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.
$1,285 / set
H 18.12 in W 19.69 in D 15.95 in
Set Of 2 Stools Made In Rosewood & Black Leather Seat From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
This set of two stools is a beautiful example of Danish design from the 1960s. The stools are made of rosewood, which gives them a warm and natural c...
Rosewood
$11,200 / set
H 17.52 in W 17.52 in D 17.52 in
Pair of Brazilian Vintage Rosewood and Leather Stools, Unknown Designer, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
The stool is one of the first forms of individual seating furniture. Without arms or back, this typology originated many other possibilities through time, b...
Rosewood, Leather
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Danish Bar Stools
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful pair of Danish modern bar stools feature a teak frame with sled legs. Unique design with high rounded arm rests, an angled backrest, and a black vinyl covered seat. Th...
Faux Leather, Teak
$469 / set
H 14.97 in W 21.66 in D 13.78 in
Set of Two Faux Leather Brown Vintage Stools, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s. Beautiful brown high quality faux leather. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic o...
Fabric
$5,500 / set
H 39.57 in W 14.38 in D 13.59 in
Pair of Wooden Barstools with Leather Seating, Denmark 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This pair of barstools showcase the Danish principles of interior design: careful proportions, high-quality materials, and an emphasis on functionality. The result was seating models...
Leather, Wood
$2,780Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.08 in W 15.75 in D 17.72 in
Erik Buch Bar Stools, Solid Wood & Black Leather, Denmark, 1960
By Erik Buch
Located in Oirlo, LI
This set of 2 bar stools was designed by Erik Buch and produced by O.D. Mobler in Denmark. In our opinion, this is the most elegant, practical, comfortable and beautiful bar stool ...
Leather, Teak
$1,326 / set
H 31.89 in W 17.33 in D 18.9 in
Pair of vintage 1960s chairs made of wood and leather, Italian design
Located in Torino, Piemonte
A pair of chairs with wooden frames and red faux leather upholstery, Italian design, 1960s. CONDITION: In good condition; may show signs of wear due to age. DIMENSIONS: Height 81 c...
Leather, Wood
$1,643 / set
H 29.93 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
Set of Two Leather Mid Century Black Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Chairs designed by prof. Rajmund Halas. They have been made of beech wood. They have undergone a complete upholstery renovation, the woodwork has been r...
Leather, Beech
Pair of Ølholm Møbelfabrik Stools, 1960s – Cognac Leather
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Beautiful pair of 1960s stools from Ølholm Møbelfabrik, kept in excellent condition and newly upholstered in rich cognac-coloured leather. Their clean, timeless design makes them a p...
Leather
$12,500 / set
H 25.99 in Dm 18.51 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-SI-21-C Stools Pair / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
These items are raw and sturdy. The rugged textures and bold lines define that radical character. A vivid dynamic between the different volumes and surfaces, showing different qualit...
Teak
Midcentury Paul Frankl Style Stools with Swivel
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Paul Frankl Style Stools Faux Bamboo 3 Strand backs with swivel. Reupholstery recommended.
Bamboo
Pair of Vintage Norman Cherner Plycraft Wood Leather Chairs
By Norman Cherner
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair of vintage Norman Cherner plycraft bent wood leather chairs Norman Cherner studied and taught at the Columbia University Fine Arts Department ...
Oak
Pair of Vintage Midcentury Restored Jens Risom Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom`s career has spanned nearly sixty years. He began his study of design in the Copenhagen workshop of Kaare Klint in 1935 and joined Ernst Kuhn`s architectural office in 1938, where he designed furniture and interiors. In 1939, Risom emigrated to the U.S. and in 1941 designed the first chair manufactured by Knoll. Risom described the chair as "very basic, very simple, inexpensive, easy to make." The chair was constructed with a birch wood frame and, because of wartime materials constraints, cheap but strong army surplus...
Cowhide, Walnut
Pair Thonet Style Bar Stools Made in Czechoslovakia
By Michael Thonet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair Thonet style bar stools Thonet style barstools manufactured in the Czech republic. Sculptural bentwood frames in a dark walnut finish. Marked/Engraved “Made in Czechoslowaki...
Walnut
Two Restored Jens Risom Side Armchairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair of vintage side armchairs set. New upholstery in gray microfiber Tufted back detail Wood frame and legs.
Oak
Pair of Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Dining Side Chairs
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pasadena, TX
A pair of Mid-Century dining or side chairs designed by Adrian Pearsall and made by Craft Associates. A very sculptural design with a high back and walnut base. Reupholstery strongl...
PVC, Walnut
