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
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
Materials
Cotton
Mid-Century Jen Rison 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 Riso...
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 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
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
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
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
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 tradit...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Teak
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
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
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
Related Items
Jens Risom Strapped Leather Lounge Chair
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lounge chair by Jens Risom for Knoll, circa 1940s. This 1943 design was Risom's first design for Knoll, where he had been brought on as design director. This piece features a birch f...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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Jens Risom for Knoll Lime Green Striped Upholstered Blonde Wood Slipper
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern slipper / side chair with faintly striped lime green fabric upholstery, resting on an angled blonde wood base with angled and t...
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Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design Inc. Pair of Swivel Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
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Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design, pair of swivelling lounge chairs, teak, fabric, United States, 1960s.
This extraordinary pair of lounge chair is designed by Danish designer Jens...
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H 29.53 in. W 26.19 in. D 27.37 in.
Pair of Bouclé Slipper Chairs Designed by Jens Risom for H.G. Knoll Associates
By Knoll, Jens Risom
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Jens Risom for H.G. Knoll Associates armless slipper chairs composed of upholstered seats supported by walnut bases (first appearing in the 1942 Knoll catalog).
There is a slight d...
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1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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H 31 in. W 23 in. D 30 in.
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Armchair Style of Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous upholstered lounge armchair sold by B. Altman & Co. In excellent original condition with new foam in seat cushion.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Minio Swivel Armchair Pair of Two
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
Production Time: 6-7 weeks.
The Minio sofa, which gives you freedom of movement while sitting with its rotating mechanism, reveals its difference in design with the striking curve...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Jens Risom 1970s Sculptural Walnut Armchairs
By Jens Risom
Located in New York City, NY
Amazing pair of 1970s sculptural walnut armchairs designed by Jens Risom, fully restored and re-upholstered, with minor wear and patina due to age and use.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage Walnut Swivel Lounge Chairs by Milo Baughman
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful vintage walnut swivel lounge chairs designed by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin in the United States, circa 1960s. Each chair ...
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Restored Midcentury Bent "Loop" Rattan Dining Side Chair, Set of Four
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage bent "Loop" rattan dining room side chair with a multi-colored pink seat, included is a set of four chairs. Each chair features a three strand rattan seat back with a mahogan...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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Restored Midcentury Rattan Dining Side Chair with "Hour Glass" Back, Set of Four
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage rattan dining room side chair with "Hour Glass" back, included is a set of four chairs. Each chair features a three-pole rattan "Hour Glass" back seat back with an original b...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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H 32 in. W 24 in. D 22 in.
Florence Knoll for Knoll International Lounge Chair in Teak
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Florence Knoll for Knoll International, lounge chair, model '51', teak, fabric, United States, 1955
This slipper chair model 51 is designed by Florence Knoll. The teak frame of the chair is sleek in form. The angled seat is placed upon the squared-off frame. Maximum seating comfort is ensured by the wide seat and tilted backrest.
Florence Knoll (1917-) was trained as an architect and had a sense of style from a very young age. In 1936 she met Alvar Aalto and was trained by Marcel Breuer, Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe. This meant that although she was barely out of her teens, she was educated by the best of the European modernists. When she arrived in New York Knoll worked on interior projects (being the only female) which is how she came to know Hans Knoll. When Florence joined Knoll, the planning unit started. Florence also made sure that the designs where more 'American Modernist' instead of Scandinavian, When Hans Knoll died she...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Teak
Pair of Floral Upholstered Swivel Lounge Chairs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Flower Power! Great pair of swivel and rolling flocked floral lounge chairs! Fabric and foam in very nice shape. Chairs have nice shape! Spice ...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
Previously Available Items
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...
Category
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage 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 ...
Category
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
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Walnut
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
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...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
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 featur...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
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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 Walnut Sofa Settee
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A mid century modern sofa designed and made by Jens Risom. Original blue and orange striped upholstery with a walnut base.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Credenza
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A mid century modern walnut credenza designed by Jens Risom and made by Jens Risom Design.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Jens Risom Double Pedestal Walnut Executive Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
A mid century modern double pedestel walnut desk with a floating top designed by Jens Risom and made by Jens Risom Design.
Category
1960s American Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Jens Risom furniture for sale on 1stDibs
Jens Risom furniture is available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive objects are often made of wood and designed with extraordinary care. There are many options in our Jens Risom collection of furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. There are 227 vintage versions of these items in stock, while there are 8 modern editions to choose from as well. Many of Jens Risom's original furniture was created in Mid-Century Modern style in North America during the 20th century. Many customers also consider furniture by Florence Knoll, Harvey Probber and Eero Saarinen if you’re looking for additional options. The prices for Jens Risom furniture can vary depending on size, time period and other attributes. 1stDibs's price starts at $250 and tops out at $36,000, while pieces like these can sell for $3,433.
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.