Jens Risom Furniture
Danish, American, 1916-2016
The Danish-born Jens Risom brought the Scandinavian modern design sensibility to a wide audience in the United States. As the first designer for Knoll Inc., Risom introduced American buyers to the region’s enduring design values of simplicity, grace and craftsmanship.
Risom trained in furniture making at the Copenhagen School of Industrial Arts and Design under Ole Wanscher, alongside classmates Hans Wegner and Børge Mogensen. In 1939, a year after graduating from business school, Risom decided to move to the U.S.
While working for an interior designer in New York in 1941, he met Hans Knoll, and the businessman and the designer hit it off. They brought out their first line the next year, despite wartime materials restrictions. The signature piece — now a design icon — was a lounge chair with a striking, undulant birch frame and a seat made of webbed sub-military grade parachute straps. Risom was drafted into the army, and served as a translator under General George Patton. When he returned from the war, Risom clashed over furniture design ideals with his business partner’s new bride, Florence Knoll, the pioneering mid-century modernist who was schooled in the Bauhaus method, which favored furniture with strict, geometric metal frames. Risom then started his own company, Jens Risom Design.
In the course of his long career, Risom developed a stylistic vocabulary that was a reflection of the life of the man himself: his furniture has Danish warmth coupled with an American air of crisp efficiency. Vintage Risom chairs are almost instantly recognizable — the arms and seat backs are set at a distinctive angle that seems to invite people to sit back and relax, yet they know they can hop up in an instant, ready to go.
As you will see on these pages, Jens Risom is one of the great men of American modern design who made furniture that is unique and timeless.
Find a collection of vintage Jens Risom furniture on 1stDibs that includes lounge chairs, desks, coffee tables and more.
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Style: Scandinavian Modern
Creator: Jens Risom
Single Mid-Century Modern Chair in Oak & Walnut by Jens Risom, USA, c. 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a "General Purpose" arm chair designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design. Constructed from a mix of solid and molded oak and walnut plywood and featuring an audaciously...
Category
1960s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Set of 2 Stacking in Oak & Walnut Chairs by Jens Risom, USA, c. 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing an expansive set of eight stacking "General Purpose" arm chairs designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design. Constructed from a mix of solid and molded oak and walnut pl...
Category
1960s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Set of 4 Stacking in Oak & Walnut Chairs by Jens Risom, USA, c. 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing an expansive set of eight stacking "General Purpose" arm chairs designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design. Constructed from a mix of solid and molded oak and walnut pl...
Category
1960s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Set of 8 Mid-Century Stacking Chairs: Oak & Walnut, Jens Risom Design, USA, 1960
By Jens Risom
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing an expansive set of eight stacking "General Purpose" arm chairs designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design. Constructed from a mix of solid and molded oak and walnut plywood and featuring audacious sculpted backs bent to the perfect angel for maximum support this now iconic set of "GP" chairs is the epitome of utilitarian design. Designed and crafted in the late 1960's by Jens Risom Designs, consequently the zenith of Risom's career and subsequent fame, this set of Mid-Century Modern armchairs is a true American gem.
Jens Risom is widely considered to be a pioneer in introducing Danish modern furniture to the United States through early work with the Knoll company and to a greater extent through his own company, which thrived in the 1950s and ’60s. Born in Denmark in 1916, Risom emigrated to the U.S. where he teamed up with Hans Knoll to start a decades-long collaboration between the two icons. Risom served in World War II under Gen. George Patton and upon his return to the civilian world he founded his own company, Jens Risom Design, in 1946.
Jens Risom Design produced a long line of accomplished pieces that ended up in such places as the Oval Office and his "Risom Lounge Chair" is a part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Throughout his life, Risom stayed true to the fundamental Danish approach to modernism, with its emphasis on traditional values and the human necessity for warmth, beauty and simplicity.
Perfect for office, studio or home settings alike this impressive GP chair set is ideal for collectors and designers alike searching for an authentic, American Mid-Century Modern chair set...
Category
1960s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Oak, Walnut
10 Jens Risom Side Chairs for Knoll
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Knoll Studio classic, Jens Risom's designs were the first pieces manufactured by Knoll. Due to war-time restrictions on materials, this style chair was originally constructed of si...
Category
1940s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Wood
13 jens Risom Side Chairs for Knoll
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Knoll Risom Side Chair - A Timeless Icon of Modern Design!
The Knoll Risom Side Chair is a true testament to the enduring legacy of modern furniture design. Created ...
Category
1940s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Magazine Side Table M6500 in Black Lacquered Oak by Jens Risom for Fredericia
By Jens Risom, Fredericia
Located in Dubai, AE
Designed in 1949, the Magazine Table is a great example of Danish-American designer Jens Risom’s stylish and innovative approach to modern design.
The dynamic side table with its ic...
Category
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Oak
Jens Risom Scandinavian Modern Two-Tone Walnut Nightstand Bedside End Table 1950
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Miami, FL
1950 Jens Risom designed walnut nightstand, bedside table or end table for Knoll.
Features one drop door and a storage shelf above, perfectly suited for storing necessaries and numerous small items.
