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.
Jens Risom Floating Sofa, 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Raleigh, NC
Danish modern design at its finest. New leather to this floating sofa by Jens Risom. Dating to the 1960s with beautiful sculpted lines and walnut base....
Leather, Walnut
Vintage Classic Armless Chairs by Jens Risom, 1950's
By Jens Risom
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of classic slipper or armless chairs by Jens Risom-original, vintage 1950's production. Walnut frames have a beautiful patina, newly reupholstered in Brunschwig & Fils linen, ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Lounge Chairs in Ivory Shearling, circa 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Iconic Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom lounge chairs expertly reupholstered in soft ivory shearling with professionally refinished walnut frames. An exem...
Hide, Walnut
Jens Risom Sofa for Marble c. 1970s
By Jens Risom
Located in Chicago, IL
This sofa has been fully refinished, features new foam, and has been reupholstered in Maharam “Hearth” fabric - it feature a solid, white oak frame that has been steam-bent. There ar...
Fabric, Oak
SOLD 04/29/26 Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Sofa
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Sofa This sofa measures: 78.25 wide x 32.5 deep x 27.25 inches high, with a seat height of 15.75 and arm height of 24 inches Good Vintage Condition - ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage Walnut Sofa Model U-150 by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage walnut sofa designed by the iconic designer Jens Risom in the United States, circa 1950s. Transform your living space with this exquisitely ref...
Fabric, Walnut, Leather
9 Foot Long Mid-Century Sofa by Jens Risom Manufacturing
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This large-scale sofa measures over 9 feet long and makes a unique and stylish seating addition to any interior. Comfortable and stunning in it's size and simplicity, the design by J...
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Unavailable|$10,395
H 27.25 in W 78.25 in D 32.5 in
SOLD 04/29/26 Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Sofa - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Sofa - Pair Each sofa measures: 78.25 wide x 32.5 deep x 27.25 inches high, with a seat height of 15.75 and arm height of 24 inches Good Vintage Condi...
Upholstery, Walnut
Jens Risom Dining Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A set of 6 Jens Risom Dining Chairs Walnut Frames Original golden color Naugahyde Oversized and comfortable
Upholstery
Jens Risom Sofa in Fresh Vanilla Boucle
By Jens Risom
Located in San Diego, CA
Elevate your space with this rare Jens Risom Model 2516 Sculptural Sofa, a mid-century icon celebrated for its graceful curves and impeccable craftsmanship. This piece showcases bea...
Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bracket Back Sofa, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Hamburg, PA
A classic Bracket Back Sofa #5497 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Edward Wormley always saw furniture as expressions of personality and as a paired-down concept for detail of architect...
Upholstery, Walnut
Henry P. Glass Three-Legged Walnut & Leather Chair, 1950s
By Henry P. Glass, Richbilt MFG
Located in Hamburg, PA
This exceptional three-legged lounge chair exemplifies the sculptural genius of Henry P. Glass, a pioneering Chicago designer whose work bridged European modernism and American mid-c...
Leather, Walnut
Kubus Leather Sofa by Josef Hoffmann for Wittmann, 1980s
By Josef Hoffmann, Wittmann
Located in Hamburg, PA
Iconic Kubus sofa designed by Josef Hoffmann in 1910 and masterfully produced by Wittmann Möbelwerkstätten, Austria, in the 1980s. Upholstered in beautiful, supple cognac-brown leat...
Leather, Wood
Vintage Cloud Sofa in the manner of Directional Furniture, 1990s Cool Fabric
By Directional
Located in Hamburg, PA
This vintage 1990s Serpentine Cloud Sofa offers a timeless design with its supple, soft fabric, ready to enhance any living space. Inspired by the iconic st...
Ultrasuede
Pair of Teak "Diplomat" Chairs by Finn Juhl Model 209, 1960s
By Finn Juhl
Located in Hamburg, PA
An Iconic pair of Finn Juhl's "Diplomat" Chairs was created circa 1960 made in Denmark. This pair of chairs is in the original faux leather from the period. The pair would work well ...
Upholstery, Teak
Steel Tongue Chair by Bannavis Andrew Sribyatta for Pie Studios, 2000s
Located in Hamburg, PA
A woven steel sculptural "Tongue Chair" by Bannavis Andrew Sribyatta, a sustainable designer from Miami, USA. Sribyatta was an architect and designer who studied at Pratt University ...
Aluminum
