In 1964, Danish designer Ole Wanscher (1903–85) created for P. Jeppesens a successor to his popular 1949 Colonial chair that maintained its high quality of craftsmanship with a little extra room. The two-seater Colonial sofa, with its loose cushions on a cotton webbing base and elegant double center wooden legs, is an update on a nostalgic style that channels the functionality of Scandinavian mid-century design.
The son of an art historian, Wanscher was fascinated with the history and culture of furniture, having studied under design master Kaare Klint and traveled the world to explore different vernacular traditions. Although he adopted the minimal tenets of modernism, he did not believe in totally overlooking the past. He drew on influences from ancient Egypt and China as well as the Shaker and Viennese Secession movements. He also published extensively on this heritage — his books include The Art of Furniture: 5,000 Years of Furniture and Interiors.
Wanscher was especially drawn to 18th-century English furniture created by designers like cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, who heavily inspired his Colonial series. Along with the chair and sofa, the series has a coffee table and footrest, all featuring the meticulous bracing that gives strength to their graceful designs. The Colonial sofa also shares the curved armrests that were a Wanscher signature. The refined two-seater was meant for the mass market yet manufactured to stand the test of time, both aesthetically and structurally. In 2015, Danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the sofa design as part of a relaunch of the whole Colonial series.
Restored 1960s Ole Wanscher Colonial Sofa & Easy Chair in Mahogany and Leather
By Poul Jeppesen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Toluca Ter, CA
Expertly restored “Colonial” Lounge Chair and Sofa / Settee set by Ole Wanscher, made in Denmark by Peter Jeppesen. The lounge chair was originally designed in 1949 with the sofa ...
Leather, Rattan, Mahogany
Colonial 2-seater Sofa in Rosewood by Ole Wanscher model "OW149-2", P. Jeppesen
By Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole Wanscher
Located in Lejre, DK
Colonial 2-seater sofa, model OW149-2, designed by Ole Wanscher and produced by P. Jeppesen around 1960. Made in rosewood with woven seat and loose cushions. Ole Wanscher was a centr...
Rosewood
Sofa “Colonial” Designed by Ole Wanscher for P. Jeppesen, Denmark, 1950s
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sofa ‘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...
Leather, Rosewood
H 33.47 in W 24.41 in D 29.53 in
Ole Wanscher Lounge Chairs, Model PJ112, Cognac Aniline Leather
By Ole Wanscher, Poul Jeppesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher lounge chairs new upholstered in vintage cognac aniline leather. Made of massive oiled mahogany. Model PJ 112, made by Poul Jeppesen.
Leather, Mahogany
H 30 in W 82 in D 27 in
Danish 1950's 3-seat sofa by To Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful super elegant sofa by Ole Wanscher for Cabinet maker A.J. Iversen ca. mid 1950's. Very elegant design raised on teak legs with stretchers (usually seen in Kaare Klint's fam...
Wool, Teak
H 30 in W 82 in D 27 in
Danish 1950's 3-seat sofa by To Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful super elegant sofa by Ole Wanscher for Cabinet maker A.J. Iversen ca. mid 1950's. Very elegant design raised on teak legs with stretchers (usually seen in Kaare Klint's fam...
Wool, Teak
H 32.68 in W 22.45 in D 24.02 in
Ole Wanscher Safari Chairs in Oak & Light Canvas, Scandinavian Modern, 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in Odense, DK
A very rare pair of original Ole Wanscher oak framed "Safari chairs" with canvas seats and tilting backs. Made in Denmark by PJ Furniture in the 1960s. This is Wanschers take on the ...
Canvas, Oak
H 32.68 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in L 32.68 in
Ole Wanscher Colonial Chair
By Ole Wanscher, Poul Jeppesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher lounge chair new upholstered with cognac vintage aniline leather. Made in mahogany. Model PJ 149 colonial chair, made by Poul Jeppesen.
Leather, Mahogany
H 33.08 in W 25.6 in D 27.17 in
Ole Wanscher Colonial Chair in Rosewood
By Ole Wanscher
Located in San Francisco, CA
Ole Wanscher design "Colonial" chair for Paul Jeppsen, Denmark. Made with a solid rosewood frame and cane seat with chocolate brown leather cushions, labeled.
Rosewood
H 33.5 in W 25.6 in D 26.8 in
Ole Wanscher Ow-149 "Colonial" Chair in Oak With Leather Cushions
By Ole Wanscher, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The OW149 Colonial Chair was designed by Ole Wanscher in 1959. Wanscher wished to create furniture that paid tribute to classic traditional trends but also stood the test of time. He...
Leather, Oak
H 30.71 in W 72.84 in D 29.53 in
Ole Wanscher Sofa Model 116 / Senator Produced by France & Son in Denmark
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sofa model 116 / Senator designed by Ole Wanscher. Produced by France & Son in Denmark.
Leather, Teak
H 29.53 in W 49.22 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Two-Seat Sofa, Senator Series, Teak Couch by Ole Wanscher
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in München, BY
Elegant Mid-Century modern two-seater sofa by Ole Wanscher, produced by France & Son (Cado) as part of the iconic Senator series. Made in Denmark during the 1960s, it is a refined ex...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
H 29.53 in W 28.75 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Teak Armchair, Danish Design by Ole Wanscher for France & Søn, 1950s
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in München, BY
Dimensions: 73 x 75 x 77 cm (Width x Height x Depth) This Mid Century lounge chair was designed by Ole Wanscher for the Sentator Series for France and Son in the 1950s. This model i...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
H 30.71 in W 26.78 in D 28.35 in
Ole Wanscher 1960s Rosewood Senator Lounge Chair with Leather Cushions
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in London, England
Ole Wanscher - Senator Lounge Chair, c1960s The Senator series of chair, sofa and rocking chair was produced as part of Wanscher's late career collaboration of more minimal and mode...
Wool
H 29.53 in W 71.66 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Three Seat Sofa Senator, Danish Design Teak Couch by Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in München, BY
Dimensions: 182 x 75 x 80 cm (Width x Height x Depth) This Mid Century three seat sofa was designed by Ole Wanscher for the Sentator Series for France and Son in the 1950s. This mod...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
H 33.5 in W 25.6 in D 26.8 in
Ole Wanscher's Colonial Chair and Ottoman in Rosewood, 1950s
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Seattle, WA
This is a rare and in exceptional condition Ole Wanscher's Colonial Chair and Ottoman in Rosewood, with original black leather cushions as well as a new set of new Maharam Sorghum brown cushions. Poul Jeppesen in Denmark c1950s and distributed by Illums Bolighus with solid rosewood for the frame, cane seating under black leather cushion seating. Perhaps the most famous design by Ole Wanscher, the Colonial Chair PJ 149 is inspired by 17th century English furniture...
Leather, Cane, Rosewood
H 29 in W 25 in D 28.5 in
Ole Wanscher Easy Chair
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
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
H 33.47 in W 28.35 in D 29.93 in
Ole Wanscher Lounge / Easy Chair for A.J. Iversen, 1960
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
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
H 33.47 in W 48.82 in D 26.78 in
Colonial 2-Seat Sofa Model OW149-2 Made In Rosewood By Ole Wanscher From 1960s
By Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Ole Wanscher
Located in Lejre, DK
Colonial 2-seater sofa, model OW149-2, is a magnificent piece of furniture created by the renowned Danish furniture designer Ole Wanscher in collaboration with the manufacturer P. Je...
Leather, Rosewood
H 33.47 in W 48.82 in D 25.99 in
Ole Wanscher Colonial Sofa
By Poul Jeppesen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher colonial sofa new upholstered with Indian red elegance aniline leather. Made in mahogany. Model PJ 149 colonial chair, made b...
Leather, Mahogany
