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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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Creator: Jens Risom
Dealer: Metro Retro Furniture MCM Furniture
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.
Category

1950s Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Maple

Pair of Vintage Midcentury Restored Jens Risom Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom`s career has spanned nearly sixty years. He began his study of design in the Copenhagen workshop of Kaare Klint in 1935 and joined Ernst Kuhn`s architectural office in 1938, where he designed furniture and interiors. In 1939, Risom emigrated to the U.S. and in 1941 designed the first chair manufactured by Knoll. Risom described the chair as "very basic, very simple, inexpensive, easy to make." The chair was constructed with a birch wood frame and, because of wartime materials constraints, cheap but strong army surplus...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Cowhide, Walnut

Mid-Century Jen Risom Walnut Coffee Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
40? Mid-century Jen Rison walnut coffee table. Jens Risom coffee table in walnut laminate. Round top with square sculptural base. Original Jens Risom D...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Jens Risom Walnut Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such as Josef Frank and Kaare Klint, Risom continued to h...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Vintage Midcentury Danish Jens Risom Teak Glass Bar Cart
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such as Josef Frank and Kaare Klint, Risom continued to honour tradition in modern design, combining old and new in highly original ways. Jens Risom's career has spanned nearly sixty years. He began his study of design in the Copehagen workshop of Kaare Klint in 1935 and joined Ernst Kuhn's architectural office in 1938, where he designed furniture and interiors. In 1939, Risom emigrated to the U.S. and in 1941 designed the first chair manufactured by Knoll. Risom described the chair as "very basic, very simple, inexpensive, easy to make." The chair was constructed with a birch wood frame and, because of wartime materials constraints, cheap but strong army surplus webbing and has inspired countless imitations. Vintage Midcentury Jens Risom teak...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Teak

Four Restored Jens Risom Dining Side Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Four Vintage Side Arm Chairs Set New upholstery in gray microfiber Wood frame and legs
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Oak

Two Restored Jens Risom Side Armchairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair of vintage side armchairs set. New upholstery in gray microfiber Tufted back detail Wood frame and legs.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Oak

Jens Risom Credenza with Y-Shaped Drawer Pulls
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A rare and unique vintage Jens Risom credenza, this particular piece has y-shaped metal pulls, six regular drawers, one partitioned drawer, a filing drawer and a shelved cabinet. An ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Vintage Jens Risom Walnut Swivel Lounge Armchairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A pair of walnut swivel lounge chairs in original purple composite upholstery with walnut bases and detachable suede cushions designed by Jens Risom.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Suede, Upholstery, Walnut

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Curvaceous Modern Lounge Chair Attributed to Jens Risom
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Pair of Jens Risom Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
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Jens Risom Lounge Chair for Knoll International
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Jens Risom Lounge Chair for Knoll International
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Solid Walnut and Leather Lounge Chairs by Gunlocke, Jens Risom Style
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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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Jens Risom Pair of 'Vostra' Lounge Chairs with Ottoman in Canvas Webbing
By Walter Knoll, Jens Risom
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Jens Risom for Walter Knoll, pair of 'Vostra' chairs with ottoman, beech, canvas, brass, United States, design 1941, production 1950s An elegant lounge chair with ottoman featuring ...
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Midcentury Slate Top Coffee Table by Jens Risom
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Designed by Jens Risom, this classic Midcentury coffee table consists of a black slate top and a walnut stretcher base. The design exemplifies Risom's Scandinavian Modern sensibility...
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Walnut Lounge Chairs by Jens Risom, C. 1950s
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A stunning pair of walnut lounge chairs by Danish-American designer Jens Risom, circa 1950s. Expertly restored by Stamford Modern, the solid walnut frames feature a rich natural fini...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

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Mohair, Walnut

Pair of Jens Risom Scoop Chairs for Hans Knoll
By Jens Risom
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of Jens Risom scoop chairs for Hans Knoll A pair of very early Knoll post war design scoop chairs by Jens Risom. Each has been completely restored in a luxurious Sandra Jordan ...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

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Alpaca

Jens Risom Set of 12 Upholstered Oak Dining Side Chairs, USA 1960's
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Located in New York, NY
A set of twelve side chairs in oak and upholstery by Jens Risom.
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Lounge Chair by Florence Knoll for Knoll
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A lounge chair formed by an armless button-tufted upholstered seat resting on a matte steel, rectilinear architectural frame.
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Previously Available Items
Jens Risom Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair Jens Risom lounge chairs Knoll Studios The Risom lounge chair was designed in 1943 and was one of the first pieces commissioned by Knoll. it brought the natural materials...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

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Cotton

Jens Risom Lounge Chairs
Jens Risom Lounge Chairs
H 30.25 in W 20 in D 27.5 in
Pair of Jens Risom Walnut Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such as Josef Frank and Kaare Klint, Risom continued to honor traditi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Walnut Jens Risom Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A vintage midcentury single-pedestal walnut desk made by Jens Risom fully restored. This desk features two drawers with a pencil drawer and a pull-out surface. This Classic piece of ...
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1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

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Vintage Mid-Century Modern Walnut Jens Risom Credenza
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
5ft vintage Mid-Century Modern walnut Jens Risom credenza Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such a...
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1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

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Walnut

Pair of Vintage Jens Risom Walnut Lounge Slipper Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such as Josef Frank and Kaare Klint, Risom continued to honor traditi...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

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Vintage Midcentury Restored Jens Risom U-620 Bench
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such as Josef Frank and Kaare Klint, Risom continued to...
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Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Pair of Rare Jens Risom Stools in Leather
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair of rare, iconic Jens Risom stools. Teak with newly upholstered leather seats and backs Brass foot rests. 27" Seat Height When shopping for stools: Stools with a seat height of ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Teak

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Walnut Jens Risom Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A vintage Mid-Century single-pedestal walnut desk made by Jens Risom fully restored. This desk features two drawers with a pencil drawer and a pull-out surface. This Classic piece of...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Jens Risom Executive Teak Desk with Return
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A teak Executive Jens Risom Desk with a return. There are four drawers to this desk, two of them pencil drawers with separated laminate compartments in addition to two extending pull...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Jens Risom Single Drawer Black Leather and Rosewood Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A little over six and a half feet long, this Mid Century Modern desk by Jens Risom has a dark leather top, a rosewood base and aluminum glides at the end of its four elegantly rounde...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

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Aluminum

Jens Risom Mid Century Writing Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A striking mid century writing desk by Jens Risom. Desk is of wood and chrome construction with a black laminate top. The desk features ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Jens Risom L Shaped Walnut Vintage Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A walnut mid century modern L-shaped desk designed by Jens Risom and made by Jens Risom Design. A classic desk with return is constructed of walnut. The desk features a pencil drawe...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture

Materials

Walnut

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.
Questions About Jens Risom Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 2, 2023

    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.

  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Jens 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Normally, 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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