#risom

[scherzyhamilton]

Home Office Chicago Large minimalist freestanding desk study room photo with white walls and no fireplace

[germanpostwarmodern]

The Model 666WSP Side Chair designed in 1943 by Jens Risom for Knoll Inc.

[dd20century]

Jens Risom: Introducing the US to Scandinavian Design

“Good design means that anything good will go well with other equally good things.” – Jens Risom

Jens Risom was not only an iconic mid-century modern furniture designer, but he was also responsible for introducing Scandinavian design to the United States. “Risom was often referred to as the first true Knoll designer” (1).  With the current popularity of mid-century furniture design, Risom’s warm, elegant, timeless designs inspire a new generation of furniture designers.

Jens Risom was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 8, 1916, the son of prominent Danish architect Sven Risom. Young Jens studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design along with classmates Hans Wegner and Børge Mogensen (2) from 1935 until 1938. (3)

Designer Jens Risom. Photographer unknown. Image source.

Jens Risom and Hans Knoll

In 1939 Risom traveled to the United States to study design. Unfortunately, Risom found it difficult to find steady work in New York City. (2) In a 2012 interview with Modern Magazine Risom said, “What I found was that [the United States] was advanced in just about all areas—except for taste” (3). Risom was challenged to find anyone in the United States in the pre-war interested in producing the type of furniture he was designing. Risom’s freelance work secured him a position as Director of Interior Design at Dan Cooper, Inc., where he worked until 1940.

Jens Risom, 645W Chair for Knoll Inc. (1942). Image source.

After 1940 Risom returned to freelance work in furniture and textile design. “It was during this time that he met Hans Knoll. The pair collaborated on an exhibition for the New York World’s Fair.” (4) Risom finally found someone interested in producing and promoting his furniture designs. Then Knoll took Risom on as his partner and first designer for his new furniture company.

The first Knoll Catalog was published in 1942, “which included 15 pieces designed by Risom — the very first furniture to be commissioned specifically by Knoll” (4). One of the most timeless chairs in the collection was the Model 654W was designed by necessity. “Materials were hard to come by during the war, so Mr. Risom designed a chair with simple wooden legs and for upholstery used nothing other than surplus parachute straps” (1). In addition to Knoll, Risom sold designs to Frederik Lunning Inc., and this collection was introduced in October 1942. (2)

Jens Risom, Lounge Chairs Model U-416, (1941). Image source.

War, Love, and Breakup with Knoll

In 1943 Risom put his career on hold as he was drafted into the United States Army where he served as an interpreter under General George S. Patton. (1, 2) Risom returned to New York after the war. “…Mr. Knoll was involved romantically and professionally with a furniture designer named Florence Schust, who held a view of modern design that was in direct opposition to Mr. Risom’s”(1). Florence Schust eventually married Hans Knoll and became his business partner (4) leading Risom to split professionally with Knoll in 1946. (1)

Jens Risom, Magazine Table T.539, (1949). Image source.

Jens Risom Design Opens

Soon after his departure from Knoll, Risom established his own firm, Jens Risom Design which opened on May 1, 1946 (1); Risom ran the business until it was sold in the 1970s. (4) During the 1950s, Risom’s reputation grew as he promoted Danish design to a wider commercial and residential market. He hired fashion photographer Richard Avedon to photograph Risom’s furniture for sophisticated advertisements. The ads consisted of a photo of an item of furniture “against a white background with the simple tagline ‘The Answer is Risom’” (5).

Advertisement for T181 Dining Table and C240 Caneback Chair, (c. 1958). Image source.

Later in the decade, Risom began moving the firm away from residential work and into the “office furniture, hospital furniture, and library furniture” (2) markets. During the 1960s, Risom’s firm had showrooms in all major markets in the United States. (5) In 1961 Risom's work "was included in the legendary...Playboy Magazine article 'Designs for Living,' " (6) with mid-century design superstars "Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Edward Wormley, and George Nelson" (6). President Lyndon Johnson selected a Risom executive chair for his use in the Oval Office. (2)

Renewed Interest in Risom’s Designs

After the sale of his design firm, Risom continued to design and work as a consultant throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The 1990s saw a resurgence in interest in Risom’s iconic designs, the popularity of his furniture continues today. In 1994 Knoll introduced a selection of Risom’s early 1940s designs. In 2005 Risom partnered with New York art and furniture dealer Ralph Pucci to market his work. Pucci’s firm still sells Risom’s work today. (7)

Jens Risom and Chris Hardy, Ven Cabinet, (1961). Image source.

