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 MCM Tapered Walnut Wastebasket / Trash Can with Aluminum Lining
By Jens Risom
Located in St. Louis, MO
This iconic mid-century modern wastebasket was originally designed by master modernist Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design. The piece is celebrated for transforming a practical necessit...
Aluminum
Rare and Early Jens Risom Stool for Knoll Associates, New York City
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare and early Jens Risom stool for Knoll Associates, New York City. Simple, elegant design. Retains original finish as well as original early oil cloth upholstered top. Also origina...
Upholstery, Birch
$556Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.5 in Dm 10.5 in
1950s Atomic Wire Mesh Trash Can Wastebasket Vintage Mid-Century Architect Era
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Finely expanded metal sheet rolled wastebasket with reinforced lip and bottom tray. This type of metal deformation was invented in England in 1884 by John French Golding. This ty...
Metal
'Le Temoin' Stool by Man Ray for Gavina
By Gavina, Man Ray
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Beautiful example in pristine condition, designed by Man Ray for Gavina's ultramobile exhibition.
Faux Leather, Acrylic, Foam, Plywood
1950 Post Office Wastebasket Iron Seymour Robins Sondra Kay Trash Can
By Seymour Robins
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Brown burlap bag with black atomic frame, cabin modern rustic vibe.
Iron
Gufram "the End Stool Is Black" by Toiletpaper
By Toiletpaper, Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari, Gufram Furniture
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The funeral look of this furniture-sculpture is tempered by the softness of the polyurethane that makes it: in perfect Gufram tradition nothing is as it seems. "THE END in BLACK" is ...
Paint
Mid-Century Modern Brass Wastebasket, circa 1960
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Brass Wastebasket, circa 1960
Brass
$1,560 / item
H 14.57 in W 13.39 in D 19.69 in
Neko Stool, Designed by Setsu & Shinobu Ito, Made in Italy
By Setsu & Shinobu Ito
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (1.8) Accessory made from a single block of scented cedar with its sculptured shape inspired...
Cedar
Mid Century Wool Ram Sheep Stool Sculpture
By Hans Peter Krafft
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A beautiful mid century ram sheep sculpture, most likely of Scandinavian origin. These sheep sculptures are beloved for their whimsical wooly appearance. They make great conversatio...
Wool, Hide
Cairn Stool in Oiled Maple by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda
By Alvaro Uribe
Located in Omro, WI
The Cairn collection by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda challenges the perception of furniture being purely functional. We believe furniture brings a sense of spirituality and magic to our li...
Hardwood, Maple, Walnut
$995Sale Price|20% Off
H 10 in W 13 in D 7.75 in
Austrian Bronze & Iron Neoclassical Trash Can / Wastepaper Basket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Austrian bronze & iron neoclassical trash can / wastepaper basket Austria, circa early 20th century Of oval form with a continuous trellis, garland and flowerhead motif. Beautiful...
Bronze, Iron
$6,500 / item
H 43 in W 13 in D 13 in
TOTEM Modern Stackable Stools in White Oak & Concrete by Estudio Persona
By Estudio Persona
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TOTEM is an sculptural looking piece, formed by four different elements: two stackable wooden stools, a heavy concrete base and a wooden top tray. Both stools and the tray are made...
Concrete
Bamboo Wastebasket Trash Can
Located in New York, NY
An oval split bamboo wastebasket trash can, circa mid-20th century. Dimensions: 6.75" Depth x 10.63" Width x 10.63" Height.
Bamboo, Wicker
$425Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in W 11.42 in D 11.42 in
1960s French wastebasket made of bamboo and brass
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
1960s French wastebasket made of bamboo and brass Great patina.
Brass
MCM Jens Risom Tapered Walnut Wood Waste Basket
By Jens Risom
Located in Chula Vista, CA
MCM Jens Risom Tapered Walnut Wood Waste Basket no label present walnut plywood with aluminum cover inside 13.5 h diameter 12 bottom 10 diameter top Nicks are present, but hard to se...
Aluminum
Jens Risom Walnut Letter Tray
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Jens Risom letter tray, model 8-33 by Jens Risom Design Inc. USA, c. 1960 Walnut. Metal manufacturer's label to underside; 'Jens Risom Design.’ L...
Wood
Sold
H 10.25 in W 1.38 in D 0.25 in
Jens Risom "R" Rosewood Letter Opener Marked Franz Hingelberg Denmark
By Frantz Hingelberg, Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rosewood letter opener from the office of Jens Risom marked with the Jens Risom "R" and also marked Franz Hingelberg - Denmark very rare collectors item - have not been able ...
Rosewood
Midcentury Jens Risom Walnut Wastebasket
By Jens Risom
Located in San Diego, CA
Jens Risom walnut trash can with aluminum lining from the 1950s. Original rubber feet. Beautiful grain.
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Wastebasket
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From a line of Jens Risom office accessories manufactured by his company, Jens Risom Design, c.1950s, this walnut wastebasket has a wide base and ta...
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Wastebasket
By Jens Risom
Located in San Diego, CA
Jens Risom walnut trash can with aluminum lining from the 1950s. Original rubber feet. Beautiful grain.
Walnut
Jens Risom Wastebasket
By Jens Risom
Located in South Charleston, WV
Measures: 11" square, 13 3/4" tall (13 7/8 with feet). Vintage and hardly used. Ideal for waste or paper disposal, the bin is sealed on all sides and interior with lacquer to solid ...
Walnut
Jens Risom Wastebasket
By Jens Risom
Located in South Charleston, WV
Measures: 11" square, 13 7/8" tall. Completely refinished and flawless. Ideal for waste or paper disposal, the bin is sealed on all sides and interior with lacquer to solid black wa...
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Letter Tray, circa 1960
By Florence Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Risom walnut letter / paper tray. circa 1960.
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Letter Tray, circa 1960
By Florence Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Risom walnut letter / paper tray, circa 1960.
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Letter Tray, circa 1960
By Florence Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Risom walnut letter / paper tray, circa 1960.
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Letter Tray, circa 1960
By Jens Risom
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Risom walnut letter / paper tray. circa 1960.
Walnut