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Jens Risom Sofa with Built in Storage Table

$1,600List Price

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...

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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut

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 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

Three-Seat Jens Risom Sofa for Risom Design Inc multicolored fabric with stripes

$7,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 33.47 in W 89.38 in D 31.5 in

Three-Seat Jens Risom Sofa for Risom Design Inc multicolored fabric with stripes

By Jens Risom

Located in Berlin, DE

This Jens Risom sofa for Risom Design Inc. is in good condition. The solid walnut frame has been oiled and is in vintage condition with normal wear with age (slight imperfections). T...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Settee

$4,195

H 32.5 in W 52 in D 30 in

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Settee

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Settee This settee measures: 52 wide x 30 deep x 32.5 inches high, with a seat height of 15.75 inches Great Vintage Condition - Minor Areas of Wear o...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Settees

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

New Upholstered Orange Jens Risom Sofa Set with Missoni Fabric

$10,000Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 29.93 in W 49.61 in D 29.93 in

New Upholstered Orange Jens Risom Sofa Set with Missoni Fabric

By Jens Risom

Located in Berlin, DE

Excellent set by Jens Risom in fully restored condition. The fabric is an orange yellow Missoni fabric with new foam and restored walnut frame.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Jens Risom Tufted Back Sofa in Off White. Expertly Restored

$7,850

H 31 in W 94 in D 44 in

Jens Risom Tufted Back Sofa in Off White. Expertly Restored

By Jens Risom

Located in Kansas City, MO

This Jens Risom high back tufted back sofa has been expertly restored and reupholstered in an off white fabric. Like new and ready to ship.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery

3 Seat Sofa in Solid Walnut Styled After Jens Risom for Risoms Designs Inc., USA

$10,100

H 31 in W 68 in D 25 in

3 Seat Sofa in Solid Walnut Styled After Jens Risom for Risoms Designs Inc., USA

By Jens Risom

Located in Deland, FL

A limited release by ABT Modern inspired by the designs of Jens Risom for Risom Design, Inc. The Bel Riposo is constructed from hand-selected African wa...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

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