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 Walnut End Tables
By Jens Risom
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean Lined Pair of Walnut Side Tables or Nightstands, attributed to Jens Risom, unsigned, American, circa 1960s. They have been cleaned and Danish oiled.
Glass, Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Magazine Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Model T.539 side table, designed by Jens Risom for his eponymous company in 1949. The design is defined by its sharp, wedge-shaped profile, with an angled support, broad walnut top, ...
Walnut
Modernist Side Table, Walnut and Laminate, Designed by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist side table, walnut and laminate designed by Jens Risom, simple, elegant design, retains original Jens Risom Design Inc. label.
Laminate, Walnut
Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Walnut Cantilever End / Side Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish mid-century walnut cantilever side / end table with a rectangular off-center tabletop with shallow gallery supported by a walnut stretcher base. (Jens Risom).
Wood, Walnut
$600
H 15.75 in W 32 in D 23.88 in
Jens Risom Rectangular Side Table with Walnut Base and White Laminate Top
By Jens Risom
Located in Chicago, IL
This rectangular side table by Jens Risom has a walnut base and a white laminate surface. The legs are cleverly inset, giving the top a floating quality and an overall jauntiness to ...
Laminate, Walnut
Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Circular Wooden Lazy Susan End / Side Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish mid-century end / side table with a revolving circular wooden top with a shallow lip, resting on four square tapered wooden legs. (Jens Risom).
Wood
$5,900
H 19.5 in Dm 28 in
Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Wooden Cutout Circular Lazy Susan End / Side Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century lazy susan end / side table with a rotating circular top with an off-center circular cutout supported by four tapered square wooden legs. (JENS RISOM) Minor wear ...
Wood
Walnut End Table by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An expressive end table in rich walnut having raised and curved tapered side rails connected directly to the legs that support a floating top.
Walnut
$4,500
H 23.5 in W 30 in D 14.75 in
Danish Mid-Century Blond Mahogany Wedge Magazine Table 'Manner of Jens Risom'
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish mid-century blond mahogany magazine end table with a wedge-shaped top with a rectangular cut-out and a similarly-shaped lower shelf supported on the thinner side side by a tap...
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
$2,895 / set
H 23 in W 27.75 in D 20.75 in
Expertly Restored - Jens Risom Floating Top Walnut Side Tables
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precis...
Wood, Walnut
Jens H. Quistgaard Rosewood Side Table with Tile Inlay
By Jens Quistgaard, Richard Nissen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Side table by Jens H. Quistgaard for Richard Nissen, c.1960s Denmark features a hand-oiled rosewood with turquoise Azur tile inlay along the top. The tile pattern is one of Quistgaar...
Ceramic, Rosewood
Walnut Credenza by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Jens Risom, c.1960s, USA. This four drawer walnut credenza features one side of drawers and two shelves concealed by a roll top tambour door. The walnut handles have a br...
Walnut
Walnut Dresser by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Jens Risom, c.1960s, USA. This eight drawer walnut dresser features two narrow top drawers and six larger drawers below. One of the narrow drawers has a fold down drawer ...
Walnut
Widdicomb Trapezoidal Side Table
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Walnut side table by Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Widdicomb, c.1950s. The table features trapezoid table top with faceted tapered legs and faceted stretchers. This design is similar ...
Walnut
Italian Cane Top Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian side table with cane top and brass x base. This table showcases a beautiful newly caned table top supported by an x leg base in both brass and ebonized wood. Dimensions 19.5...
Brass
Petite Teak Tripod Side Table
By Albert Larsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Teak tripod side table is supported by a teak shaft and three flared legs. The perfect petite table for an office, library or living area. Dimensions 13" diameter x 19" height; 5.7...
Teak
