Rare stool '600 series' by Jens Risom for Knoll International

This very rare stool was designed by Jens Risom in 1943 for Knoll International.
Jens Risom’s designs, described at their introduction as “good, honest furniture,” were the first pieces ever designed for and manufactured by Knoll.
They helped establish the company as an early provider of modern design in America. The combination of gentle curves and geometric angles exhibit Risom’s Scandinavian design sensibilities.

Originally known as the 600 Series, the Risom Collection was the first furniture ever commissioned and manufactured by the Hans Knoll Furniture Company. Prior to meeting Jens Risom, Hans Knoll operated as an importer and distributor of European Designs. Knowing that the war would disrupt his supply lines, Hans sought a designer to develop original Knoll Furniture that could be produced locally in New York. Simultaneously, Jens Risom was looking for a salesman to promote his work. Luckily they found each other in 1941.
The resulting furniture, which Risom described as, “very basic, very simple, inexpensive, easy to make,” was made from essentially scrap wood and discarded nylon webbing from parachute factories, because the constraints of wartime material shortages.

This stool is in very good vintage condition and marked “Fabriqué en Belgique sous licence de Knoll International”. It is a early edition. The frame is in maple wood and the webbing in 100% light blue cotton.