Jens Risom Settees
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.
to
1
4
1
5
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
5
4
5
4
1
3
1
5
4
3
3
1
4
4
5
5
5
231
22
18
17
16
Creator: Jens Risom
Walnut Settee by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed in the late 1950s by Jens Risom, this rarely seen settee is not only eye-catching, but also deeply comfortable. The solid walnut frame features Risom’s signature slender, up...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Walnut, Upholstery
20th Century American Two Seater Sofa - Walnut Settee by Jens Risom Design
By Jens Risom
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A small, vintage Mid-Century Modern American two seater sofa or settee with four pillows, designed and produced by Jens Risom Design, Model U-151, in good condition. The seat, back rest of the divano is slightly inclinated with a button-tufted back and two straight arms, supported by a hand crafted Walnut frame, standing of four small curved wooden feet. Newly upholstered in an orange velvet. Wear consistent with age and use, circa 1955, New York, United States.
Seat: 18.5" H x 44.5" W x 19.5" D
Pillows: 20" H x 20" W x 7" D
Jens Risom was a Danish, American furniture designer born in 1916, in Copenhagen, Denmark and passed away in 2016, in New Canaan, United States. He finished his apprenticeship as a designer at the Copenhagen School...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
$10,800 Sale Price
20% Off
Newly upholstered Kvadrat Jens Risom settee or two seater USA - 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Berlin, DE
Newly upholstered Kvadrat Jens Risom settee or two seater. Oak frame
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Jens Risom Armless Sofa
By Jens Risom
Located in Dallas, TX
An early Jens Risom armless sofa with maple frame. Older restoration in Knoll boucle.
Category
1950s Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Maple
$5,800
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Settee
By Jens Risom
Located in Countryside, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Settee
This settee measures: 52 wide x 30 deep x 32.5 inches high, with a seat height of 15.75 inches
All pieces of furniture can be had in what we ca...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Related Items
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 4-5 Seat, 19th/20th Century A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish Biedermeier 4-5 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and central motifs in the highest...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Biedermeier Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Birch
$3,241 Sale Price
60% Off
H 37.41 in W 90.56 in D 29.93 in
Italian Mohair Settee Sofa, Brown, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful mohair upholstered curved sofa with wooden legs. Perfect shape and size.
In excellent condition, 1950s, Italy.
Same era as: Ch...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Mohair, Wood
French Gilt Wood Two Seat Settee
Located in Norwich, GB
French gilt wood two seat settee standing on tapered fluted legs with beautifully carved decoration, c.1870.
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Giltwood
Antique French Walnut Settee
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below.
Shipping Quote Information
The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XV Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Cotton, Walnut
Mid Century Modern Danish Walnut Sofa, Love Seat or Settee by Kofod Larsen Selig
By Selig, Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautifully designed and crafted sofa by Ib Kofod Larsen for Selig circa 1960's. It features a solid walnut frame and original upholstery. Manufacturers stamp is present. Fabric is...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$3,900
H 27 in W 52.5 in D 29 in
Walnut Lounge Chairs by Jens Risom, C. 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Westport, CT
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 Settees
Materials
Mohair, Walnut
Model 250 Armless Sofa by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Immaculate Jens Risom Model-250 High back Armless Slipper Sofa. This sofa is STUNNING, the armless, slightly reclined silhouette and gorgeous walnut frames gives it a very simple, y...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Settee or Sofa
Located in Milford, NH
A 19th century Biedermeier birch settee or sofa, ebonized detail, freshly appointed in Belgian linen, raised on four sea serpent or dolphin foliate carved feet.
Category
19th Century Antique Jens Risom Settees
Corner Sofa/Settee, Italy, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
A striking piece and a versatile scale. It has a big look but doesn't have a large footprint.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Velvet
Carved walnut framed settee
Located in Cheshire, GB
Walnut framed two-seater settee, the finely carved frame above upholstered back, seat and out swept arms. All raised up on carved cabriole legs with scrolling feet. The upholstery ha...
Category
Early 20th Century British Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Risom/Marble Corporation Walnut Armchair
By Jens Risom
Located in West Chester, PA
Jens Risom solid walnut arm chair with the original burnt orange upholstery for Risom/Marble Corporation with the original tags intact underneath.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Handsome Jens Risom Walnut Lounge Chair Mid-Century Modern
By Jens Risom
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Designed by Danish-born Jens Risom, this vintage chair is beautiful perfection. The comfortably contoured faux leather seat floats in an exquisite, oiled walnut frame. The original ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Faux Leather, Walnut
$2,760 Sale Price
20% Off
H 39 in W 27.5 in D 29 in
Previously Available Items
Early Jens Risom for Knoll Model 23 Armless Sofa in Italian Espresso Velvet
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Stamford, CT
With great reason, the name Jens Risom is synonymous with the Mid-Century Modern design movement, his original body of work is not only still with us today but much of it is still in...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Velvet, Maple
Jens Risom Oak Settee
By Jens Risom, Marble Imperial
Located in Chicago, IL
for Marble Furniture c. 1960s, signed. There are flaws on the oak frame consistent with heavy use and the piece’s age, but overall they lend to a great vintage patina. The wear inclu...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Oak
Jens Risom Armless Settee in Walnut Cradle Frames with Linen Upholstery
By Jens Risom
Located in Dallas, TX
Georgeous Jens Risom slipper settee with a solid walnut frame. Very comfortable and restored to the highest possible standard.
Matching lounge chair...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Linen, Walnut
Rare Vintage Signed Jens Risom Settee in Walnut & Wool, 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A rare and early two seater sofa or settee by Jens Risom for Risom Manufacturing Corp. in walnut & original nubby wool upholstery with hand-stitching. Completely original vintage con...
Category
1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Other
Jens Risom Walnut Cradled Settee
By Jens Risom
Located in Dallas, TX
Small sofa designed by Jens Risom from the 1960s fully restored. New perennials upholstery, new foam, frame trued and refinished. An exceptional looking design created with ergonomic...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Wool, Walnut
Jens Risom Settee or Loveseat
By Jens Risom
Located in Astoria, NY
An original Mid-Century Modern Jen Risom "floating" settee or loveseat on a walnut base.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Upholstery, 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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Settees
Scandinavian Modern Sofa by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Original Jens Risom, Mid-Century sofa, newly upholstered in designer deep gray linen fabric.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Early Jens Risom for Knoll Maple and Wool Settee, 1940s
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare and early settee by Jens Risom for Knoll in original vintage condition. This sculptural settee was likely conceived for the historic "600 Series", a groundbreaking and influenti...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Maple, Plywood, Wool
Rare Sofa by Jens Risom, 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Rare sofa by Jens Risom Design, 1950s. An exceptional Danish Modern piece and one of Risom's most beautiful designs. The sculptural base is dark wal...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Early Jens Risom Settee
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This early two-seat settee mounted on sculptural walnut legs was designed by Jens Risom for his eponymous furniture manufacturing firm, Jens Risom Design Inc. The piece is newly upho...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Settees
Materials
Silk, Walnut
Jens Risom settees for sale on 1stDibs.
Jens Risom settees 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 settees, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original settees by Jens Risom were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider settees by Adrian Pearsall, Russell Woodard, and Herman Miller. Prices for Jens Risom settees can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $5,800 and can go as high as $13,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,500.
Creators Similar to Jens Risom
Questions About Jens Risom Settees
- 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.