Risom’s Legacy

“The Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum all have Risom selections in their permanent collections” (1). In 1996 Risom was knighted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. (5) Risom was also a trustee of the Rhode Island School of Design. (2, 5) Risom outlived his contemporaries; he died at his home in New Canaan, Connecticut on December 9, 2016, at the age of 100. (1)

References

Bernstein, J., (22 December, 2016). Jens Risom, Modernist Designer Whose Furniture Still Has Legs, Dies at 100. New York Times website. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/world/europe/jens-risom-dead.html

Wikipedia.com, (11 November, 2022). Jens Risom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Risom

Hine,T., (19 March, 2012), Designer Spotlight – Jens Risom. Modern Magazine. Retrieved from web.archive.org: https://web.archive.org/web/20160311134534/http://www.modernmag.com/?p=1683

Contract Design News, (10 December, 2016). Legendary Designer Jens Risom Dies at 100. https://contractdesign.com/news/people/Legendary-Designer-Jens-Risom-Dies-at-Age-100/

Knoll International, (n.d.). Knoll Designer Bios: Jens Risom. https://www.knoll.com/designer/Jens-Risom

Pamono GmbH, (2022). Designer Jens Risom. https://www.pamono.co.uk/designers/risom

Ralph Pucci International, (2022). Jens Risom. https://ralphpucci.com/artists/jens-risom

[movienized-com]

Then You Run

Then You Run (Serie 2023) #LeahMcNamara #LiseRisomOlsen #RichardCoyle #FrancisMagee #CillianOSullivan #ChristianRubeck Mehr auf:

SerieJahr: 2023- Genre: Thriller Hauptrollen: Leah McNamara, Lise Risom Olsen, Richard Coyle, Francis Magee, Cillian O’Sullivan, Christian Rubeck, Vivian Oparah, Yasmin Monet Prince, Darren Cahill, Welket Bungué, Isidora Fairhurst, Leander Vyvey, Carl Shaaban, Famke Janssen … Serienbeschreibung: Eigentlich wollten Tara (Leah McNamara) und ihre drei Freundinnen Stink (Vivian Oparah), Nessi…

[stormdthecastle]

Orange County Mediterranean Dining Room Great room - large mediterranean travertine floor and beige floor great room idea with white walls and no fireplace

[retropopcult]

by Ole Risom, published January 1963 illustrated by Richard Scarry

[rederiswrites]

Red! Thought of you today when visiting the Viking centre in Ribe, Denmark. Lots of familiar beadwork, even in the gift shop ;) you probably already knew this, but here you go either way.

Yes!! OHHH I envy you being able to just go to Ribe like that. I am friendly acquaintances with Thomas Risom, a beadmaker who has been an active part of interpreting the digs there--chances are, he made the beads in the third photo. I have his book, the Beadmaker of Ribe, and treasure it. SO you've definitely seen me make a few of these!

Oh man. I dream of someday slipping the leash, and going to see Birka and Haithabu and Ribe and the associated museums. And meeting all my friends, like you and Thomas Risom and beadmakers and mutuals in Germany and Sweden too.

[ithinkwehitametaphor]

.Making Glass Beads.

The image below shows a possible reconstruction of an oven / furnace for making glass beads. Photo taken at Moesgaard Museum, 2006.The variant shown is a closed oven. Excavations in Ribe seem to indicate ovens might have been used there, although the actual design is unknown. (C.f. Risom, Thomas. Perlemageren fra Ribe. Forlaget Liljebjerget, 2013, p. 33.; Sode, Torben. “Glass Bead Making…

[toadstoolgardens]

Around and around the seasons

I am a Bunny by Ole Risom, illustrated by Richard Scarry

[ceramiccity]

Modern Furniture Aesthetics: The Risom Influence

Jens Risom joined the young Hans Knoll Furniture Company in the early 1940s - Modern interior with wooden floor, geometric rug, chair, side table, and pendant lamp. Follow Ceramic City on Tumblr Source: https://soudasouda.tumblr.com/post/750059297300480000/jens-risom-joined-the-young-hans-knoll-furniture

[research-lighting]

Jens Risom joined the young Hans Knoll Furniture Company in the early 1940s Follow Research.Lighting on Tumblr Source: https://soudasouda.tumblr.com/post/750059297300480000/jens-risom-joined-the-young-hans-knoll-furniture

[die-gute-form]

Tandem seat and table, Jens Risom

[rezeptblud]

Сладкий перец фаршированный рисом

New Post has been published on https://rezeptblud.ru/2024/08/21/sladkij-perets-farshirovannyj-risom/

Сладкий перец фаршированный рисом

[bejustlikethem]

Full house S01E10

I am a puppy by Ole Risom

[soudasouda]

Jens Risom joined the young Hans Knoll Furniture Company in the early 1940s Follow Souda on Tumblr