Jens Risom

Background

Jens Risom (1916–2016) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, the son of the architect Sven Risom. He trained at the Kunsthåndværkerskolen in Copenhagen, studying under Ole Wanscher and Kaare Klint, and worked in Stockholm before leaving Denmark for the United States in the late 1930s. In New York he took textile and interior work with Dan Cooper before meeting Hans Knoll.

Signature Style

Risom designed plain, modern furniture that could be made locally and from whatever materials the war left available. Knoll says he worked within wartime shortages, using scraps of wood and rejected nylon straps from parachute production. Wikipedia calls him one of the first designers to introduce Scandinavian design to the United States.

Notable Works

• The 600 Series for Hans Knoll, including the Lounge Chair, side chair and stool
• Fifteen pieces in the first Knoll catalogue of 1942
• Designs for Jens Risom Design, his own firm from 1946, including office and hospital furniture

Legacy

Knoll calls him its first true designer. He founded his own company after the Second World War, received the Danish Knight's Cross in 1996, and his furniture is held in museums including the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum.