Good Pair of Mid C20th French Three Seater Leather Sofas by Maison Jansen with Provenance

Provenance: Hippodrome de Longchamp

Maison Jansen stands as one of the most influential and enduring names in the history of interior design and decoration. Founded in 1880 in Paris by the Dutch-born entrepreneur Jean-Henri Jansen, the firm began modestly as a furniture shop on the prestigious Rue Royale during the height of the Belle Époque. What started as a retail venture quickly evolved into a pioneering global enterprise, often regarded as the world’s first truly international interior decoration firm.

Jean-Henri Jansen, then in his mid-twenties, brought an ambitious vision to Paris. He combined a keen eye for antiques with innovative merchandising—lavish window displays and a comprehensive approach to home furnishing that included everything needed to complete a room. This holistic model set Maison Jansen apart from traditional furniture dealers. Within a decade, the business had expanded dramatically: by around 1890, it had established a prominent antiques trade, opened its own workshop on the Rue Pergolese for custom production, and secured its first major commission—the remodeling of the Palace of Laeken for King Leopold II of Belgium. These early successes demonstrated Jansen’s ability to blend historical accuracy with client-centric luxury, attracting an elite clientele of royalty, aristocracy, and the wealthy upper class.

The firm’s style was eclectic yet refined, drawing from traditional French periods—particularly Louis XIV, XV, and XVI revivals—while incorporating emerging influences such as the Anglo-Japanese style, the Arts and Crafts movement, and even Turkish elements. This fusion created opulent, theatrical interiors that felt timeless rather than rigidly historical, emphasizing comfort alongside grandeur. Materials like gilt bronze, exotic woods, marble, and fine textiles defined their work, resulting in bespoke furniture, lighting, and full-room schemes that exuded sophistication.

A pivotal chapter in Maison Jansen’s history began in the early 1920s when Jean-Henri Jansen recruited Stéphane Boudin, a talented designer from a family in the textile trimming business. Boudin joined the firm and, after Jansen’s death in 1928, took leadership around 1936. Under Boudin’s direction, Maison Jansen reached its zenith. The company expanded internationally, establishing offices or project bases in cities including London, New York, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Havana, Prague, Rome, and Rio de Janeiro. This global reach allowed it to serve an extraordinary roster of clients: royalty (including work at Buckingham Palace for Edward VII), heads of state, and high-society figures like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. One of its most celebrated projects was the redesign of several White House rooms during the Kennedy administration, led by Boudin and the New York office head Paul Manno, where the Red Room became an iconic example of Jansen’s elegant historicism adapted for modern life.

Maison Jansen’s designs were never merely reproductions; they were interpretations that balanced grandeur with livability. The firm collaborated with notable artists and designers, and its pieces—chairs, tables, lamps, consoles—often featured intricate carvings, luxurious upholstery, and a sense of theatricality tempered by restraint.

Despite its long success, the firm faced challenges in the shifting cultural and economic landscape of the late 20th century. After Boudin’s death in 1967, Pierre Delbée assumed control. The business changed hands in 1979 under new ownership, but it struggled to adapt to evolving tastes and market conditions. Maison Jansen finally closed its doors in 1989, after more than a century of shaping luxurious interiors worldwide.

Today, vintage Maison Jansen furniture and decorative objects remain highly coveted by collectors and connoisseurs. Their enduring appeal lies in the firm’s masterful craftsmanship, historical sensitivity, and ability to create spaces of timeless elegance—qualities that continue to inspire contemporary design. Maison Jansen not only decorated homes and palaces; it defined an era of opulent, cosmopolitan taste in interior decoration.

Maison Jansen, the distinguished Parisian interior design and furniture firm founded in 1880, played a significant role in furnishing key areas of the Hippodrome de Longchamp, one of France’s premier horse-racing venues in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris. Established in 1857, the hippodrome has long served as a symbol of French elegance, hosting prestigious events such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Its exclusive spaces—including grandstands, private lounges, and the Club des Propriétaires (Owners’ Club)—required furnishings that combined historical sophistication with practical durability for an elite, high-traffic environment.

During the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1960s, Maison Jansen was commissioned to supply bespoke pieces for these privileged zones. Under the direction of Stéphane Boudin (who led the firm from the 1930s until his death in 1967), Jansen specialized in luxurious designs that revived French neoclassical traditions, notably Louis XVI and Directoire styles, while adapting them for modern comfort and functionality.

The furniture typically featured:

• Frames in sculpted mahogany (acajou) or molded wood, often with tapered legs or brass sabots.

• Rich upholstery in materials such as black tufted leather, burgundy (bordeaux) leather, or red skaï (synthetic leather).

• A range of seating and tables, including fauteuils (armchairs), three-seater canapés (sofas), club chairs, low tables (tables basses), guéridons, and consoles.

These elements evoked the refined atmosphere of aristocratic salons, aligning perfectly with the glamour of Longchamp’s private enclosures.

Although less celebrated internationally than Jansen’s projects for the White House Red Room or royal residences, the Longchamp commission exemplified the firm’s post-war expertise in equipping elite French institutions. Many pieces bore provenance markings or labels linking them directly to the hippodrome, adding historical value.

In December 2015, ahead of major renovations (the hippodrome closed for reconstruction from late 2015 to 2017–2018), France Galop—the organization managing French horse racing—consigned surplus furniture and objects spanning roughly 1960–2015 to auction. The auction achieved total proceeds exceeding expectations, reflecting the appeal of documented provenance and mid-century French luxury.

In the years since, vintage Maison Jansen pieces from Longchamp have appeared occasionally on the secondary market through dealers, galleries, and subsequent auctions. Prized for their craftsmanship, timeless aesthetic, and rare connection to Parisian racing culture, they continue to attract enthusiasts of French decorative arts. This chapter in Maison Jansen’s legacy underscores the firm’s enduring contribution to creating sophisticated, enduring environments for France’s most prestigious venues.

B