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.
1960s Jens Risom Design Large Side/Corner Table in Walnut Wood
By Jens Risom
Located in Miami, FL
Offered is a large square side/corner/coffee table in Walnut wood made in the 1960s by iconic Mid 20th Century designer Jens Risom. It features a solid base and square slab top fused...
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Scoop Leather Lounge Chair By Jens Risom For Knoll
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, scoop, lounge chair by Jens Risom for Knoll features a minimal, black lacquered maple frame with a floating scoop seat newly upholstered in mustard yellow, textur...
Leather, Maple
2020 Knoll Risom Side Chair in Maple with Tan Straps, Model 666C-WB
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Risom side chair, Model 666C-WB, designed by Jens Risom for Knoll in 1943. This example dates to 2020. The design features a lacquered maple frame, and has tan cotton webbi...
Steel
1970s Jens Risom Design 72 inch Credenza / Cabinet in Walnut
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a walnut credenza / cabinet designed by Jens Risom and produced by his company, Jens Risom Design. This particular piece was handcrafted in the USA and dates back to the 1970...
Brass
1960s Jens Risom Design Stereo Entertainment Cabinet Unit in Walnut
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Large Entertainment Cabinet, designed by Jens Risom for Risom Designs in the mid-1960s. The unit stands on four tapered legs, and has rich walnut veneered sides. There is p...
Steel
1960s Jens Risom Design U-430 Lounge Chair with Arms in Walnut and Fabric
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a U-430 Lounge Chair, originally designed by Jens Risom in 1955. This particular example dates to the 1960s and was produced in the United States. The design is comprised of ...
Walnut, Fabric, Foam
C. 1951 Set of Nine Jens Risom for Knoll 666 Dining Chairs in Walnut with Seats
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of nine American Walnut Armchairs, Model 666, designed by Jens Risom for Knoll Associates in 1942. This set dates to circa 1951, and the listed price includes the set o...
Steel
1959 Jens Risom Designs Twin Head & Footboard in Walnut with Yellow Vinyl Panel
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Twin-Sized Headboard and Footboard Set, designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Designs circa 1959. The listed price includes one set, and we have three sets available for pu...
Steel
2021 Jens Risom for Knoll Counter Height Stool in Clear Maple with Black Webbing
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single 2021 production Risom counter height stool designed by Jens Risom and produced by Knoll. This example was acquired directly from a Knoll employee, who pur...
Birch, Maple
Walnut End Table by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An expressive end table in rich walnut having raised and curved tapered side rails connected directly to the legs that support a floating top.
Walnut
2021 Jens Risom for Knoll Risom Side Dining Chair Ebonized Maple & Black Webbing
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single Risom dining chair in ebonized maple with black cotton webbing designed by Jens Risom and produced by Knoll. This example was produced in 2021 and came di...
Ash
2021 Pair of Knoll Risom Side Chairs w/ Ebonized Maple Wood Frame, Model 666C-WB
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Risom side chairs, Model 666C-WB, designed by Jens Risom for Knoll in 1943. These examples date to 2021. Their design features an ebonized maple frame, and has blac...
Metal
Pair of Jens Risom for Ralph Pucci Metallic Space Age A-Chairs
By Jens Risom, Ralph Pucci
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Sublime pair of mid-century modern chairs designed by Jens Risom (1916-2016 Danish-American) in 1961. Known as the A-chair featuring a graceful and elegant sinuous design. Risom joined Ralph Pucci...
Fabric, Wood
There isn’t much of a difference between Nordic and Scandinavian design in that when it comes to furniture and decor, the descriptors “Nordic” and “Scandinavian” are often used interchangeably. The term Scandinavia is primarily used to refer to Denmark, Norway and Sweden. (It is sometimes inclusive of Iceland and Finland, too.) The Nordic region of the world also includes the likes of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden as well as Iceland, Finland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland.
Scandinavian modernism is a warm and organic iteration of modernist design that chiefly originated in Denmark, Sweden and Finland during the 1930s. It was introduced to the United States during the mid-20th century and had a profound influence on American mid-century modern design.
Scandinavian modernists are known for their emphasis on craftsmanship and use of natural materials such as ash, pine and beech. Scandi interiors are minimalist, bright and airy, and feature neutral palettes and classic shapes.
Characteristics of the work of such Scandinavian modernists such as Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl and Greta Magnusson Grossman include bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries. Finland produced a truly ingenious Scandinavian modern furniture designer in the architect Alvar Aalto, a master at melding function and artistic form in works like the Paimio chair, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. Yet Finnish glassware was pre-eminent, crafted in expressive, sculptural designs by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva.
For design enthusiasts all over the world, the promotion of functionality and simplicity associated with Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design continues to prove irresistible.