Ole Wanscher
Encyclopedia
Ole Wanscher was a Danish
furniture designer. He was one of the leading figures in the Scandinavian Design
movement (a part of Mid-Century Modernism
), at a time when Scandinavian Design achieved worldwide popularity.
, Ole Wanscher studied at the Danish School of Art and Design
, and was particularly influenced by Prof. Kaare Klint. After completing his studies, Wanscher worked with Klint from 1924 to 1927, at which time he set up his own office, specializing in furniture design.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Wanscher, working with master joiner A. J. Iversen
, produced dozens of designs that are now seen as modern classics. In the 1950s, Wanscher left his private firm and began an association with P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik A/S that would last for the rest of his professional life.
, Wanscher published several histories of furniture design during his time at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, including The History of the Art of Furniture and Five Thousand Years of Furniture.
. One of Wanscher's most famous pieces was his so-called "Egyptian Stool" of 1960. He was also influenced by Greek and Chinese design.
While many of Wanscher best known designs were built with master joiner A.J. Iversen, Wanscher also showed a particular interest in the mass production
of furniture, and several of his pieces were designed with mass production in mind. One of Wanscher's best known designs is the teak
easy chair designed for France & Son in 1951.
Wanscher's work has been called "delicate", "elegant", and "orderly".
In 2003, Van Trimble, a furniture dealer and collector, staged a retrospective of Wanscher's work in New York City, which was well received.
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
furniture designer. He was one of the leading figures in the Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian design emerged in the 1950s in the three Scandinavian countries , as well as Finland. It is a design movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism, functionality, and low-cost mass production....
movement (a part of Mid-Century Modernism
Mid-century modern
Mid-Century modern is an architectural, interior and product design form that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture, and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965...
), at a time when Scandinavian Design achieved worldwide popularity.
Biography
Born on September 16, 1903 in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Ole Wanscher studied at the Danish School of Art and Design
Danmarks Designskole
The Danish Design School is an institution of higher education in Copenhagen, Denmark, offering a five-year design education consisting of a three-year bachelor programme and a two-year master in design as well as conducting research within the fields of arts, crafts and design...
, and was particularly influenced by Prof. Kaare Klint. After completing his studies, Wanscher worked with Klint from 1924 to 1927, at which time he set up his own office, specializing in furniture design.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Wanscher, working with master joiner A. J. Iversen
A. J. Iversen
Andreas Jeppe Iversen, usually known as A.J. Iversen, was a Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer...
, produced dozens of designs that are now seen as modern classics. In the 1950s, Wanscher left his private firm and began an association with P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik A/S that would last for the rest of his professional life.
Academia
Upon the death of Kaare Klint in 1955, Wanscher replaced Klint as professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, a post he held until his retirement in 1973. Taking a cue from his father, an art historianArt history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, Wanscher published several histories of furniture design during his time at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, including The History of the Art of Furniture and Five Thousand Years of Furniture.
Design
Like his mentor Kaare Klint, Wanscher was influenced by a variety of sources, from 18th century British design through the furniture design of Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
. One of Wanscher's most famous pieces was his so-called "Egyptian Stool" of 1960. He was also influenced by Greek and Chinese design.
While many of Wanscher best known designs were built with master joiner A.J. Iversen, Wanscher also showed a particular interest in the mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
of furniture, and several of his pieces were designed with mass production in mind. One of Wanscher's best known designs is the teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
easy chair designed for France & Son in 1951.
Wanscher's work has been called "delicate", "elegant", and "orderly".
Reputation
Wanscher's work has remained popular with furniture collectors.In 2003, Van Trimble, a furniture dealer and collector, staged a retrospective of Wanscher's work in New York City, which was well received.