Description
This armchair is an early example from the 1940’s of Jens Risom’s design for Knoll Associates and is a simple yet innovative design. The chair is two separate pieces: a singular seat / back component is simply inserted directly into a frame supported by a series of inset dowels.
The birch frame is original (has not been refinished). The new upholstery is Bute tweed 100% wool. The seat and back pad has been re-stuffed.
This chair incorporates modern design elements of Risom’s native Denmark with its combination of soft curves contrasted with geometric angles. The frame retains the early ‘Knoll Associates Inc’ decal as does the seat pad.
Recently purchased at Sworder’s 20th century furniture auction, the chair has known provenance being previously owned by Johan Polak (UN Publicity Design Officer) and was purchased in New York in 1949 while he was working at NW Ayer, one of the US’s oldest advertising agencies. The chair has been in various design exhibitions including ‘This is Design’ 2012 and been on loan to the London Design Museum since 1993.
Dimensions: H75 W61 D69 cms