Ole Wanscher

Background

Ole Wanscher (1903-1985) was a Danish furniture designer. Wikipedia gives his birth as 16 September 1903 in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, as the son of the art historian Vilhelm Wanscher and the painter Laura K. Baagøe Zeuthen, and says he studied at the Danish School of Art and Design and was particularly influenced by Kaare Klint. Carl Hansen & Søn says he studied under Klint at the Royal Danish Academy and later worked at Klint's design studio before becoming an independent furniture designer.

Signature Style

Carl Hansen & Søn says Wanscher viewed furniture design as a branch of architecture and emphasised slim dimensions and resilient forms, citing the Colonial Chair and Colonial Sofa as examples. He found inspiration on travels through Egypt and Europe. Wikipedia adds that he was influenced by 18th-century British design, ancient Egyptian furniture, and Greek and Chinese design.

Notable Works

• Colonial Chair (OW149), which Carl Hansen & Søn calls his most famous furniture work
• Colonial Sofa (OW149-2) and Colonial Coffee Table (OW449)
• Egyptian Folding Stool (OW2000), dated 1957 by Carl Hansen & Søn and 1960 by Wikipedia
• Rungstedlund Dining Table (OW224), designed in 1962
• OW58 T-Chair and OW150 daybed

Legacy

After Kaare Klint died in 1955, Wanscher succeeded him as professor at that academy, a post he held until 1973 according to Wikipedia. Carl Hansen & Søn records that his work won the Copenhagen Carpenters' Guild Annual Award and the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1960.