The Jens Risom Side Chair is a triumph of form and simplicity, expertly shaped to maximise comfort, while also remaining economical with space. First released in 1943, at the height of the Second World War, the streamlined curves and smooth straight line make it an unmistakable piece of Scandinavian Modernism. The back and seat are made from the softest fabric available, which comes in either black or white, while the wooden frame is available with a range of finishes.
The Side Chair is very much an icon of its designer's vision and resourcefulness. Originally crafted from simple wooden frames and discarded parachute material due to US government rationing during the Second World War, it was Risom's way of showing that, even in times of austerity, creativity and beauty could still flourish. Designed just four years after he fled his native Denmark to escape Nazi occupation, it was one of the first designs that would catapult Risom into the American mainstream. Its simplicity, comfort and effortless style made an instant success.
1916 (Denmark)
Jens Risom was born in Copenhagen on May 8, 1916. He was trained as a designer at the Copenhagen School of Industrial Arts and Design. Among his classmates were now-famous designers such as Hans J. Wegner and Børge Mogensen. Risom is most famous for promoting Scandinavian design in home furniture to the broader American public.
"Good design means that anything good will go well with other equally good things."
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