Ole Wanscher easy chairs

This is a set of 2 rare pairs of model PJ-149 “Colonial” easy chairs, designed by Danish architect and furniture designer Ole Wanscher. Manufactured in Denmark by P. Jeppesen Møbelfabrik during the 1960s, these chairs are enduring icons of mid-century Scandinavian design, combining historical formality with modernist clarity and construction.

Each chair is crafted from solid ash wood, shaped into a gracefully curved frame that reflects Wanscher’s refined approach to proportion and detailing. The design features softly rounded and outwardly curved rear legs, adding visual dynamism and structural stability. The armrests gently sweep forward and curve downward, seamlessly connecting with the front legs. The light tone and natural grain of the wood lend the chairs an airy, bright character.

The seats are made from handwoven cane, a traditional material technique that enhances the chairs’ artisanal craftsmanship and lightness. The woven cane platform is reinforced to support the removable black leather cushions, which are fitted for both the seat and backrest. These cushions are generously filled and upholstered in smooth black leather, providing both tactile contrast and high comfort levels.

Ole Wanscher, a renowned professor and author as well as a designer, was celebrated for his deep appreciation of classical furniture forms, which he reinterpreted through a modern Scandinavian lens. His collaboration with P. Jeppesen Møbelfabrik resulted in some of the most elegant and structurally expressive works of the era. The Colonial chair series draws inspiration from 18th-century English and colonial seating traditions, streamlining these into lighter, modern silhouettes.

These chairs are in excellent vintage condition, with the original woven cane intact and the leather cushions showing only minimal wear. The wood surfaces have been carefully preserved, maintaining their original finish and patina.

Each chair measures 65.5 cm in width, 70 cm in depth, and 84 cm in height, with a seat height of 42 cm (approximately 25.8 x 27.6 x 33.1 inches, seat height 16.5 inches). The set is sold as a pair, with 2 sets available.