Jens Risom
b. 1916
The distinguished Danish furniture designer and manufacturer, born in 1916, first attended the Arts & Crafts school in Copenhagen. After a spell in Stockholm, he attended the School of Architecture in Copenhagen from 1935 – 1936.
Jens then joined Kaare Klint`s workshops before spending a year with a firm engaged in both architecture and interiors.
In 1938 he left Denmark, moving to the USA where initially he worked as a designer with a firm of furniture and textile designers. It was during this period he met Hans Knoll, and together they launched a firm that in future years would become world famous – at this time Jens designed the very first Knoll chair.
War service intervened, and on his return, by mutual agreement, they separated. In 1946 Jens set up his own furniture manufacturing company. The opportunity to control entirely the design and making process fulfilled a long held ambition.
Over the next 33 years, Risom furniture was at the leading edge of design, quality and innovation, pursuing in many ways a similar course to Gordon Russell.
In 1980 Gordon Russell was granted manufacturing rights in the UK, and thereafter successfully sold Jens Risom office furniture, alongside GR`s own ranges. With the sale of the Company in 1986 the licence agreement was ended.
The distinguished Danish furniture designer and manufacturer, born in 1916, first attended the Arts & Crafts school in Copenhagen. After a spell in Stockholm, he attended the School of Architecture in Copenhagen from 1935 – 1936.
Jens then joined Kaare Klint`s workshops before spending a year with a firm engaged in both architecture and interiors.
In 1938 he left Denmark, moving to the USA where initially he worked as a designer with a firm of furniture and textile designers. It was during this period he met Hans Knoll, and together they launched a firm that in future years would become world famous – at this time Jens designed the very first Knoll chair.
War service intervened, and on his return, by mutual agreement, they separated. In 1946 Jens set up his own furniture manufacturing company. The opportunity to control entirely the design and making process fulfilled a long held ambition.
Over the next 33 years, Risom furniture was at the leading edge of design, quality and innovation, pursuing in many ways a similar course to Gordon Russell.
In 1980 Gordon Russell was granted manufacturing rights in the UK, and thereafter successfully sold Jens Risom office furniture, alongside GR`s own ranges. With the sale of the Company in 1986 the licence agreement was ended.