OLE WANSCHER (Denmark, 1903-1985). Writing table. Rosewood. Measurements:... Lot 23

OLE WANSCHER (Denmark, 1903-1985). Writing table. Rosewood. Measurements: 74 x 167 x 84 cm. The desk table presented here, a model by Ole Wanscher, made of rosewood, has a design of refined shapes, straight lines and rounded volumes, which contrast expressively with the beautiful natural grain of the wood, with sinuous and organic lines. Standing on four square legs, it has three drawers on each side and two drawers on each side of the central axis. Considered integral to the core aesthetic and functionality of Danish design, Ole Wanscher studied KaareKlint at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and then worked at Klint's design studio before becoming a freelance furniture designer. Wanscher's classic and contemporary designs made him popular. In 1958, the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote: "Having a Wanscher chair is an adventure every day, and it will be so even several hundred years from now, for this is how long it lasts. Today, his modern classics are still revered for their detailing and his deep respect for materials. While travelling 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 emphasised 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 mainly between the late 1940s and early 1960s, in the post-war 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 won him numerous accolades, including the Copenhagen Carpenters' Guild Annual Prize and the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1960, honours that underlined Wanscher's esteemed reputation both in Denmark and internationally.