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 Diamond Top Walnut and Caning Coffee Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
American/Danish Mid-Century walnut coffee table with a gently diamond-shaped top resting on a structured stretcher base with four tapered legs and stretcher shelf with caned inset...
Wood, Walnut
Jens Risom Mid-Century Diamond Top Walnut and Caning Coffee Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
American/Danish Mid-Century walnut coffee table with a gently diamond-shaped top resting on a structured stretcher base with four tapered legs and stretcher shelf with caned inset...
Wood, Walnut
Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Walnut Coffee / Cocktail Table with Magazine Rack
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century walnut coffee table with a rectangular top with tapered edges and a rectangular cutout on one side resting on a stretcher base with built-in magazine rack and four...
Wood, Walnut
Mid-Century Walnut Coffee Table by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, USA
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century rectangular walnut coffee table with brass legs (T.H. ROBSJOHN-GIBBINGS, model 1786 for Widdicomb). Decal manufacturer\'s label \'Widdicomb Designed by T.H. Rob...
Brass
Danish Mid-Century Walnut Coffee Table by Jens Risom, Circa 1955
By Jens Risom
Located in Queens, NY
"Danish Mid-Century circular walnut coffee table with a rotating lazy susan top resting on an X-shaped walnut base with tapered square leg...
Walnut
Lane American Mid-Century Walnut Coffee Table
By Lane Furniture
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century rectangular walunt coffee table with a single narrow drawer on either side of the table and with a sigtly raised edge on both sides resting on 4 squared tapering...
Jens Risom Walnut and Laminate Coffee Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Versatile square coffee or cocktail table by Jens Risom, with straight, turned walnut legs, squared stretchers and a floating white laminate top.
Mid-Century Walnut Coffee Table by Jens Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bring timeless Mid-Century Modern style into your home with this elegant walnut coffee table designed by renowned Danish-American designer Jens Risom. Showcasing Risom's signature cl...
Walnut
Jens Risom Model T-390 Mid Century Walnut Coffee Table with Magazine Rack
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Model T-390 Mid Century Walnut Coffee Table with Magazine Rack This coffee table measures: 52 wide x 24 deep x 17 inches high Fair Vintage Condition - Stain is Heavily F...
Walnut
Jens Risom Walnut Coffee Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Chicago, IL
Jens Risom Walnut Coffee Table; model 4010 designed 1961 revolving top with locking mechanism, solid walnut tapered legs. 42" Diameter 16" Height C...
Walnut
Mid Century Modern Jens Risom Walnut Coffee Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Tulsa, OK
Mid Century Modern Jens Risom Walnut Coffee Table Above average vintage condition and structurally sound. Table has been refinished and doea have s...
Walnut
Johannes Anderson Designed Mid-Century Rosewood Coffee Table
By Johannes Andersen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage-modern coffee table featuring two-draw leaves and beautiful rosewood grain, designed by Johannes Anderson. Two additional leaves of 11.5" can open to total 82" long.
Rosewood
