design durable seating, tables and more for the mass market — he was committed to making quality furniture available to a wider audience.
Of all of Wanscher’s designs, he is perhaps best known for his Colonial chair. This piece — which is part of a collection for Danish manufacturer P. Jeppesens that includes a sofa and a coffee table — exemplifies his penchant for combining minimalist design with traditional craftsmanship. Wanscher’s dining room tables, such as the Rungstedlund table, also epitomize the elegance of his work’s simple silhouettes and careful construction. These sleek tables serve as an ideal centerpiece for both modern and traditionally styled dining rooms, highlighting the versatility of Wanscher’s work.
Wanscher received a gold medal for his exemplary work at the 1960 Milan Triennale. He also received the Copenhagen Carpenters’ Guild Annual Award. Though Wanscher passed away in 1985, his iconic designs and scholarly writings remain relevant to this day.
Find vintage Ole Wanscher tables, seating and case pieces on 1stDibs.
Ole Wanscher ‘Egyptian’ Folding stool in Rosewood
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Ole Wanscher “Egyptian Stool”. A Brazilian rosewood folding stool. Black leather seat. Manufactured by cabinetmaker A.J. Iversen.
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-Century Oak Stool by Ole Wanscher with Bouclé Upholstery, 1960s
By Ole Wanscher
Located in München, BY
Dimensions: approx. 65 × 45 × 40 cm (Width x Height x Depth) A beautifully designed Mid-Century stool by Ole Wanscher, presented here in a rare oak version, produced in Denmark by P...
Papercord, Birch, Oak
$294 / item
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Light Beige Boucle Stool, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful, well crafted light boucle upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, ch...
Bouclé, Wood
$470 / item
H 15.75 in W 25.2 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Camel Boucle Vintage Stool, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s. The stool consist of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. Stool was designed by Edmu...
Fabric
$5,032 / set
H 33.67 in W 19.3 in D 17.72 in
Set of 4 dining chairs in rosewood by Ole Wanscher for A.J. Iversen From 1940s
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of 4 dining chairs designed by Danish furniture architect Ole Wanscher and crafted by master cabinetmaker A.J. Iversen during the 1940s. Made in rosewood, the chairs reflect Wans...
Leather, Rosewood
$12,400 / set
H 34.26 in W 25.4 in D 25.01 in
Rare Ole Wanscher for A.J. Iversen Set of Six Dining Chairs in Oak
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ole Wanscher for A.J. Iversen, set of six armchairs, model 'J3063', oak, fabric, Denmark, 1960s A rare set of mid-century dining chairs model J3063 crafted by Ole Wanscher. Drawing ...
Fabric, Oak
$470 / item
H 15.75 in W 25.2 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Camel Boucle Vintage Stool, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s. The stool consist of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. Stool was designed by Ed...
Fabric
Ole Wanscher Easy Chair
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Oakland, CA
Midcentury Danish lounge chair attributed to Ole Wanscher for A.J. Iversen, circa 1945 Denmark. Solid wood frame with hand-tied springs, and horsehair padding. Newly upholstered in a...
Fabric, Velvet
$529 / set
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Set of Two Mid-Century Modern Light Beige Boucle Stool, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful, well crafted light boucle upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, ch...
Bouclé, Wood
$995 / item
H 18.51 in W 19.69 in D 14.57 in
Midcentury Bentwood Stools with New Bouclé Fabric by Ludvik Volak 1960s
By Ludvik Volak
Located in Almelo, NL
Midcentury Bentwood Stools with New Bouclé Fabric by Ludvik Volak 1960s These midcentury stools were designed by Ludvik Volak in Czech Republic in the 1960s. They are made bentwood ...
Bouclé, Bentwood
Ole Wanscher Lounge / Easy Chair for A.J. Iversen, 1960
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Kastrup, DK
Ole Wanscher (1903-1985) lounge chair. Base and frame in mahogany with stretcher bar supporting the legs. Later upholstered in sand leather, seat cushion with down filling. Desig...
Leather, Mahogany
$412
H 14.97 in W 20.87 in D 14.97 in
1960s Mid-Century Danish Modern Refurbished Wood Stool in White Bouclé
Located in Praha, CZ
A charming mid-century modern stool or small ottoman, manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s. This piece exemplifies the refined simplicity of Scandinavian functionalism, featuring...
Bouclé, Wood, Fabric
Original Mid-Century Stool, Upholstery, Beech, Slovakia, 1960s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Maker: Západoslovenské nábytkárské závody in Bratislava This stool / ottoman is an excellent exemplar of post-war Mid-Century Modern design, which in Czechoslovakia was heavily infl...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Beech
1940s Danish Armchair or Desk Chair by Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in London, London
Armchair or desk chair by Ole Wanscher A beautifully crafted Danish armchair by Ole Wanscher, made by master cabinetmaker A.J. Iversen in the 1940s. This elegant piece showcases exc...
