Long before Americans succumbed to the lure of a low-cost flat-pack furniture brand called IKEA, they discovered the charms of Scandinavian design through a rather ingenious chair: Made within the constraints of wartime material shortages, the chair utilized cedar scraps and webbing of army-rejected nylon straps from parachute production. This design, created by Jens Risom for Hans Knoll Furniture Company (now simply Knoll), is still an icon and bestseller today.
To celebrate the living legend, who turned 100 years old yesterday, we take a look back at some of his works that continue to be mass produced.
600 Series Chairs (Hans Knoll, 1943)
The aforementioned chairs that utilized army surplus materials are still offered in lounge, side and child-sized versions, as well as full- and child-sized stools. Today the chair is constructed of light walnut or clear or ebonized maple with a seat and back in nylon-cotton webbing. The latter is available in 10 different colors.
600 Series Chairs
Risom Tables (Hans Knoll, 1943)
Also for Knoll, Risom created a series of wood tables that included the whimsical Amoeba coffee and child’s tables, a round dining table and square and round side tables. All are constructed of clear maple, ebonized maple and walnut and light walnut.
Amoeba Child’s Table shown with Risom 600 Series Child’s Side Chairs
T539 and T390 Magazine Tables (Jens Risom Design, 1949–50)
Delightful and a bit quirky, the T539 sports a slot opening in the top for dropping periodicals into a holder (really a lip that’s been cleverly integrated onto the table’s base). Meanwhile, the T390 incorporates the same magazine-holding capability in a low, four-legged coffee table model. Each comes in oak or walnut with an oil finish.
T539 Magazine Table
T390 Coffee Table
U430 and 431 Chairs (Jens Risom Design, 1955)
Angles, smoothed corners and almost seamless joinery define these two lounge chairs (430 has arms, 431 doesn’t). Both of these low sitting chairs have wood frames in oak or walnut while the upholstered seat and back can be specified in any Kvadrat fabric or Elmo leather.
From left: U431 and U430 Chairs
T620 Table (Jens Risom Design, 1955)
Risom developed a trademark floating top design in various seating and table pieces, including the T620 coffee table. The unit, with an oiled oak or walnut frame, holds a laminated top in black, gray, turquoise, orange or white. The table comes in two lengths: 54 and 72 inches.
T620 Table
C275 Side Chair (Jens Risom Design, 1957)
Ideal as a side chair or dining chair (or companion to the 742 Desk), this armless piece has a compact yet sturdy frame, generous upholstered seat and a gently curving laminated back. The frame comes in oil-finished oak or walnut while the seat comes in a choice of fabrics or leathers.
C275 Side Chair
C275 Side Chair
742 All Purpose Desk (Jens Risom Design, 1968)
Risom originally designed this compact writing desk for his own home in New Canaan, Connecticut as a small-space solution. The piece is constructed of solid walnut or oak with chocolate or black leather accents and a removable solid wood accessory tray inside the drawer.
742 All Purpose Desk
4074 Table (Jens Risom Design, 1970)
A square, minimal coffee table, the 4074 reissue features two open frames for legs in solid oak with a top finished in oak veneer or orange or gray Formica laminate.
4074 Table