Pair of Colonial Easy Chairs, Model PJ149, by Ole Wanscher
View Similar Items
Pair of Colonial Easy Chairs, Model PJ149, by Ole Wanscher
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik (Manufacturer),Ole Wanscher (Designer)
- Design:Colonial ChairColonial Series
- Dimensions:Height: 33.08 in (84 cm)Width: 26.78 in (68 cm)Depth: 25.6 in (65 cm)Seat Height: 16.15 in (41 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Everything we sell to customers will be inspected thoroughly at our professional workshop by our educated carpenters, who assures the products quality.
- Seller Location:Lejre, DK
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1209218526152
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.
- Colonial 2-Seat Sofa, Model OW149-2, by Ole Wanscher, 1960sBy Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole WanscherLocated in Lejre, DKExquisite Colonial 2-Seat Sofa, Model OW149-2, a timeless creation by the revered designer Ole Wanscher in 1964, skillfully crafted by P. Jeppesen in the 1960s. This elegant sofa em...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Pair of "Rungstedlund" Mahogany, Ole Wanscher and P. Jeppesen, 1960sBy Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole WanscherLocated in Lejre, DKA pair of "Rungstedlund" armchairs designed by Ole Wanscher and manufactured by P. Jeppesen is a true representation of Danish mid-century modern furniture design. Ole Wanscher was a renowned Danish architect and designer known for his commitment to craftsmanship...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Mahogany
- Set of Four "Rungstedlund" Dining Room Chairs, Ole Wanscher and P. JeppesenBy Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole WanscherLocated in Lejre, DKThe set of four "Rungstedlund" dining room chairs, designed by Ole Wanscher and manufactured by P. Jeppesen in the 1960s, is a splendid and iconic collection of dining chairs. Ole W...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Mahogany
$1,763 Sale Price / set20% Off - Rungstedlund Dining Table in Mahogany Designed by Ole Wanscher, 1960sBy Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole WanscherLocated in Lejre, DKRungstedlund dining table in mahogany designed by Ole Wanscher and manufactured by P. Jeppesen in the 1960s. The table is in great vintage condition and with two extension plates.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Scandinavian Modern Corona Easy Chair, Model EJ 5, by Poul M. VoltherBy Erik Jørgensen, Poul VoltherLocated in Lejre, DKCorona easy chair, model EJ 5, designed by Poul M. Volther in 1964 and manufactured at Erik Jørgensen. The chair is upholstered in black cava leather...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- Scandinavian Modern Pair of Easy Chairs with Stool by Alf Svensson and KällemoBy Källemo, Alf SvenssonLocated in Lejre, DKA pair of easy chairs with stool designed by Alf Svensson and manufactured by Källemo. The chairs are of beech and with green cushions. Measurements of stool: H - 32 cm, W - 63 cm a...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Beech
- Ole Wanscher, Pair of Colonial Chairs, model PJ149, 1st Edition 1949, RosewoodBy Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole WanscherLocated in Wargrave, BerkshireOle Wanscher for Poul Jeppesens, Mobelfabrik, Denmark, model no. PJ149, Colonial chairs, designed 1949 This pair of chairs in Brazilian Rosewood with beautiful graining and patina t...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
On Hold$28,687 / set - Pair of Mid-Century Armchairs Model PJ149 by Ole Wanscher for Poul JeppesenBy Ole WanscherLocated in Brussels, BEPair of mid-century armchairs model PJ149 by Ole Wanscher for Poul Jeppesen - Denmark.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Armchairs
MaterialsWood
- Ole Wanscher armchair Model "Colonial" PJ 149 , Denmark, 1960By Ole WanscherLocated in Paris, FROle Wanscher, armchairs, "Colonial Chair PJ 149", Mahogany Poul Jeppesen, Denmark. Rare model in white lacquered Mahogany Good condition A pair is available, the price for 1 item.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLacquer, Wood
- PJ 149 “Colonial” Armchair by Ole Wanscher, Denmark, 1949By Ole WanscherLocated in Utrecht, NLThe Colonial chair is one of Danish designer, Ole Wanscher’s key designs, drawing influence from British and French colonial furniture from t...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Vintage PJ-149 Colonial Chair by Ole Wanscher for P. Jeppesen 1949By Ole WanscherLocated in Handewitt, DEVintage „Colonial Chair“ by Ole Wanscher for Poul Jeppesen 1949. Model PJ-149. Produced in 1950s. Made in rosewood and orignial cushions in lig...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric
- PJ 149 Colonial chair with footstool by Ole WanscherBy Ole WanscherLocated in Copenhagen, DKColonial chair with matching footstool in walnut and black leather. By Ole Wanscher / P.J FurnitureCategory
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut