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Vintage 1950s Large Walnut Executive Desk and File Cabinet by Jens Risom

$3,250List 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.

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Large Walnut Executive Desk by Jens Risom, USA, 1960's

$11,800

H 29 in W 80 in D 36 in

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk This desk measures: 81.25 wide x 36 deep x 28.75 high, with a chair clearance of 25 inches All pieces of furniture can be had in what w...

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Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Walnut

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk

$6,495

H 28.75 in W 81.25 in D 36 in

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom Mid Century walnut executive desk This desk measures: 62 wide x 28 deep x 28.5 high, with a chair clearance ...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Metal

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk

$4,595

H 28.5 in W 62 in D 28 in

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut and Cane Executive Desk

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut and Cane Executive Desk This desk measures: 72 wide x 30 deep x 30 high, with a chair clearance of 26.25 inches All pieces of furniture can be had in ...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Cane, Walnut

Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut and Cane Executive Desk

$5,195

H 30 in W 72 in D 30 in

Large Rosewood Executive Desk, Jens Risom, Y Pulls, 1960's

By Jens Risom

Located in Culver City, CA

This desk doesn’t whisper mid-century sophistication; it growls it through a cloud of cigar smoke and a well-poured glass of whisky. Designed by Jens Risom, this executive desk in ri...

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Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Steel

Large Rosewood Executive Desk, Jens Risom, Y Pulls, 1960's

$6,600 Sale Price

20% Off

H 29 in W 68 in D 36 in

Jens Risom Style Mid Century Walnut Curved Executive Desk

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom Style Mid Century Walnut Curved Executive Desk This desk measures: 83.5 wide x 38.5 deep x 29 high, with a chair clearance of 27.75 i...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Cane, Walnut

Jens Risom Style Mid Century Walnut Curved Executive Desk

$5,195

H 29 in W 83.5 in D 38.5 in

Jens Risom Style Jackson Mid Century Cane and Walnut Executive Desk

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom Style Jackson Mid Century Cane and Walnut Executive Desk This desk measures: 72 wide x 41 deep x 29 high, with a chair clearance of 24.25 inches All pieces of furniture ...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Cane, Walnut

Jens Risom Style Jackson Mid Century Cane and Walnut Executive Desk

$5,195

H 29 in W 72 in D 41 in

Jens Risom Style Mid Century Half Round Walnut Executive Desk

By Jens Risom

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Jens Risom style mid century half round walnut executive desk The desk measures: 95.5 wide x 47.75 deep x 29 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call rest...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Chrome

Jens Risom Style Mid Century Half Round Walnut Executive Desk

$5,895

H 29 in W 95.5 in D 47.75 in

Mid-Century Walnut Desk by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design, 1960s

By Jens Risom

Located in GNIEZNO, 30

A large desk made of walnut wood from the 1960s, designed by Jens Risom for the American manufactory Jens Risom Design. Desk with two drawer modules. There are two drawers in the lef...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Walnut Desk by Jens Risom for Jens Risom Design, 1960s

$5,780

H 28.35 in W 62.21 in D 33.86 in

1970s Jens Risom Design Executive Desk in Walnut with Five Drawers

By Jens Risom

Located in Philadelphia, PA

This is an Executive Desk in Walnut, designed by Jens Risom in the 1960s. This particular example was produced by Risom Design Inc. and dates back to the 1970s. The desk features fiv...

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