An Exceptional Quality 20th Century Maison Jansen Golden ”Knole” Velvet Sofa Circa 1960

An exceptional mid 20th Century Knole country house sofa by Maison Jansen. Called the "Knole" from the Jansen design studiosthis piece has been stylised to represent the original sofa which is situated within Knole House, Sevenoaks.

It is of the finest quality, with the enclosed sides and apron and deep feather-cushioned seats that typify this iconic design.

Upholstered in a beautiful Ochre/Dijon velvet. The sofa has drop ends with lovely heavy brass arms in a faux bamboo style.

A superior quality handcrafted sofa with timeless  design on hardwood beech frame. Thick heavy gauge velvet. Stuffed cushion back rests and base seats. Clean modern lines and design, these sofas will inject style/glamour into any setting both residential or commercial.

133cm width x  80cm depth X 99cm height. 

The Dutch-born Jean-Henri Jansen (1854–1928) was only in his mid-20s when he set up his Parisian design business in 1880. By the time he died, Maison Jansen had become the world’s first international decorating firm. Today, it is still regarded as one of the most notable firms and period furniture manufacturers in history, with its vintage floor lamps, tables, dressers and other furnishings remaining in demand.

Maison Jansen initially came to international prominence in 1883 when the young Jean-Henri Jansen traveled to Amsterdam to participate in the International Colonial Exposition, an event that featured presentations by 28 different nations and was attended by over a million visitors. There he exhibited as part of the French pavilion and won the silver medal. This led to two prominent new clients: King William III of the Netherlands and King Alfonso XII of Spain.

Next was King Leopold II of Belgium for the interiors of the Château du Laeken, as well as commissions for Egypt’s King Farouk and Great Britain’s King Edward VII. Thanks to his participation in global expositions and fairs, Jansen expanded the renown of the firm so that its studios would reign in such major cities as London, New York, Buenos Aires, Cairo and many more.

Jansen was not only sought after for his taste but also for his custom period-inspired pieces. For example, in the Count and Countess de Revilla de Camargo’s Havana mansion, Jansen designed Louis XV–style furniture crafted from Cuban mahogany, enhancing Maison Jansen’s reputation as an expert maker. His custom furniture business was so successful that by 1900 he had opened his own atelier and employed around 700 artisans.

In the 1960s, the firm, then led by Stéphane Boudin, worked with Jacqueline Kennedy on the refurbishment of rooms in the White House, including such spaces as the Queens’ Sitting Room, which featured bright blue fabric and neoclassical details. In the 1970s, legendary French actor Alain Delon brought his sense of style to bear on the world of furniture design, when he created a series of pieces for Maison Jansen.

Maison Jansen continued to produce furniture designs through the 20th century, responding to shifting tastes from Art Nouveau to Modern Regency.

As a genuine antique/vintage item there is wear and use commensurate with age. In near perfect condition and has had little to very light use/wear. Some wooden products may have signs of historic woodworm. As a precaution we apply a clear triple action woodworm treatment that also kills wet rot, dry rot and woodworm. Please look at all the images carefully and ask any questions pre purchase as we do not unfortunately offer refunds due to the size and shipping costs of our antiques/items.  All our items are available on line at Search & Rescued and other online stores.