Pair of Ole Wanscher Colonial Armchairs in Walnut, P. Jeppesen, Denmark, 1950s
View Similar Items
Pair of Ole Wanscher Colonial Armchairs in Walnut, P. Jeppesen, Denmark, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Ole Wanscher (Designer),Poul Jeppesen (Manufacturer)
- Design:Colonial ChairColonial Series
- Dimensions:Height: 33.47 in (85 cm)Width: 25.6 in (65 cm)Depth: 25.99 in (66 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good original condition, walnut wood and original leather cushions with a nice, natural patina.
- Seller Location:The Hague, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1803325899312
Colonial Chair
In creating his seminal work, the Colonial chair, in 1949, Danish designer Ole Wanscher (1903–85) found the ideal balance between minimalism and traditionalism through a simple silhouette, slim wooden framework and plush leather cushions. While Wanscher may not be a household name today in the way that his Danish contemporaries Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl and Hans Wegner are, he played a prominent role in mid-century Scandinavian design and is greatly respected by furniture historians.
Raised by an art historian father, Wanscher developed an appreciation for the arts at an early age, eventually going on to study architecture and furniture design under modernist master Kaare Klint at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, he worked for Klint’s practice before starting his own firm. Then, after Klint’s death in 1954, Wanscher took over Klint’s academic role until his own retirement from the academy in 1973. His professional accolades include the Copenhagen Carpenters’ Guild Annual Award and the gold medal at the 1960 Milan Triennale.
An avid historian himself, Wanscher also traveled the world to study designs from different cultures and was particularly interested in furniture from Egypt, Greece and China, as well as from the Shaker movement and the Vienna Secession. He’d later publish the results of his global studies in The Art of Furniture: 5,000 Years of Furniture and Interiors. This approach, rooted in history, which was largely inspired by Klint’s own philosophy, set Wanscher apart from the segment of Scandinavian modernists who eschewed the past for the present and the future.
For the Colonial chair, Wanscher drew inspiration from 18th-century English furniture, namely ladder-backed chairs by Thomas Chippendale. He crafted the slim frame of roundwood timber, using curved armrests and legs — a Wanscher signature element — and thoughtfully placed mortise-and-tenon joints to create stability. And although the finished product radiates a sense of careful craftsmanship, Wanscher designed the Colonial chair to be easily manufactured: Its wood frame, woven cane seat and leather cushions can each be produced separately and joined at a later stage.
The Colonial chair was originally manufactured by P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, for whom Wanscher also designed the Colonial sofa and the Colonial coffee table to complete the Colonial collection. Today the chair is manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn and sold alongside a footrest. It remains a crowd-pleaser with its timeless, elegant yet simple form.
Ole Wanscher
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.
- Pair of Eva and Nils Koppel Armchairs, Slagelse Møbelværk, Denmark, 1950sBy Eva & Niles Koppell, Eva & Niels Koppel, Slagelse MobelvaerkLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare pair of armchairs was designed by Eva and Nils Koppel and produced by Slagelse Møbelværk in Denmark, 1950s. This striking pair consists of a high back armchair and the same...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Fabric, Wool, Linen, Upholstery, Beech
- Pair of André Sornay Armchairs in Sapele Mahogany and Bouclé, France, 1950sBy Andre SornayLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare pair of armchairs was designed by André Sornay and produced by his workshop in Lyon in the early 1950s. High, angled backrest in sapele mahogany with upholstered cushions. ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Bouclé, Chenille, Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
- Sculptural Pair of Adolf Wrenger Armchairs in Beech and Velvet, Germany, 1950sLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare pair of armchairs was designed by Adolf Wrenger and produced by his company in Lippe, Germany in the early 1950s. The frames in solid, stained ...Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood, Beech
- Pair of High Back Armchairs in Green Braquenié Velvet and Wengé Wood, 1950sLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare pair high back armchairs were custom designed for a municipal building in Utrecht, The Netherlands in the early 1950s. The generously sized dimensions and very high back ma...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wenge
- Pair of Giulia Veronesi Perla Armchairs in Green Loro Piana Velvet, Italy, 1950sBy Giulia Veronesi, ISA Bergamo, Loro PianaLocated in The Hague, NLThis rare pair of 'Perla' armchairs was designed by Giulia Veronesi and produced by ISA Bergamo, Italy in the early 1950s. Its sensual curves and the elegantly tapered legs give the chair a sculptural and modern feel. These striking armchairs have been fully reconditioned and newly upholstered in a sumptuous clover green Loro Piana velvet. The Perla model is one of the iconic chair designs of the Italian Modern era. Literature reference: Domus No. 274, October 1952, page 4. Additional note: The designer of the Perla model has been credited as G. Veronesi in the ISA advertisement in Domus. Previously, Guglielmo Veronesi was assumed to be the full name. However recent research has indicated it was in fact Giulia Veronesi who designed the Perla chair...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Beech, Fabric, Upholstery
- Pair of Thorald Madsen Armchairs in Sheepskin and Beech, Denmark, Mid 1930sBy Thorald Madsens SnedkeriLocated in The Hague, NLThis very rare pair of armchairs was produced by the cabinetmaker Thorald Madsen in Denmark in the mid 1930s. The curved, round shape of the armrests and back gives the design a dist...Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSheepskin, Wood, Beech
- Ole Wanscher Pair of Rosewood Colonial Chairs, 1950sBy Poul Jeppesen, Ole WanscherLocated in London, GBOle Wanscher PJ-149 Colonial chairs, 1949. These examples made from Brazilian rosewood with woven rattan cane seats. Produced by Poul Jeppesen, Denmark, circa 1950s. Cognac bro...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rattan, Rosewood
$31,380 / set - Pair of Ole Wanscher "Colonial" ArmchairsBy Ole WanscherLocated in Los Angeles, CAPair of Ole Wanscher "Colonial" Armchairs Manufactured by P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik Material: Mahogany Model PJ301Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Cane, Mahogany
$4,850 / set - Ole Wanscher Pair of Vintage Rosewood Colonial Chairs, 1950sBy Poul Jeppesen, Ole WanscherLocated in London, GBOle Wanscher PJ-149 Colonial chair, 1949 A fine pair of Ole Wanscher's most iconic design: The colonial chair. Produced by Poul Jeppesen in Denmark circa 1950s in exquisite Brazilian rosewood with original woven rattan cane seat and feather cushions covered in new pale linen fabric. The colonial chair was Wanscher's homage to American...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRattan, Rosewood, Linen
- Sofa “Colonial” Designed by Ole Wanscher for P. Jeppesen, Denmark, 1950sBy Ole WanscherLocated in Stockholm, SESofa ‘Colonial’ designed by Ole Wanscher for P. Jeppesen, Denmark, 1960s. Brazilian rosewood and black leather. Measurements: H: 60 cm/ 1' 11 5/8" W: 123.5 cm/ 4' 5/8" D: 66 cm/ 2...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Ole Wanscher Vintage Rosewood Colonial Chair, 1950sBy Poul Jeppesen, Ole WanscherLocated in London, GBOle Wanscher PJ-149 Colonial chair, 1949 A Fine example of Ole Wanscher's most iconic design: The Colonial Chair. Produced by Poul Jeppesen in Denmark c1950s in exquisite Brazi...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rattan, Rosewood
- Pair of Wood + Camel Leather 'Colonial' Armchairs by Ole Wanscher, Denmark 1960sBy Ole WanscherLocated in Chicago, ILAn elegant pair of Danish Modern ‘Colonial’ armchairs designed by Ole Wanscher in the 1960s. These armchairs feature slim mahogany frames in a polished burgundy finish, camel toned l...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood