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.
$16,500 / set
Jens Risom Loveseats, a pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s, signed. Both have been fully refinished and reupholstered in Maharam Hearth with new foam. There is still age-appropriate wear though including light cracking, chips to the...
Fabric, Oak
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Jens Risom Mid-Century U-150 Loveseat with New Upholstery
By Jens Risom
Located in Sacramento, CA
Model U-150 loveseat designed by Jens Risom and produced by Jens Risom Design. An iconic piece of minimalist mid-century design by the legendary Danish-American designer, this piece...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Tufted Loveseats
By Dorothy Draper
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of recently reupholstered glamorous Hollywood deco tufted loveseats This stylish pair has a tufted, tight back and rolled arms with an inset panel with two-seat cushions. The lo...
Upholstery
Pair of Milo Baughman "Case" Walnut Floating Loveseats
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Matched pair of Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Even Arm "Case" floating loveseats. Beautiful figured walnut shells sit upon the Classic Baughman square tubed Bases. Entire line of F...
Chrome
Fine Pair Of Custom Upholstered Loveseats
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine pair of loveseats with simple elegance, showcasing two-seat designs with gently rounded backs, plush curved arms, and skirted aprons. Fitted with two loose cushions. Upholster...
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Jens Risom Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Jens Risom Chairs Walnut side chairs re-upholstered
Upholstery
$2,823Sale Price|55% Off
H 42 in W 66 in D 32 in
Magnificent 19th Century Giltwood Louis XVI Loveseat with New Upholstery
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Sublimely elegant plush 19th century gilt wood Louis XVI French loveseat having gorgeous scalloped high back, bronzed aged patina, cabriole legs and curvy arms. The new upholstery j...
Mohair, Upholstery, Giltwood
Fancy Louis XVI Giltwood Sofa Loveseat with New Silk Upholstery
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Louis XVI style sofa having carved gilded wood and beautiful new upholstery. The lovely frame displays fluted columns topped by acanthus leaves. The base is composed of fluted and ta...
Upholstery, Giltwood
Jens Risom C-120 Armchair
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this handsome 1950's model C-120 Jens Risom armchair in exceptional all-original condition. The chair features an exposed, solid walnut frame with an elegan...
Upholstery, Walnut
Post Modern Loveseat
Located in Raleigh, NC
Vintage Post-Modern loveseats newly upholstered in a luxurious textured abstract velvet. Priced individually.
Upholstery
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Stools - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Stools - Pair Each stool measures: 20 wide x 16 deep x 16.5 high, with a seat height of 16.5 inches All pieces...
Upholstery, Walnut
Classic Mid Century Thayer Coggin Loveseat
By Thayer Coggin
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Tuxedo Style Loveseat upholstered in an Indian Cotton Slub Weave fabric which has a fantastic natural texture and feel. Thayer Coggin quality w...
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Floral Upholstered Loveseat with Chrome Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bold and beautifully styled mid-century modern loveseat featuring vibrant floral upholstery and a sleek chrome frame. This piece perfectly captures the relaxed yet graphic aesthetic ...
Fabric
Jens Risom Lounge Chair
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Jens Risom lounge chair. Newly upholstered in a linen-blend fabric with a black lacquered base.
Linen, Wood
Jens Risom Mid Century Danish Styled Loveseat ( B )
By Jens Risom
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very nice sized Danish styled Mid Century loveseat upholstered in a tight woven blue contract fabric which is original to this piece . Framed in a medium dark walnut with great bac...
Upholstery, Walnut
Jens Risom Mid Century Danish Styled Loveseat ( A )
By Jens Risom
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very nice sized Danish styled Mid Century loveseat upholstered in a tight woven blue contract fabric which is original to this piece . Framed in a medium dark walnut with great bac...
Upholstery, Walnut
Set of Loveseats by Jens Risom, C. 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Westport, CT
A set of loveseats designed by The Iconic Danish Designer Jens Risom. Restored the way only Stamford Modern does it, fitted with new hand cut, high-gr...
Velvet, Walnut
Jens Risom New Canval like Upholstery Loveseat Sofa by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Jens Rrisom sofa on oiled walnut legs.
Canvas, Walnut
Jens Risom Settee, Model U-251
By Jens Risom
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning Jens Risom for Jens Risom designs settee, model U-251, circa 1950s. Sculptural walnut bases have been completely restored. Newly upholstered in an off-white Maharam/Kvadrat coda...
Wool, Walnut
Jens Risom for Knoll Settee
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Nice scaled loveseat or settee designed by Jens Risom for Knoll in the early 1950s. This example has been reupholstered in a brown nubby fabric.
Upholstery
Vintage Leather and Walnut Sofa by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fabulous vintage leather sofa designed by Jens Risom for Risom Design Inc. in United States, circa 1950s. An elegant sofa recently upholstered in Italian leather. It consists of a so...
Leather, Walnut
Jens Risom Danish Styled Settee Love Seat
By Jens Risom
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A Danish styled settee with walnut frame exposed in the rear and angled seat back with buttons upholstered in a tight moss green contract fabric. Ma...
Jens Risom Settee for Risom Design
By Jens Risom
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Jens Risom settee for Risom Design Inc. Solid walnut frame with exposed supports to back, slab seat and tufted backrest, reupholstered in tan leather.
Leather, Walnut
Pair of Settees or Loveseats by Jens Risom, Model # U-251
By Jens Risom
Located in Westport, CT
A phenomenal pair of settees designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design, Inc. Newly upholstered in a smokey grey wool; sculptural walnut base newly refinished in natural. Priced in...
Walnut, Upholstery
Restored Jens Risom Settee
By Jens Risom
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful Jens Risom settee or armless love seat. Angled walnut base. New Upholstery.
Jens Risom Sofa for Knoll
By Jens Risom
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A Risom designed sofa with button back detail, flared arms and angular hard maple legs, manufactured by Knoll an early design.
Metal