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.
Danish Mid-Century Floating Bench by Jens Risom, 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century rectangular floating bench with an off-white Shou-patterned fabric upholstered seat resting on a wooden floating frame base. (JENS RISOM).
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Danish Mid-Century Floating Bench by Jens Risom, Upholstered Seat, 48
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century rectangular floating bench with a banded Southwestern blue and green patterned fabric upholstered seat resting on a wooden floating frame base. (JENS RISOM).
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Danish Mid-Century Floating Bench by Jens Risom, Green Upholstery
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century rectangular floating bench with a green fabric upholstered seat resting on a wooden floating frame base. (JENS RISOM).
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Danish Mid-Century Floating Bench by Jens Risom, 1950s Black Vinyl
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century floating bench with a black vinyl button tufted seat resting on a wooden floating frame base. (JENS RISOM).
Upholstery, Wood
Danish Mid-Century Floating Bench by Jens Risom, Upholstered, 1960s
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish mid-century rectangular floating bench with a banded Southwestern blue and green patterned fabric upholstered seat resting on a wooden floating frame base. (JENS RISOM).
Wood
Jens Risom Mid-Century Floating Bench, Geometric Fabric, Danish Design
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century rectangular floating bench with a geometrically patterned blue, green, and orange fabric upholstered seat resting on a wooden floating frame base. (JENS RISOM).
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Mid-Century Danish Teak Daybed Model GE19 by Hans J. Wegner, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
An elegant and lightweight teak daybed, model GE19, designed by Hans J. Wegner in the 1960s, exemplifying the refined simplicity and exceptional craftsmanship of Danish modern design...
Teak
Jens Risom Custom Eight Foot Walnut Table/ Bench
By Jens Risom
Located in Highland, IN
This spectacular eight foot long table or bench by Jens Risom is not only a beautiful design with it's architectural base with tapered legs and a top that appears to float, it is hig...
Walnut, Leather
Jana Entry Bench, Upholstered Cushion Version - Walnut Mid-Century Modern
By Pete Deeble
Located in Long Beach, CA
The Jana entry bench is an original design, rooted in my love of all things modern, mid century, and Scandanavian. It's lovingly hand-built by me and my team from solid walnut (other...
Walnut
Swedish Sculptural Mid Century Wooden Daybed in Teak and Hide Upholstery, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare Swedish / Scandinavian sculptural mid century daybed in teak wood and hide upholstery by an anonymous designer, 1960s. In good vintage condition with a later beige hide upholste...
Hide, Teak
Odyssey Bench in Natural Walnut
By Stamford Modern
Located in Westport, CT
Artfully balanced and handcrafted, this bench pairs a lightweight aesthetic with solid construction. The rectangular cushion rests atop a sculptural wood base with elegant, sloping c...
Velvet, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Bench in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bench, walnut, faux leather, Europe, 1950s This European bench from the 1950s combines a walnut frame with black faux leather upholstery. The design is straightforward and functiona...
Faux Leather, Walnut
