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Modern Icons: Jens Risom Chairs
Necessity Inspired Ingenious '40s Strap-and-Wood Seating
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
You've seen them around – how did these stylish strappy lounge and dining chairs evolve? It was a combination of an imported talent from Denmark, a friendship, a road trip, and an unlikely surplus of parachute straps when other materials were scarce.
Let me back up. It all began when Jens (pronounced "Yenns") Risom left his native Denmark as a young man and arrived in New York City in 1938 seeking to learn more about modern furniture design. While opportunities for studying it were scarce, he eventually teamed up with entrepreneur Hans Knoll, and they set across the country on a road trip to visit modern architects and learn more about the potential market for modern furnishings. Not only did Risom design 15 of the first 20 Knoll pieces when the company launched in 1942, he also designed their first logo. Soon after he was drafted by the army to serve in World War II, and when he came back, he launched his own company, where he made sure that every design was of the highest quality from a sketch to the finished product to featuring them in photographs taken by Richard Avedon. He certainly succeeded, as his iconic furniture is still in production today. By the way, he still has a hand in furniture design, the latest being a collaboration with Rocket and Benchmark to re-release his 1950s and 1960s furnishings in Europe.
Let me back up. It all began when Jens (pronounced "Yenns") Risom left his native Denmark as a young man and arrived in New York City in 1938 seeking to learn more about modern furniture design. While opportunities for studying it were scarce, he eventually teamed up with entrepreneur Hans Knoll, and they set across the country on a road trip to visit modern architects and learn more about the potential market for modern furnishings. Not only did Risom design 15 of the first 20 Knoll pieces when the company launched in 1942, he also designed their first logo. Soon after he was drafted by the army to serve in World War II, and when he came back, he launched his own company, where he made sure that every design was of the highest quality from a sketch to the finished product to featuring them in photographs taken by Richard Avedon. He certainly succeeded, as his iconic furniture is still in production today. By the way, he still has a hand in furniture design, the latest being a collaboration with Rocket and Benchmark to re-release his 1950s and 1960s furnishings in Europe.
by CWB Architects
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One of Risom's most popular designs is what is known today as The Risom Lounge Chair. He designed it in 1941, and its ingenuity was born out of a necessity: a scarcity of the usual furniture-making materials during World War II. Well, perhaps I should say a surplus of some materials; the woven straps on the original chair were surplus parachute straps. The base was crafted of birch wood.
Today the straps are made of heavy-duty cotton, not up-cycled parachute straps. You can probably find the last of those in the memories of your 1980s elementary school gym class. Let's Play with the Parachute Day sure beat the heck out of Dodgeball Day, didn't it?
Today the straps are made of heavy-duty cotton, not up-cycled parachute straps. You can probably find the last of those in the memories of your 1980s elementary school gym class. Let's Play with the Parachute Day sure beat the heck out of Dodgeball Day, didn't it?
by BKSK Architects
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Risom has always firmly believed in that furniture should be functional, comfortable and high-quality. His philosophy in an eloquent nutshell? “Furniture is not sculpture, nor is a particular design created only for visual appearance. Furniture should clearly satisfy all requirements: It should be used, enjoyed and respected.”
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A few more Risom words of wisdom? "Good design means that anything good will go well with other equally good things – contemporary or traditional." This mix of furnishings is a great example of this.
For more Risom bon mots, charming sketches, and information, I thoroughly enjoyed poking around risom.org, in particular the sketch of his wife's boat passing the Statue of Liberty.
For more Risom bon mots, charming sketches, and information, I thoroughly enjoyed poking around risom.org, in particular the sketch of his wife's boat passing the Statue of Liberty.
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Here's a better look at the leather version of the lounge chair.
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Even in a vast room like this one, the Risom Lounge Chair holds its own.
Side note: I'm also loving the collection of Paul McCobb chairs this person used at the dining table.
Side note: I'm also loving the collection of Paul McCobb chairs this person used at the dining table.
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Risom also used the straps and hardwood to create a comfortable side chair.
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One of the things I love about these chairs are the staccato linear patterns created where the straps meet the wood. Depending on the fabric color and wood finish combination you choose, it can stand out a lot (like in the photo above this one), or have a more subtle effect, like in this light wood/light fabric combination.
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| Here Risom's side chairs are harmonious with iconic pieces by his mid-century contemporaries – they are placed around a Saarinen Tulip table and are underneath a Nelson Pendant light. If you're a mid-century modern fan, you've probably spied the famous picture from Playboy that includes Risom, Eero Saarinen, Edward Wormley, George Nelson, Henry Bertoia and Charles Eames. I first heard about it when my friend SallyTV became obsessed with finding a copy.
Another exciting development; Knoll now produces mini versions of Risom's side chairs for modern kiddos. I haven't found any examples around Houzz...yet. So hit me up in the comments section if you have a picture of them in your home! Next: See more modern icons |
Ideabook published on March 15, 2011.
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On another note ther is something Ikea'sish about it - guess it must be the strapping - they use this idea on some of their chairs as well.