Scandinavian Modern Craftsmanship made in America for Knoll.
In good vintage condition with minor signs of wear.
Ready for a new Home Setting.
Interior measures 19 inches wide by 15 inches deep...
Category
1950s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Jens Risom Cabinet in Rosewood Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark
By Jens Risom
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare small cabinet designed by Jens Risom. Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark. Large desk is also available.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Steel
Jens Risom Lounge Table with "Floating" Top in Rosewood, 1960s, Denmark
By Jens Risom
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Jens Risom lounge table with floating top of rosewood. Frame of solid rosewood.
Made by Gutenberghus in the 1960s.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Jens Risom Desk Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark
By Jens Risom
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare large executive desk designed by Jens Risom. Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Metal, Steel
Pair of Jens Risom "Playboy" Armchairs
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of armchairs by Jens Risom, model C140 in walnut frame and original green upholstery in excellent condition.
Price is for the pair only.
Category
1960s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Leather Walnut Armchair By Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, solid walnut armchair by Jens Risom with seat, back and arms, newly upholstered in a rich cognac leather.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Jens Risom Solid Wood Desk, Denmark, 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Utrecht, NL
Jens Risom: wood desk, manufactured by Risom Design. 1960s.
This nicely shaped Jens Risom desk has a well sized desktop, two drawer units with drawers and a pull-out leaf with glass top on each side. An internal lock allows you to lock the drawers with a key. The black steel drawer handles are mounted onto chrome rings and have a minimal design. The desk has cylindrical legs and refined adjustable feet. The back legs are a bit detached from the drawers which give the desk an open look to what otherwise would have been a quite solid / closed desk. The wood of the desk has a wonderful grain, that has come out beautifully over the years. It was manufactured by Risom Designi in the 1960s.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor marks and scratches. One key is enclosed. Some drawers don’t come out totally fluid. Manufactured by Risom Design.
Dimensions:
66.93 in. W x 35.44 in. D x 28.75 in. H
170 cm W x 90 cm D x 73 cm H
Shipping:
This solid wood desk...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Wood
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2 Gunlocke After Risom Mid Century Modern Danish Walnut & Leather Arms Chairs
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Set of Three Jens Risom for Knoll Webbed Wood Side Chairs
By Knoll, Jens Risom
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Set of three blueberry nylon webbed chairs with maple frames designed by Jens Risom for Knoll.
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One Vintage Jens Risom for Knoll Lounge Chairs
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
One mid-century modern armless lounge chair designed by Jens Risom for Knoll originally in 1946. This early design has a hard maple frame with new linen upholstery.
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Mid-Century Vintage Jens Risom Knoll Webbed Armchair
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Baltimore, MD
A stunning iconic cotton strap, webbed, lounge, armchair, 652W design (1943) early edition, designed by Jens Risom for Knoll International. Features a solid maple frame with original woven cotton straps. It is one of the most comfortable pieces you will sit in, the exquisite curved back provides lumbar support making this chair as comfortable as it is beautiful. The removable webbed, basket seat, shell is supported and rests on the arm frame base. Very Rare Vintage Modern Classic design. An iconic piece of furniture, this example has remained in a single collection since it was acquired by the prior owner from Knoll International and the original early label remains affixed beneath. (Knoll Associates Inc. 601 Madison Ave New York 22). This label has the earliest Knoll Associates showroom address, which opened in 1946.
Measurements: 24.5 ” tall x 24? wide x 30? deep x seat height 18? (arm height 21") (seat to the lowest point 11")
Jens Risom
Danish-American architect-designer Jens Risom was born in Copenhagen in 1916, the son of a nationally renowned architect of the Nordic Classicism style. Between 1935 and 1938, he trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts under Ole Wanscher and Kaare Klint, alongside classmates Hans Wegner and Børge Mogensen. For a short time following his studies, he took on furniture and interior designer projects for the Copenhagen-based architectural firm Ernst Kuhn. He then moved briefly to Stockholm, where he worked for Nordiska Kompaniet and met Alvar Aalto and Bruno Mathsson. Around 1939, he immigrated to New York with ambitions to introduce the Scandinavian modernist approach to the US furniture market.
Risom’s arrival in the US coincided with the years of materials shortages brought on by the war. As a result, Risom was unable to secure a position in a furniture company, and, instead, found work designing textiles for decorator Dan Cooper. Eager to do more, he soon convinced Cooper to expand into the furniture market, and together they found projects with young, progressive architects like Ed Stone and George Nelson. In 1939-40, Ed Stone was invited to create Collier Magazine’s House of Ideas pavilion at Rockefeller Center as part of the New York World’s Fair, and Risom designed all of the furniture.
Around 1941, Risom met Hans Knoll, a German-born entrepreneur in the furniture industry who had a showroom on Madison Avenue dedicated to rather lackluster furnishings. Sharing a dream to do something more vanguard, they joined forces and set off on a four-month tour of the US in search of design inspiration. By 1942, Knoll launched Hans Knoll Furniture Company with Risom on board as his head designer.
