Jens Risom Furniture
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 favoured 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 recognisable — 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 Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Leather, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Cotton, Hardwood
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Nylon, Wood
1960s Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Steel
1960s Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Leather, Walnut
1960s Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Leather, Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Nylon, Maple
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Birch, Upholstery
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Linen, Walnut
1960s Danish Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1960s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
2010s American Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Ash
1940s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Fabric, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1960s Danish Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut, Laminate
1950s Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Maple
1940s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Copper
2010s American Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Maple
1950s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Laminate, Walnut
2010s American Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Birch, Maple
1940s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Maple
1950s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Fabric, Foam, Walnut
Early 2000s American Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1940s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Wood, Maple
Early 2000s American Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1950s American Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
1960s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Fabric, Hardwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1950s Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Oak
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Fabric, Maple
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
20th Century Unknown Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Leather
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut, Fabric
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Linen, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Oak
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Cane, Walnut
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Oak
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut
1950s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Risom Furniture
Walnut