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 Couchette Daybed for Auping, Enameled Metal & Wood, 1965
By Friso Kramer, Auping
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Friso Kramer 'Couchette' daybed for Auping, 1965. Frame is original condition, mattress and cushions newly upholstered. Frame has visible wear, consi...
Metal
Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Friso Kramer 'Result' Chairs, 1960
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 Mid-Century Friso Kramer 'Result' chairs with molded teak plywood seat and back rests. Designed by renowned Dutch designer Friso Kramer while at Ahrend de Cirkel, these ligh...
Metal
$995 / set
HAY Result Chair Blue (2 Pack)
By Friso Kramer
Located in Commerce, CA
Regular retail $995 a set Designed by Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld in the 1950s, the Result Chair by HAY features a thin steel-sheet base with an oak-based seat and backrest with ...
Metal
Friso Kramer Revolt Chairs for Ahrend de Cirkel 1963
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super nice and scarce set 6 Revolt chairs designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1953. Though the Revolt chair was already designed in 1953, the production started in...
Metal
S201 Dining Chair by Ynske Kooistra for Marko, Good Quantities Available
By Friso Kramer
Located in Hook, Hampshire
S201 dining chair by Ynske Kooistra for Marko, good quantity available. The Classic Dutch compass leg chair was perhaps originally created by Prouve who...
Laminate
Friso Kramer Revolt chairs wood for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1963
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super nice set of eight revolt dining chairs designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland, 1953. Though the Revolt chair was already designed in 1953, the production starte...
Metal
Result Chair by Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1958
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel, Wim Rietveld
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
The industrial Result chair Result was designed by Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld for Ahrend de Cirkel in 1958. This chair is from the first series. It has a grey sheet steel frame an...
Steel
Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern Chairs "Revolt" by Friso Kramer for Ahrend
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Doornspijk, NL
The Revolt chair was designed by Friso Kramer in 1953 and has since become an icon of Dutch Design. The chairs used to be omnipresent in government buildings and universities. Nowada...
Steel
'Revolt' Chair by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1953
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Steenwijk, NL
The 'Revolt' chair was designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel. An award winning design that has become an icon of Dutch industrial design from the 1950s. The chair has a folde...
Metal
Rare Set of ‘Ariadne’ Fauteuils by Dutch Designer Friso Kramer for Auping
By Friso Kramer
Located in Beerse, VAN
Rare set of ‘Ariadne’ easy chairs designed by the Dutch Industrial designer Friso Kramer. Kramer designed the ‘Ariadne’ serie for Auping in 1954, but unfortunately we don’t know unti...
Faux Leather
$9,600Sale Price / set|40% Off
Extremely Rare Set of 8 Friso Kramer 'theatre' Chairs with Fold Up Seats
By Friso Kramer
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
In 1959 Friso Kramer transformed his 1953 Revolt chair into his absolute masterpiece, the 'theatre" chair, a Revolt chair that was linkable, stackable with a fold up seat for use mai...
Steel
Pair of Friso Kramer 'Repose' Leather Lounge Chairs Ahrend de Cirkel, 1960
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Note: These chairs are currently part of the "From the Guggenheim Museum to the Cobra Museum" exhibition in Amstelveen. A very comfortable easy chair by Friso Kramer designed in 1...
Metal, Sheet Metal
Friso Kramer Repose Chair Ahrend de Cirkel Holland 1959
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice industrial 'Repose' easy chair designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1959. The chair has a very nice compass shaped frame with metal structure, ...
Metal
$12,053 / set
Set of six rare Friso Kramer Revolt theater chairs
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A stunning set of folding and stackable Revolt chairs by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel. This exceptionally rare set was designed in 1953 and produced for only four years. The des...
Metal
1960's Set of Four Grey Velvet Friso Kramer 'Result' Chairs for Ahrend de Cirkel
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4, Mid-Century, grey velvet Friso Kramer designed 'Result' chairs. Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld designed the chair while working at Ahrend. Because the chair is light and stu...