Hardwood
Walnut stool by Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher
Located in BE
Designed in 1957 by Ole Wanscher, this elegant folding stool combines timeless craftsmanship with refined materials. The walnut frame, patinated leather seat, and subtle brass accent...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in W 21.66 in D 13 in
Ole Wanscher Egyptian Stool PJ-2000 of Rosewood by Danish PJ Møbler in 2003
By Poul Hundevad, Finn Juhl, Ole Wanscher, P.J. Møbler, A. J. Iversen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
The Egyptian stool was designed by Ole Wanscher (1903-1985) and lounched first time in 1957 by cabinetmaker A. J. Iversen. This stool PJ 2000 we have for sale was made by PJ Møbler i...
Leather, Rosewood
Sold
H 15 in W 12.25 in D 13 in
Pair of Ole Wanscher "Egyptian" Rosewood Folding Stools for AJ Iversen
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of rosewood "Egyptian" folding stools designed by Ole Wanscher for AJ Iversen, c.1957, Denmark. The stools feature sculpted wood frames with X bases. The seats showcases a gorge...
Brass
Sold
H 15 in W 21.5 in D 13.5 in
Ole Wanscher Rosewood and Goatskin "Egyptian" Stools for AJ Iversen, 1957
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Coronado, CA
A seldom seen pair of original rosewood "Egyptian" folding stools designed by Ole Wanscher for AJ Iversen in Denmark in 1957. Beautifully sculpted, solid rosewood frames with goatskin slings. The stools have been lovingly taken care of over the decades and are in their original condition with some light fading to the rosewood and some nominal dings and scrapes. Overall, they are in wonderful, sturdy condition, ready for use. They could be very easily refinished to really make the rosewood POP, but we'll leave that to the buyer. Brand new, glowing goatskin slings have been made as closely as possible to the originals with brass elements to the underside. Literature Ole Wanscher, Furniture designed by Ole Wanscher for A.J. Iversen, in “mobilia”, no. 130, May 1966, unpaginated, an example in rosewood illustrated. Grete Jalk, ed., 40 Years of Danish Furniture Design: The Copenhagen Cabinet-makers’ Guild Exhibitions 1927-1966, Copenhagen, 1987, vol. 1V, 1957-1966, pp. 20-21, illustrated. Arne Karlsen, Dansk Møbelkunst i det 20. Århundrede, Copenhagen, 1990, vol. 2, p. 36, illustrated. Noritsugu Oda, Danish Chairs, Japan, 1996, p. 72, illustrated. Information on the chair A review of the 1957 Copenhagen Cabinet Maker’s Guild Exhibition describes Wanscher’s stool...
Goatskin, Rosewood
Sold
H 33.37 in W 27.37 in D 25.12 in
Ole Wanscher, Lounge Chairs, Mahogany, Black Leather, Denmark, 1940s
By Ole Wanscher
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of mahogany and black leather lounge chairs designed and produced by Ole Wanscher, Denmark, 1940s.
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 15 in W 21.62 in D 13.5 in
Ole Wanscher “Egyptian" Stool, Mahogany Black Leather, P. Jeppesen, Denmark 1957
By Ole Wanscher, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in High Point, NC
A mahogany and black leather, foldable "Egyptian" stool designed by Ole Wanscher and produced by P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik.
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Modern "Model OW149" Stool Designed by Ole Wanscher by P. Jeppesen
By Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole Wanscher
Located in Lejre, DK
Colonial stool designed by Ole Wanscher and manufactured by P. Jeppesen. The stool of rosewood and black leather. It is a model OW149 in really good condition. This product will be...
Leather, Rosewood
Ole Wanscher Egyptian Stool
By Ole Wanscher, Poul Jeppesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher Egyptian stool with frame of maple. Seat of butt hide. Made by Poul Jeppesen.
Leather, Maple
Sold
H 15.75 in W 21.66 in D 12.6 in
Rare Danish Egyptian Stool by Ole Wanscher for P. Jeppesen, Denmark, 1957
By Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole Wanscher
Located in Berlin, DE
Original old stool designed by Ole Wanscher and produced by P. Jeppesen, Denmark 1957. The stool comes in a great dark wood and in a beautiful patinated bro...
Leather, Wood
Egyptian Stool
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Egyptian stool in Sonokeling rosewood with original cognac leather. Period: 1930-1939
Rosewood
Ole Wanscher "Egyptian" Folding Stool
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Utrecht, NL
The 'Egyptian' folding stool by Danish designer Ole Wanscher was inspired by the stool's used by Egypt's Pharaohs 2000-1500 before Christ. In this desi...
Mahogany
Ole Wanscher - Egyptian Stool
By Ole Wanscher
Located in San Francisco, CA
The "Egyptian" stool made by AJ Iverson of bleached teak and leather.
Leather