Jens Risom

Jens Risom

The first true Knoll designer, Jens Risom joined the young Hans Knoll Furniture Company in the early 1940s as the sole designer of interiors and furniture. Born in Denmark to the well-known architect Sven Risom, Jens worked in Stockholm for one year before graduating from the prestigious Kundstandvaerkerskolen in Copenhagen.

Risom left Denmark for the United States in 1938 and, for two years, served as Director of Interior Design at the studio of Dan Cooper, Inc. in New York before starting a freelance career specializing in furniture and textiles. It was during this time that he met Hans Knoll. The pair collaborated on an exhibition for the New York World’s Fair. Knoll asked Risom, who had been searching for a promoter and manufacturer, to help him design interiors for clients around New York.

With Hans handling client relations and Jens planning interiors and designing furniture when needed, the pair began to take on more design projects. In 1942 they printed the first Knoll Catalog, which included 15 pieces designed by Risom — the very first furniture to be commissioned specifically by Knoll. Working ingeniously within the constraints of wartime material shortages, Risom developed several chairs and tables using essentially scraps of wood and rejected nylon straps from parachute production. Despite these constraints, Risom was able to design innovative and truly modern pieces of furniture, a selection of which were reintroduced by Knoll in 1994.

In 1943, Risom left Knoll to join the U.S. Army. He returned to the United States in 1946 to launch his own design firm Jens Risom Design, which he ran until the early 1970s. After selling his company, Risom relocated to Connecticut and started a design consultancy firm. He is a trustee of the Rhode Island School of Design and was knighted by Queen Margrethe of Denmark in 1996.

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SALE
Knoll Jens Risom Teak Lounge Chair for Outdoor Use Navy Sunbrella Webbing
KnollKnoll Risom Teak Indoor-Outdoor Lounge Chair
Sale price$1,240.50 Regular price$1,654.00
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SALE
Knoll Risom Outdoor Ottoman Teak Navy Sunbrella Webbing
KnollKnoll Risom Teak Indoor Outdoor Ottoman
Sale price$648.75 Regular price$865.00
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SALE
Knoll Risom Lounge Chair Armless Navy Cotton Webbing with Clear Maple Frame Knoll Risom Lounge Chair Armless Navy Cotton Webbing with Clear Maple Frame Back
KnollKnoll Risom Lounge Chair - Armless
Sale price$1,044.75 Regular price$1,393.00
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SALE
Flax Cotton-Clear Maple Flax Cotton-Ebonized Maple
KnollKnoll Risom Arm Chair
Sale price$1,371.75 Regular price$1,829.00
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SALE
Jens Risom Side Chair Maple Black Profile Knoll Jens Risom Side Chair Maple Red Profile Knoll
KnollJens Risom Side Chair
Sale price$695.25 Regular price$927.00
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SALE
Knoll Risom Teak Outdoor Side Chair with Sunbrella Webbing Knoll Risom Teak Outdoor Dining Chair Back
KnollKnoll Risom Teak Outdoor Side Chair
Sale price$1,011.75 Regular price$1,349.00
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KnollJens Risom Dining Table
Sale price$1,789.00
SALE
Light Walnut - Risom Maple - Risom
KnollJens Risom Amoeba Coffee Table
Sale price$1,146.00 Regular price$1,528.00
SALE
Jens Risom Side Table Jens Risom Side Table
KnollJens Risom Side Table
Sale price$624.75 Regular price$833.00
SALE
Knoll Risom Teak Outdoor Side Table RoundRound
KnollKnoll Risom Teak Outdoor Side Table
Sale price$807.75 Regular price$1,077.00
SALE
Jens Risom Stools Collection Maple Knoll Jens Risom Stool Ebonized Maple Red Webbing Knoll
KnollJens Risom Sitting Stool
Sale price$449.25 Regular price$599.00
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KnollJens Risom Child's Chair
Sale price$339.00
KnollJens Risom Childs Sitting Stool
Sale price$248.00
SALE
Fredericia Jens Risom Magazine Table Oak Black Lacquer
FredericiaFredericia Jens Risom Magazine Table
Sale price$756.00 Regular price$945.00
SALE
Risom Outdoor Teak Bar Stool with Polished Aluminum Footcap and Charcoal Sunbrella Webbing by Knoll Risom Outdoor Teak Bar Stool with Black Footcap and Charcoal Sunbrella Webbing by Knoll
KnollJens Risom Outdoor Bar & Counter Stool by Knoll
Sale price$1,389.75 Regular price$1,853.00
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SALE
Navy Sunbrella-Clear Maple Knoll Risom Counter Stool with Navy Sunbrella Webbing, Clear Maple Frame, and Black Aluminum Footcap
KnollKnoll Risom Counter Stool
Sale price$1,143.00 Regular price$1,524.00
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SALE
Knoll Risom Barstool with Steel Blue Cotton Webbing, Light Walnut Frame, and Polished Aluminum Footcap Steel Blue Cotton-Light Walnut
KnollKnoll Risom Barstool
Sale price$1,143.00 Regular price$1,524.00
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