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Jens Risom Armless Sofa

$5,800List Price

Shop All Jens Risom

Jens Risom

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.

Mid-Century Modern Two-Seater Sofa by Jens Risom, Walnut Frame, 1955

$12,500

H 33 in W 53 in D 31 in

Mid-Century Modern Two-Seater Sofa by Jens Risom, Walnut Frame, 1955

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 Settees

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut

Jens Risom Floating Three-Seat Armless Walnut Sofa

$6,800

H 33 in W 77 in D 29.5 in

Jens Risom Floating Three-Seat Armless Walnut Sofa

By Jens Risom

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Three-seat sofa, Model #U250, designed by Jens Risom for Risom Design in the 1950s. Composed of a sculptural walnut base on which the tufted, high-back seat is mounted. Sharp, modern...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Wool, Walnut

Early Jens Risom Knoll Associates Armless Settee

$3,695

H 31 in W 49 in D 28 in

Early Jens Risom Knoll Associates Armless Settee

By Jens Risom, Knoll

Located in Southampton, NJ

Classic early Knoll Associates sofa designed by Jens Risom in the early 1940s. Solid birch base with sleek angled and tapering legs support a comfortable cantilevered seat with origi...

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Birch

Hans Wegner Danish Armless Sofa

$2,720Sale Price|30% Off

H 28 in W 76.5 in D 29 in

Hans Wegner Danish Armless Sofa

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Pasadena, TX

A Mid-Century Modern Danish sofa designed by Hans Wegner. A streamlined form without arms and tubular chrome legs. Upholstered in it's original lilac fabric.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Chrome

Sofa by Jens Risom for Risom Manufacturing

$16,000

H 28 in W 90 in D 30 in

Sofa by Jens Risom for Risom Manufacturing

By Jens Risom

Located in Sagaponack, NY

A three (3) seat sofa on a teak frame base retaining the original yellow upholstery.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Teak, Upholstery

Jens Risom Floating Sofa, 1960s

$8,995

H 29 in W 79 in D 29 in

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....

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Sofa

$5,195

H 27.25 in W 78.25 in D 32.5 in

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 - ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Jens Risom Sofa for Marble c. 1970s

$12,000

H 27.75 in W 78 in D 26.5 in

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...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Oak

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Sofa - Pair

$10,395

H 27.25 in W 78.25 in D 32.5 in

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Jens Risom Sofa in Fresh Vanilla Boucle

$12,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 29 in W 90 in D 35 in

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut

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Daybed by Jens Risom

By Jens Risom

Located in Dallas, TX

A Jens Risom daybed with walnut frame and steel glides. Fully restored.

Category

Vintage 1960s Daybeds

Materials

Walnut

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.

Category

Vintage 1950s Lounge Chairs

Materials

Walnut

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.

Category

Vintage 1950s Lounge Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Sofas by Edward Wormley for Dunbar

By Edward Wormley

Located in Dallas, TX

A pair of settees designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Fully restored and upholstered in Holly Hunt mohair.

Category

Vintage 1950s Settees

Materials

Mohair

Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa

By Vladimir Kagan

Located in Dallas, TX

A large and iconic serpentine sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan. This sofa was purchased from Kagan about a decade ago and upholstered in a heathered lig...

Category