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 Mid Century Walnut Loveseat Sofa
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Loveseat Sofa This loveseat measures: 66.25 wide x 28.5 deep x 33.5 inches high, with a seat height of 16 and arm height of 21.5 inches Fair Vintage C...
Upholstery, Walnut
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.
Teak, Upholstery
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...
Wool, Walnut
Jens Risom Loveseats, a pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s, signed. Both have been fully refinished and reupholstered in Maharam Hearth with new foam. There is still age-appropriate wear though including light cracking, chips to the...
Fabric, Oak
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
Jens Risom Model 2516 Sculptural Sofa Gray Velvet and walnut base
By Jens Risom
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
Uncommon Jens Risom Model 2516 sofa with a curvaceous back and sculptural walnut base. The sides of the base with subtle bow tie shape, cutouts in the front of the frame lend to the...
Walnut
Walnut and Fabric Sofa
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful 1970s sofa with a walnut leg frame. The sofa has been newly recovered, the frame is in original condition and it has minor chips on the back legs (see detail photos). Me...
Fabric, 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
Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Modern Walnut Bracketed Back Sofa
By Jens Risom
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful and sleek Danish modern sofa. Armless sofa creates numerous possibilities. Teak legs cradle and support in the manner of less is more. Fabric is a wool tweed blend which is...
Teak, Upholstery
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...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, 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
Mid-Century Modern "Cloud" Walnut Sofa by Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Elevate your living space with this extraordinary vintage Cloud sofa, an iconic creation by celebrated architect and designer Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates. Handmade in the Un...
Fabric, Walnut
Norwegian Teak Sofa by Gerhard Berg for LK Hjelle
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exceptional Norwegian teak sofa designed by Gerhard Berg for LK Hjelle in Norway, circa 1960s. This sofa has a design that perfectly combines aesthetics in i...
Fabric, Teak
Mid-Century Modern Serpentine Sofa
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This elegant vintage Serpentine sofa, designed in the style of Vladimir Kagan for Directional, beautifully captures the sculptural sophistication that made Kagan’s work so iconic in ...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Sofa in the Manner of Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-Century Modern chrome sofa in the manner of Harvey Probber, circa 1960s. Our team of expert craftsmen professionally reupholstered the sofa in a beautiful Olympic blue color. It ...
Chrome
Vintage Italian "Cloud" Loveseat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fabulous vintage suede "Cloud" loveseat made in Italy, circa 1970s. This loveseat is wrapped by a padded edge that makes it look even more like a cloud, it h...
Suede, Wood
