Through both his bold furniture designs and his teaching and administrative positions within the architecture and design industries, the solution-oriented Friso Kramer helped elevate industrial design to a venerated place in the modernist canon.
While the mid-century years saw no shortage of function-minded modernists, Kramer may have been the most extreme of them. “If form does not contribute to the function, it has no right to exist,” the Dutch designer once said. Born in Amsterdam in 1922 to the pioneering architect Piet Kramer, Friso studied architecture, industrial design, electrical engineering and interior design. He cut his teeth in the studios of architect Jan Piet Kloos and interior designer Frans Paulussen, then, in 1948, went to work as a designer at the steel furniture manufacturer De Cirkel (part of the Ahrend group), where he would design some of his best-known work.
The 1953 Revolt chair, which is among his most celebrated seating and a darling of Dutch mid-century modernism, embodied Kramer’s function-first design; its skeletal, industrial form provides for maximum comfort and ergonomic support with minimal material. He joined forces with Wim Rietveld, son of celebrated Dutch modernist Gerrit Rietveld, for the 1958 Result chair, which married elements of the Revolt with forms from Rietveld’s Pyramid series. Kramer found numerous ways to riff on and perfect his brand of minimalism: The 1960 Resort and Repose armchairs demonstrate how he slightly tweaked the skeletal frames for different postures and uses.
In 1963, Kramer left Ahrend to found Total Design Studio with Wim Crouwel, Benno Wissing and Paul and Dick Schwartz. The firm grouped graphic, industrial and spatial design under one roof with the shared belief in functionalism. Though Total Design Studio is still in business today, Kramer left the company to return to Ahrend in 1971, serving as art director until 1983. Following Kramer’s death in 2019, Ahrend teamed up with Danish design brand HAY to relaunch the Result and Revolt chairs.
Find vintage Friso Kramer chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Friso Kramer Hand Signed Miniature Chair Toy Sculpture Ahrend de Cyrkel
By Friso Kramer
Located in Barcelona, ES
Friso Kramer miniature chair toy sculpture Manufactured in the Netherlands by Ahrend de Cyrkel. Scaled miniature plastic Friso Kramer Revolt chair. Comes in pieces to be assembled. ...
Plastic
Vintage Hippo Toy Sculpture by Zooline
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Hippo Toy Sculpture by Zooline. mouth opens up and has small space for coins or jewelry. missing the tail
Wood
Miniature Dog Handcast Bronze Sculpture
By Alguacil & Perkoff Ltd.
Located in London, London
Polished bronze handcast Neska Miniature Dachshund dog sculpture by Javier de la Rosa. Javier De la Rosa has created a series of bronze cast miniature sculptures that celebrate anim...
Bronze
$335 / item
H 1.97 in W 2.76 in D 1.97 in
Miniature Fox Handcast Solid Bronze Animal Sculpture by Javier de la Rosa
By Alguacil & Perkoff Ltd.
Located in London, London
Polished bronze hand cast miniature fox sculpture by artist Javier de la Rosa. Javier De la Rosa has created a series of bronze cast miniature sculptures that celebrate animals and ...
Bronze
$334 / item
H 2.76 in W 1.38 in D 1.38 in
Miniature Penguin Handcast Solid Bronze Sculpture by Javier de la Rosa
By Alguacil & Perkoff Ltd.
Located in London, London
Polished bronze hand cast miniature penguin sculpture by artist Javier de la Rosa. Javier De la Rosa has created a series of bronze cast miniature sculptures that celebrate animals ...
Bronze
$717Sale Price|40% Off
H 6 in W 6 in D 1.88 in
1970s Midcentury Interchangeable Plexiglass Artwork Paperweight Sculpture Toy
By Ron Fritts
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Unknown craftsman or artist, unsigned. In the style of Ron Fritts, similar period artist. Double-side tabletop self-standing framed artwork or toy. The ...
Plexiglass
Stylized Hand-Carved Seri Ironwood Roadrunner Sculpture Signed "LM"
Located in San Diego, CA
Hand Carved Seri Ironwood Roadrunner Sculpture Signed "LM" on the Bottom, circa 1970s. This striking sculpture is a classic example of Mid-Century Modern...
Wood
"Citron Sportscar" Miniature Porcelain Car Sculpture
By Fort Makers, Keith Simpson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Keith Simpson's miniature porcelain Ceramic Cars sculptures reflect memories of vehicles from his childhood and the 1980's. With Fort Makers, he chose colors and silhouettes of cars that are charming and magnetic, yet also somewhat humble. Keith describes them as "archetypal 1980's hand-me-downs," and says of them, "They are like the models of cars that you might inherit from your grandparents if you had your sweet 16...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$275
H 4.25 in W 8.5 in D 2.75 in
Hand-Carved African White Rhino / Rhinoceros Marble Sculpture - Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
Hand-carved African white rhino / rhinoceros sculpture, circa 1970s. The sculpture is in very good vintage condition and measures 8.5"W x 2.75"D x 4.25"H; it is signed on the undersi...
Marble
Hand made Vintage Ceramic Signed Monkey Sculpture
Located in Seattle, WA
Hand made Vintage Ceramic Signed Monkey Sculpture Rendering Abstract Art Décor Brown, White Dimensions. 6 W ; 4 1/2 D ; 4 1/2 H
Ceramic
Magnetic Kinetic Sculpture – Desk Toy, France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Magnetic Kinetic Sculpture – Desk Toy, France 1970s A captivating vintage magnetic kinetic sculpture dating from the 1970s, composed of a brushed metal magnetic base and an assortme...
Metal, Steel, Magnets
Hagenauer Pelican Miniature Sculpture Wiener Werkstatte
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Fantastic miniature pelican by Hagenauer/Wiener Werkstatte, bronze, handmade in Austria, signed.
Bronze
$6,400
H 12.25 in W 6.5 in D 10 in
Dora De Larios Signed Mexican American California Studio Pottery Sculpture
By Dora De Larios
Located in Studio City, CA
A fabulous, rare, and unique large horse and rider sculpture/ candelabra by famed Mexican American California studio art potter Dora De Larios. It was recently brought to our attention by a collector of her work that this piece was featured in a presentation at the Scripps Fine Arts Foundation and it was made in 1959. It is one of her earlier works. Quite rare and special in this respect. De Larios was born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents. She grew up in the artistic Silver Lake district near downtown Los Angeles amongst Mexican and Nisei Japanese immigrants. As a result, De Larios was heavily influenced by ancient American...
Stoneware