Ole Wanscher. Senator seats for CADO

OLE WANSCHER (Denmark, 1903-1985) for CADO.
Pair of "Senator" armchairs.
Teak wood frame. New upholstery with stone pattern.
WithCADO stamp.
With CADO stamp.
Measurements: 79 x 68 x 70 cm. Seat height 45 cm.

One of the best creations of the Danish master Ole Wanscher, the Senator model was inspired by the British and French furniture of the 19th century. It features an open-format teak wood structure, light and solid, typical of Danish furniture from the second half of the 20th century.
Considered an integral part of the central aesthetic and functionality of Danish design, Ole Wanscher studied with Kaare Klint at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He subsequently worked in Klint's design studio before becoming a freelance furniture designer. In 1958, the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote: "Having a Wanscher chair is an adventure every day, and it will continue to be so, even if hundreds of years go by, for this is how long it lasts." Today, his modern classics are still revered for their detailing and deep respect for materials. While traveling in Egypt and Europe, Wanscher studied furniture design, finding inspiration in diverse visual expressions that he incorporated into his own unique design aesthetic. He saw furniture design as a branch of architecture and emphasized slender dimensions and sturdy forms, a pursuit exemplified in many of his works, particularly the Colonial Chair and Colonial Sofa. Wanscher created his best-known designs primarily between the late 1940s and early 1960s, in the postwar era, when the philosophy of "design for all" emerged. In Denmark, some of the biggest names in design created functional and affordable furniture for the Danes and the small spaces in which they lived. Wanscher took a keen interest in industrially produced but high quality furniture, designing several successful pieces. Wanscher's design earned him numerous accolades, including the Copenhagen Carpenters' Guild Annual Award and the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1960, honors that underscored Wanscher's esteemed reputation both in Denmark and internationally.