Risom’s early designs for Knoll made use of military surplus...
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Jens Risom Original Pair of Side Chairs for Walter Knoll, Circa 1940's
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of early Knoll side chairs by designer Jens Risom. Circa 1940's.
In original condition, with wear shown throughout and near the bottom of the legs. The chairs have been lightl...
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1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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Nylon, Birch
Jens Risom Walnut Armchairs Reupholstered In Your Fabric
By Jens Risom
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Clean Lined Mid Century Modern Armchairs, designed by Jens Risom, American, circa 1960s. These chairs are currently being reupholstered and can be completed in your fabric. S...
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Vintage Jens Risom Danish Modern Armchair Model C-170, 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Round Rock, TX
A solid walnut armchair designed by Jens Risom.
Architectural in design, with clean lines and sculpted armrests. Would function well as a desk chair or side chair.
Offered in...
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Solid Walnut and Leather Lounge Chairs by Gunlocke, Jens Risom Style
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Located in Buffalo, NY
Matched Pair Classic Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs in solid walnut and leather manufactcured by W.H.Gunlock Company. designed in the manner of Jens Risom. Beautiful color..superio...
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Early Jens Risom for Knoll Strap Stool
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in St. Louis, MO
Early Jens Risom for Knoll strap stool for Knoll, missing label, but date stamped May 15, 1952. Original finish shows age, original strap webbing wor...
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Previously Available Items
Walnut and Upholstered Bench by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Jens Bench was designed as an extension of the designer’s Jens chair and ottoman, circa 1949 for the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico. Like all Risom...
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Early 2000s American Scandinavian Modern Jens Risom Furniture
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Jens Risom Lounge Chair, Teak
By Jens Risom
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Jens Risom lounge chair in teak. Back with cane.
New upholstered with tan vintage aniline leather.
Model C240.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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Jens Risom Executive Desk Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark
By Jens Risom
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare large executive desk in rosewood designed by Jens Risom. Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark. Small cabinet/sideboard is also available.
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1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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Scandinavian Modern Executive Desk in Walnut by Jens Risom for Risom Designs
By Jens Risom
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Scandinavian Modern executive double pedestal desk in gorgeous walnut design by Jens Risom for his company Jens Risom Designs, Inc. It is in wonderful vintage condition. The...
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H 28.5 in W 74.5 in D 36 in
Jens Risom Bench in Zebra Hide
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Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Jens Risom designed this walnut bench with an interestingly cool curved, upholstered seat. We love the lines!
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Midcentury Danish Modern Jens Risom Large Walnut Executive Desk
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Offered is a large desk with a single drawer by Jens Risom. In good pre-owned condition, showing slight age wear or surface scratches. It is not signed. This piece came out of a loca...
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Pair of Midcentury Jens Risom Walnut Occasional Armchairs in Striped Chenille
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Midcentury Danish Modern Jens Risom Teak End Table
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What a find! offered is a Danish modern teak end table by Jens Risom. It is in excellent condition (has been refinished, minor age wear see pictures). It is signed by Jens Risom.
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Midcentury Danish Modern Jens Risom End Table
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What a find! Offered is a Danish modern end table by Jens Risom. It is in good condition, shows some age wear. It is signed by Jens Risom.
Dimensions:
27" W x 21" D x 21" H.
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Jens Risom Sofa
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish three-seat sofa features the Mid-Century Modern design of Jens Risom while featuring updated upholstery. Sturdy teak base adds to the Scandinavian Modern appeal of this ...
Category
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Pair of Jens Risom T-710 Small Side Tables, circa 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early pair of small Jens Risom stacking birch occasional tables. Smaller circular table with knife-edge birch laminate top cantilevered on black enamel...
Category
1950s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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Jens Risom furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Jens Risom furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Jens Risom furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 323 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 5 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Jens Risom were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Fredericia, Florence Knoll, and Craft Associates. Prices for Jens Risom furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $350 and can go as high as $35,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,213.
Creators Similar to Jens Risom
Questions About Jens Risom Furniture
- Who is Jens Risom?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Jens Risom was a Danish designer. Many people credit him with bringing the modern style of Scandinavian design to the U.S. He is well-known for his chairs, which feature angled seat backs often upholstered with webbing. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Jens Risom furniture.
- Was Jens Risom Danish?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Jens Risom was Danish. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 8, 1916, and attended Copenhagen School of Industrial Arts and Design. Following his graduation, Risom moved to the U.S., where he lived for the rest of his life. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Jens Risom furniture.
- Who sells Jens Risom rockers?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Normally, vintage furniture dealers or auction and online platforms specializing in authentic vintage furniture sell Jens Risom rockers. From time to time, rocking chairs produced by the Danish designer may appear at thrift shops and secondhand stores or be available directly from individuals who own them. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Jens Risom chairs.
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