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.
$450 / item
H 1.75 in W 15.75 in D 11 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut & Aluminum Letter Tray Desk Accessory Qualiton
By Florence Knoll
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, mid-century modern walnut & aluminum letter tray, desk accessory. Retains original label, QUALITON. In the Style of Florence Knoll. Clean modern design wi...
Aluminum
Knoll Vintage Bentwood Walnut Desk Inbox Tray
Located in Kensington, MD
Appropriately labeled on bottom. Produced by Knoll Associates, Inc.
Bentwood, Walnut
Pair of MCM Walnut Letter Trays by Carver Wood Products
By Carver Wood Products Inc.
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of MCM walnut letter trays by Carver Wood Products, circa 1970s. The trays are in good vintage condition and measures 15.375"W x 10.25"D x 4.75"H and would make a great addition...
Walnut
MCM Walnut and Naugahyde Double Letter Tray by OPCO
By Opco Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool and functional MCM walnut and nauhgahyde double letter tray by OPCO, circa 1970s. The tray is in very good vintage condition and measures 15.5"W x 10.25"D x 6.5"H and would...
Naugahyde, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern American Walnut & Brass Modernist Paper Desk Tray
Located in San Diego, CA
Double letter tray in walnut with brass accents , circa 1950s freshly refinished, Very nice accent to any executives desk! California design.
Brass
Mid Century Large Bent Plywood Multi Level Letter Paper Desk Tray
By Charles and Ray Eames, Abel Sorenson
Located in San Diego, CA
Multi-level bent ply desk tray. Walnut with brass supporting rods. A well made and designed statement piece for your desk Unsigned. 1950s
Walnut
1970s Wood and Metal Peter Pepper Two Tier Letter Tray
By Peter Pepper Products
Located in San Diego, CA
A fantastic paper tray. High quality construction with metal elements. Peter Pepper Products produced many icons of California Designs. USA, 1970s.
Wood
$575
H 6.25 in W 23.5 in D 8.5 in
Danish Modern Desk Organizer Letter Tray in Teak by Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
By Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in San Diego, CA
Very functional Danish modern teak desk organizer or letter tray by Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik, circa 1970s. The piece is in excellent condition and measures 23.5" wide, 8.5." deep ...
Teak
Kalmar Mid-Century Teak Desk Organizer / Letter Tray 1970s
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautifully crafted mid-century modern desk organizer by Kalmar, executed in richly grained Danish teak. This sculptural and highly functional piece embodies the refined simplicity...
Teak
Rainbow Wood Products Two-Tier Teak Paper Tray, Mid-Century Modern
By House of Rainbow Wood Products Inc.
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautifully crafted two-tier paper tray produced by Rainbow Wood Products, showcasing the clean lines and warm organic materials characteristic of mid-century modern desk accessori...
Teak
Annemarie Davidson & Blaine Rath Walnut & Enamel Letter Tray, California, c.1970
By Annemarie Davidson, Florence Knoll
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Annemarie Davidson & Blaine Rath Walnut & Enamel Letter Tray, California, c.1970
Enamel
Mid Century Handcrafted Solid Walnut Pipe Holder / Stand / Rest, c.1960
By Dunhill, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Mid Century Handcrafted Solid Walnut Pipe Holder / Stand / Rest, c.1960.
Walnut
Shigemichi Aomine Bentwood Teak Tray for N.C.C., Japan, c.1960
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Shigemichi Aomine Bentwood Teak Tray for N.C.C., Japan, c.1960.
Teak, Bentwood
Jens Quistgaard Bamboo & Teak Tray for Dansk, Denmark, 1960's
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Bamboo & Teak Tray for Dansk, Denmark, 1960's.
Bamboo, Teak
Walnut Display Stand, 1960s
By Milo Baughman
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Walnut Display stand, 1960s. Walnut & White Laminate. Perfect for Displaying Collectables, Small Pottery Etc.
Laminate, Walnut
Handcrafted Wood Cutting Board / Tray. 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Handcrafted Wood Cutting Board / Tray. 20th Century.
Wood, Walnut
