Jens Risom Collection Jens Risom Collection

One of the first designers to bring traditional Scandinavian values to the United States, Jens Risom was part of a new vanguard that helped establish post-war America’s leadership role in modern furniture design and manufacturing. Born in Denmark in 1916, Risom studied at the Copenhagen School of Industrial Arts and Design. He began his tutelage in the workshop of Kaare Klint in 1935 and subsequently joined Ernst Kuhn’s architectural office to design furniture and interiors.

In 1939, Risom emigrated to the U.S. and joined forces with Hans Knoll, a furniture manufacturer in search of a good designer. The pair embarked on a three-month trip across the country, meeting with architects and designers to gather insight into the demand for modern furnishings. In 1941, the Risom Collection became the first full line of modern furniture to be commissioned and manufactured by Knoll.

Constructed of simple birch wood frames and discarded parachute webbing because of wartime material restrictions, the Collection exhibits Risom’s taste for well-crafted Scandinavian Modernism with streamlined curves and angles. Risom initially described his furniture as “very basic, very simple, inexpensive and easy to make.” The Risom Collection now includes three finishes — Clear Maple, Ebonized Maple and Light Walnut — along with a modern color palette of cotton and nylon webbing.

The Risom Collection reflects the KnollStudio® commitment to timeless, enduring design, continuing the Knoll legacy of producing furniture to the exacting standards of the designer and affirming our unwavering belief in the power and utility of modern design.

Risom Armless Lounge Chair in Light Walnut with Red cotton webbing.

Risom Stools and Side Chairs

Side Chairs and Stools can be specified in Clear Maple, Ebonized Maple or Light Walnut finishes in a range of cotton or nylon webbing. Risom Side Chairs are available with a webbed seat, as well as webbed seat and back. Stools above in Clear Maple with Steel Blue, Khaki, Maize and Navy cotton webbing. Side Chairs, with webbed seat and back, right, in Ebonized Maple finish with Flax cotton webbing; Side Chair, with webbed seat, in Ebonized Maple finish with Steel Blue cotton webbing.

Risom Dining, Coffee and Side Tables

Left: Round and Square Side Tables and Amoeba Coffee Table in Light Walnut finish. Round Dining Table, above, in Light Walnut finish with accompanying Side Chairs with webbed seat and back in Light Walnut finish with Maize cotton webbing. Side Chairs and Tables can be specified in Clear Maple, Ebonized Maple or Light Walnut finishes. “I prefer design that is neutral and not center stage, furniture that is for people, to be used.” – Jens Risom.

The Risom Collection is spare and light, enhancing any corporate or residential environment. Risom Arm Lounge Chairs, above, in Clear Maple with webbing in Aubergine cotton and Nutmeg nylon. Risom Armless Lounge Chair, right, in Clear Maple with Flax cotton webbing.

The Risom Collection is available in Clear Maple, Ebonized Maple or Light Walnut finishes with a range of webbing colors in cotton or nylon. Jens Risom Collection

17.25 21.25 17.25 21.25 20 27.5 23.75 27.75

16.5 15.25 30.5 30.5 30.25 30.25 17.625

Side Chair Lounge Chair Stool

42 42

14 18

28 32 18 20 16

Dining Table Side and Coffee Tables

Front and back covers: The Risom Collection in Ebonized Maple finish with Red cotton webbing. BKS-607 © 2008 Knoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Photography by Ilan Rubin. Installation photograph on page 7 by Joshua McHugh. knoll.com Knoll is the founding sponsor of the World Monuments Fund Modernism at Risk program. Product Care

WOOD GLASS SLATE Clean with a dry, lint-free Clean with Windex, Fantastik Apply mineral oil or lemon cloth. Wash once a year with or other non-abrasive clean- oil as needed. a mild soap and water solu- ing solutions. tion, rinse with damp cloth, PLASTIC and dry immediately with dry, CHROME Clean with damp cloth with lint free cloth. Clean with Windex or an diluted soap. Do not use any automotive chrome cleaner abrasives or acid detergents. FABRIC such as semi-chrome twice Vacuum frequently or brush a month. Apply a coat of STAINLESS STEEL lightly to remove surface hard paste wax to protect Use Windex, Fantastik or dust. Professional cleaning against moisture. other non-abrasive cleaners. should be done regularly to remove soiling not cleaned by ANODIZED ALUMINUM NICKEL vacuuming. Wipe all spills TOPS & LEGS Clean with Windex, Fantastik immediately. Try a hidden Clean with mild soaps or or other non-abrasive cleaning area to test for color fastness other non-abrasive cleaning substances. If discoloration with all stain removal methods. agents. Apply paste wax or occurs, rub lightly with a fine DuPont non-abrasive car steel wool to restore luster. LEATHER polish #7 twice a year to Finished Leather prevent oxidation. For stub- COTTON/NYLON WEBBING Acqua, Alaska, Amazon, born stains or discolorations, Use damp cloth to wipe off Andes, Antique, Ducale, apply navel jelly aluminum stains. Do not use any kind of Espana, Forte, Hand Tipped, cleaner. detergent or soap. Try hidden Ronda, Sabrina, Salon, area to test for color fastness Velluto Pelle, Vincenza, Volo. NATURAL CANE with all stain removal methods. Use water and glycerin every Maintain by wiping with a three months to keep cane COWHIDE cool, damp cloth. For tougher from drying out. Use a soft cloth dampened soiling, use a pH balanced with a solution of mild soap soap on cloth and rinse. LAMINATE/MELAMINE or detergent dissolved in water. Clean with Windex, Fantastik, Rub lightly. For scratches, Naked Leather or other household detergents use liquid shoe polish and buff Arizona, Capri, Cordovan, well dissolved in water, or when dry. Derby, Distressed, Prima, with a very soft cloth. Never Saddle. use abrasives. Remove stub- CAST STONE born stains with SoftScrub. Use soap-based household Wipe entire surface with a cleaner. soft cloth and cool water. MARBLE AND GRANITE Do not spot-rub. Natural Marble RILSAN/POWDER COAT Wipe off stains and liquid Clean with Windex, Fantastik Grain Sueded Leather spills immediately with water or other ordinary non-abrasive Ducale Velour, Marissa. and soft cloth. Never use household soaps or steel wool or other abrasives. detergents. Never use harsh Blot up spills immediately. abrasives or steel wool. Dry brush occasionally. Coated Marble and Granite Remove stubborn stains with Remove general soilage with Clean with damp cloth with SoftScrub. a suede cleaning block. diluted soap. Do not use any abrasives or acid detergents. If you have further questions, Wipe with lukewarm water. call Spinneybeck customer Clean more thoroughly with service at 800 482-7777. Windex or other non-abrasive solutions.