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.
H 31.5 in W 28.5 in D 33 in
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
H 31.5 in W 29.5 in D 32 in
Jens Risom Upholstered Lounge Chair
By Jens Risom
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A comfortable and stylish Jens Risom upholstered armchair, circa 1950s. Rare design with original early label still intact.
Upholstery
H 29.5 in W 27 in D 26 in
Pair of Vintage Midcentury Restored Jens Risom Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom`s career has spanned nearly sixty years. He began his study of design in the Copenhagen workshop of Kaare Klint in 1935 and joined Ernst Kuhn`s architectural office in 1938, where he designed furniture and interiors. In 1939, Risom emigrated to the U.S. and in 1941 designed the first chair manufactured by Knoll. Risom described the chair as "very basic, very simple, inexpensive, easy to make." The chair was constructed with a birch wood frame and, because of wartime materials constraints, cheap but strong army surplus...
Cowhide, Walnut
H 41.5 in W 36 in D 36 in
Jens Risom Large Lounge Chair
By Jens Risom
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare lounge chair designed by Jens Risom for Risom Designs, Inc. Beautifully restored with refinished walnut base and upholstered in Holly Hunt fabric.
Walnut
H 29 in W 36 in D 36 in
Lounge Chair by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Dallas, TX
A large scale lounge chair on walnut base. Designed by Jens Risom. Fully restored and reupholstered.
Walnut
H 35.75 in W 6 in D 30 in
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Lounge Chairs - Pair Each lounge chair measures: 26 wide x 24 deep x 35.75 high, with a seat heig...
Upholstery, Walnut
H 31.75 in W 23.25 in D 24 in
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Lounge Chairs - Pair This lounge chair measures: 23.25 wide x 24 deep x 31.75 high, with a seat h...
Upholstery, Walnut
H 34 in W 31 in D 31 in
Jens Risom A Chair Mid Century Walnut Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom A-Chair Mid Century Walnut Lounge Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 31 wide x 31 deep x 34 high, with a seat height of 17 and arm height/chair clearance of 21 inches Ex...
Upholstery, Walnut
H 30.75 in W 24 in D 22.5 in
Pair of Vintage Walnut Lounge Chairs by Jens Risom Design
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning pair of Mid-Century Modern arm chairs by Jens Risom Design feature extremely thick padded seating, a floating style backrest, and sculpted arm rests. A sturdy walnut fr...
Upholstery, Walnut
H 33.5 in W 29 in D 30 in
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Slipper Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Slipper Lounge Chairs - Pair This lounge chair measures: 29 wide x 30 deep x 33.5 high, with a seat height of 17 inches Great Vintage Condition - Mino...
Upholstery, Walnut
