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.
Walnut Locking Cabinet by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Jens Risom, USA, c.1960s. This walnut cabinet features a single compartment with a hinged door and an interior adjustable shelf. The cabinet rests on four wood legs with ...
Walnut
$4,187
H 27.56 in W 28.75 in D 20.08 in
Jens Risom Cabinet in Rosewood Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark
By Jens Risom
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare small cabinet designed by Jens Risom. Produced by Gutenberghus in Denmark. Large desk is also available.
Steel
1960's Midcentury Jens Risom Walnut Cabinet Credenza
By Jens Risom
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
An exceptional midcentury walnut file cabinet/credenza by iconic designer Jens Risom, circa 1960s, manufactured in the USA. This absolutely stunning piece features gorgeous walnut, s...
Chrome
Oak Cabinet by René Gabriel, France, Late 1940s
By Rene Gabriel
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Rare cabinet by french designer René Gabriel. Solid oakwood and oak veneer. The cabinet features 6 drawers on the lower part and 2 doors on the top part with functional keys and lo...
Oak
$4,850
H 25.5 in W 23 in D 17 in
Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Fall-Front Walnut Bedside Table / Commode
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish mid-century walnut bedside table / commode with a bottom cabinet with a fall-front drawer and brass drawer pull with an open compartment above with four dowel legs. (JENS RISOM).
Walnut
Jens Risom Mid-Century Modern Walnut Cabinet Credenza
By Jens Risom
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Two-door Mid-Century Modern cabinet by Jens Risom. Classic style of Risom where case appears to be floating on base. Nickeled hardware, finished back, Divided in centre with two adju...
Chrome
$3,000
H 31.75 in W 21.25 in D 36.25 in
1960s Jens Risom Designs 2-Door Cabinet / Credenza in Walnut, Small
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a walnut two-door cabinet, designed by Jens Risom and produced by his company, Jens Risom Designs. It was handcrafted in the USA in the 1960s. It has a beautifully grained wa...
Walnut
1970s Jens Risom Design Walnut Wastebasket / Trash Can
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Walnut Wastebasket, originally designed by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design. This piece dates back to the 1970s. It came from a corporate ...
Walnut
French Late 16th Century Renaissance Walnut Deux-Corps Cabinet
Located in Troy, NY
French Late 16th Century Renaissance Walnut Deux-Corps Cabinet in two parts. The top part with two carved doors featuring classical figures, opening to an interior fitted with three ...
Walnut
Jens Risom 1970s Paldao Wood Modernist File Cabinet
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Rare 1970s Mid-Century Modern paldao wood file cabinet designed by Jens Risom, fully restored with minor wear and patina due to age and use.
Brass
Coatlicue Cabinet by Andres Gutierrez
Located in Geneve, CH
Coatlicue cabinet by Andres Gutierrez Dimensions: D40 x W90 x H185 cm Materials: Solid white oak wood. — Inspired by the Aztec goddess of life and death, Coatlicue, ‘The One Who Has A Serpent Skirt’— Friendly shaped wood en representation of Coatlicue; The two headed goddess morphs into a striking solid white oak cabinet standing over six feet tall. The door handles represent the necklace made out of human hands and hearts that hangs around the goddess’neck in the Aztec monolith unearthed in 1790. The base of thec abinet represents Coatlicue’s sharp claws fringed by a skirt of snakes, her symbol for earth as both creator and destroyer. This cabinet features four 40cm-deep shelves...
Oak
Tlaloc Wine Cabinet by Andres Gutierrez
Located in Geneve, CH
Tlaloc Wine cabinet by Andres Gutierrez Dimensions: D40 x W80 x H130 cm Materials: Body: solid white oak wood, Legs: white oak plywood. — Inspir...
Oak, Plywood
Fully Restored Jens Risom Walnut & Brass 8-Drawer Cabinet or Dresser
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Danish design icon Jens Risom, this super rare model was made in the USA by his own company: Jens Risom Design Inc. This cabinet rarely comes up for sale, especially in t...
Brass
Jens Risom Sideboard
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous sideboard designed by one of the pioneers of mid-century furniture design, Jens Risom. Fine wood grain and bold lines come together in a sideboard t...
Wood, Teak