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.
$1,495
H 23.25 in W 24 in D 16 in
1950s Pair of Jens Risom Designs Inc Walnut & Laminate End / Side Table
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a rare pair of Jens Risom Designs Inc walnut & tan laminate end/side tables. These tables are marked and original examples. They were designed by Jens Risom and pr...
Laminate, Walnut
$2,824 / set
H 21.66 in W 24.81 in D 18.51 in
Pair of Swedish Midcentury Side Tables in Walnut by Bertil Fridhagen
By Bodafors, Bertil Fridhagen
Located in Karlstad, SE
A pair of midcentury side tables in walnut by Bertil Fridhagen for Bodafors, Sweden. These high-quality side tables have a minimalistic design with distinct lines. Condition: Very go...
Walnut
$895 / set
H 16 in W 17.5 in D 17.5 in
Hans C Andersen Danish Mid Century Modern Teak & Formica Snack Side Table - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Hans C Andersen Danish Mid Century Modern Teak & Formica Snack Side Tables - Pair. Item features hour glass teak wood tapered legs, white formica top, original label, and cle...
Laminate, Teak
$1,323 / set
H 18.12 in W 25.6 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Scandinavian Modern Brown Teak Side Tables
By Alberts Tibro, Albert Larsson
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
The set of two coffee tables was designed by Albert Larsson for the Swedish manufacturer Alberts Tibro during the 1960s. It is an excellent example of Scandinavian design combining f...
Teak
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Floating Side End Tables - Pair
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Floating Side End Tables - Pair Each side table measures: 21 wide x 27 deep x 24.25 inches high Great Vintage Condition - Minor Stain Wear on Top Tabl...
Walnut
$3,900 / set
H 23.5 in W 33 in D 32 in
20th Century Swedish Pair of Two Tiers Vintage Walnut Side, End Tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern pair of Swedish side, end tables made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Walnut in good condition. The Scandinavian corner tables...
Walnut
$470Sale Price / set|33% Off
H 17.33 in W 18.51 in D 15.75 in
Pair of Nesting Tables 1960 Denmark Teak Wood
Located in Wien, Au
Pair of Nesting Tables 1960 Denmark teak wood
Teak
$2,000 / set
H 19 in W 27.5 in D 18 in
Pair of Mid Century Modern Teak Side Tables or End Tables, Denmark, 1960's
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
An elegant pair of side tables executed in solid teak, showcasing the clean lines and tapered legs typical of Scandinavian Modern design. These tables feature rectangular tops with ...
Teak
$1,560Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.5 in W 26 in D 17 in
Pair of Solid Walnut Danish modern Ace side tables in the style of Peter Hivdit
By ACE-HI
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Pair of Solid Walnut Danish modern side tables in the style of Peter Hivdit Produced by Ace-Hi of Gardena, Calif., the Prelude line of furniture featured solid walnut construction and simplified (but never reductive) purity of form. This Prelude table...
Walnut
$1,100 / set
H 18.9 in W 22.84 in D 14.97 in
Vintage Mid-Century Danish Modern Brown Teak Nesting Tables, 1960s, Set of 2
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This set of two Nesting tables, was manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s. The rectangular tables are crafted from dark brown teak with a distinct, deep grain. They impress with t...
Teak
George Nelson for Herman Miller Coffee Table - Model 5756 - Walnut + Aluminum
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Decatur, GA
Scarce George Nelson for Herman Miller Model 5756 Cocktail Table in walnut and aluminum, circa 1950s. The juxtaposition of the hard lines and right angles of the aluminum base agains...
Aluminum
Early Paul McCobb Planner Group Bench Coffee Table with Drawer - Restored
By Winchendon, Paul McCobb
Located in Decatur, GA
Early Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple Bench Coffee Table with Drawer for Winchendon, Restored Exceptional Paul McCobb Planner Group bench...
Brass
Pair WWZ Chairs by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb - Walnut Lounge Chairs
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Decatur, GA
Pair of classic WWZ Lounge Chairs by TH Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb with sculpted solid black walnut frames. Circa 1950s. Originally marketed as a "chair of comfort and quiet ele...
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage Teak Lounge Chair + Ottoman by Rolf Rastad + Adolf Relling for Westnofa
By Westnofa Furniture, Adolf Relling, Rolf Rastad, Adolf Relling and Rolf Rastad
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage sculptural old growth teak lounge chair and ottoman by Rolf Rastad and Adolf Relling for Westnofa, circa 1960s. All original and in excellent condition. Original turquoise an...
Wool, Teak
Widdicomb Burled Elm Demi Lune Coffee Table - Mid Century Modern Cocktail Table
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co., John Widdicomb
Located in Decatur, GA
Rare Mid-Century Widdicomb Burled Elm Demi Lune Coffee Table, Circa 1960s A scarce and elegant demi lune coffee table produced by Widdicomb Furniture Company during the 1960s. Showc...
Elm, Mahogany, Burl
Vintage Thonet Bentwood Side Table with Black Laminate Top - After Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto, Thonet
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage Thonet Bentwood Side Table with Black Laminate Top in the Style of Alvar Aalto A refined vintage side table by Thonet featuring elegant bent birch wood construction and a ro...
Laminate, Formica, Birch
