Design story
Ole Wanscher Rungstedlund chair was designed in the 1960s. The Rungstedlund was among Wanscher’s best-known works. It includes a dining table, cabinets and chairs. The series was manufactured by PJ Furniture in Denmark.
Wanscher became the furniture architect of the wealthy middle-class. He designed furniture for many board rooms as well as for private dining rooms. He has also made exhibition furniture for the Museum of Art and Design and the David Collection and arranged the library at the Danish Institute in Rome.
Ole Wanscher was son of a man with a big personality, the art historian Vilhelm Wanscher. Although it was probably not always been easy, he chose a career similar to his father’s. Where the father wrote the history of architecture, the son wrote the history of furniture design. He was also judge at various furniture exhibitions and reviewer on one of the major Danish newspapers.
The first time Wanscher participated in one of the furniture himself, is believed to be in 1933. He entered the exhibition with a refined desk, produced by A.J. Iversen. The following years the architect and master carpenter collaborated on furniture of exclusive types of wood and with amazing details. Ole Wanscher preferred mahogany and rosewood, and the chair was his favourite object, whether it was a modern version of an Egyptian folding stool or a armchair with free-floating armrests.
Design was not the only field Ole Wanscher excelled in. He also wrote several books on furniture design (1946 – 1955). His most noteworthy book is “Art of Furniture: 5000 Years of Furniture and Interiors”.
During his long design career, Wanscher earned numerous awards and accolades. Among those are the Copenhagen Carpenters’ Guild Annual Award and the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1960.
PJ Furniture, also known as Peter Jeppesen Møbelfabrik, made some of the classic Danish mid-century furniture. The company worked with a number of architects and designers and was famous for it’s passionate craftsmanship and high-quality.
