Maison Jansen
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Interior design, furniture |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Founder | Jean-Henri Jansen |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Europe, Latin America, North America, Middle East |
Key people | Stéphane Boudin (director), Pierre Delbée (later director) |
| Products | Interior design services, furniture, antiques |
Maison Jansen (; ) was an interior design company headquartered in Paris, established in 1880 by Jean-Henri Jansen, who was originally from the Netherlands. Widely regarded as the pioneering international design firm, it catered to clientele throughout Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East. The company maintained its base at 23, rue de l'Annonciation in Paris until it ceased operations in 1989.
History
Maison Jansen skillfully merged classic furniture styles with innovative trends such as Anglo-Japanese aesthetics, the Arts and Crafts movement, and elements inspired by Turkish design. The company prioritized thorough historical research to create environments that were both practical and visually impactful according to clients’ preferences. By the end of the 19th century, it had established itself as a leading buyer of antiques in Europe and launched a dedicated antique showroom that supplied both its own projects and those of other designers.
In the early 1920s, Jean-Henri Jansen brought Stéphane Boudin into the firm; Boudin had experience from his family’s textile trimming enterprise. His meticulous attention to detail and commitment to historical authenticity significantly enhanced the company’s prestige and profitability. Eventually, Boudin became director, managing the growth of additional offices and increasing revenues.
Furniture
Originally dependent on antiques and external cabinetmakers, Maison Jansen began producing furniture internally by the early 1890s. The firm specialized in crafting both modern pieces and faithful reproductions primarily reflecting Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Directoire, and Empire motifs.
Work
Though rooted in classical European design traditions, Maison Jansen incorporated modern movements such as Vienna Secession, Modernism, and Art Deco during the period from 1920 to 1950. Under Boudin’s direction, the firm provided services for royal households in Belgium, Iran, and Serbia. Distinguished clients included Elsie de Wolfe and Lady Olive Baillie’s Leeds Castle located in Kent, England. The firm’s most celebrated commission was the interior renovation of the White House during President John F. Kennedy’s tenure, executed by Boudin along with Paul Manno, who headed Jansen’s New York branch. At the same time, Maison Jansen completed the interior decoration of the motor yacht Chambel IV (currently named Northwind II), which remains one of the rare intact examples of a full Jansen project.
Following Boudin’s passing in 1967, leadership passed to Pierre Delbée. The company underwent a change in ownership in 1979 before ultimately closing its doors in 1989.
Sources
- Abbott, James Archer. Jansen Furniture. Acanthus Press: 2007. .
- Abbott, James Archer. Jansen. Acanthus Press: 2006. .
- Abbott James A., and Elaine M. Rice. Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration. Van Nostrand Reinhold: 1998. .
- Abbott, James A. A Frenchman in Camelot: The Decoration of the Kennedy White House by Stéphane Boudin. Boscobel Restoration Inc.: 1995. .
- Hampton, Mark. Legendary Decorators of the Twentieth Century. Doubleday: 1992. .
- Pegler, Martin. The Dictionary of Interior Design. Fairchild Publications: 1983. ASIN B0006ECV48.