Metal
$497Sale Price / set|50% Off
HAY Result Chair Blue (2 Pack)
By Friso Kramer
Located in Commerce, CA
Regular retail $995 a set Designed by Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld in the 1950s, the Result Chair by HAY features a thin steel-sheet base with an oak-based seat and backrest with ...
Metal
Friso Kramer Revolt chairs Ahrend duo tone Netherlands 1953
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This set of four rare duo-tone Revolt chairs, designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel in Holland in 1953, is a fine example of Dutch industrial design. Although the Revolt chai...
Metal
Model 'Repose' Armchair by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands, 1965
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This is a great find as this chair is in a very good and original condition. Some signs of age that endorse the Industrial Design. These signs are mainly some paint loss to edges due...
Metal
Set of 6 Revolt Chairs by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands, 1956
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Steenwijk, NL
The 'Revolt' chair was designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel. An award winning design that has become an icon of Dutch industrial design from the 1950's. This solid chair has...
Metal
Set of Six Adjustable Architect Stools Designed by Friso Kramer
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Antwerp, BE
Adjustable and swivel Industrial architect stools with seats are made in plywood, the base in gray lacquered metal.-The height is adjustable from 55 cm...
Metal
Friso Kramer Industrial Rationalist Metal and Laminated Wood Result Chair, 1953
By Friso Kramer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair model result, designed by Friso Kramer in 1953. Manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel (Netherlands) in 1953. Profiled sheet lacquered metal, wood seat and back. First edition in gr...
Metal
Set of Six Early Edition Red Friso Kramer Revolt Chairs with Black Frames
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Originally designed in 1953 by possibly the greatest of all Dutch Mid-Century designers, Friso Kramer, and created for renowned furniture maker Ahrend de Cirkel The Revolt was intend...
Steel
Friso Kramer Revolt chairs teak The Netherlands 1960
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super nice set of 6 original Revolt dining chairs designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1953. Though the Revolt chair was already designed in...
Metal
Reupholstered 3-Seater Sofa by Tjerk Reijenga and Friso Kramer for Pilastro
By Tjerk Reijenga, Pilastro, Friso Kramer
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This rare 3-seater sofa is a combination of designs by Tjerk Reijenga and Friso Kramer, produced by Pilastro in 1965. The seat was designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel 1959 ...
Metal
$4,158 / set
Friso Kramer Result Chairs Set Birch Ahrend 1965
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice iconic and rare set of 6 early Result chairs with birch plywood seats and backs. Designed for Ahrend de Cirkel in 1958 and these specific chairs were manufactured in 1965. The R...
Metal
pair Ahrend de Cirkel Stools Design Friso Kramer 1950s Holland
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Den Haag, NL
very nice set of Industrial Stools . repainted . looking great . 1950s Holland .indestructible Design by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel
Metal
1969 Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel Repose Lounge Armchair Green Upholstery
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Metal
Friso Kramer ‘Revolt’ Chair in Matte Red Lacquered Ciranol and Metal
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Friso Kramer for Cirkel Ahrend, chair, ciranol, metal, The Netherlands, design 1953 This chair named ‘Revolt’ is designed by the Dutch designer Friso Kramer (1922-2019) that receive...
Metal
Friso Kramer Revolt Chairs Set 1953 Black Blue Liver Colors
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice set of six Revolt chairs designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1953. Though the Revolt chair was already designed in 1953, the production started in 1958. The c...
Metal
Friso Kramer Revolt Folding Chair for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1953
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare Revolt folding chair designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1953. Though the Revolt chair was already designed in 1953, the production started in 1958. The chair...
Metal
Friso Kramer Revolt for Th Delft by Ahrend de Cirkel, 1958
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare first production Revolt chair designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1953. This chair was made for the TH delft who commissioned Friso Kramer and Ahrend to decorate the new interior. These famous TH delft chairs...
Metal
Friso Kramer Revolt for TH Delft by Ahrend de Cirkel 1958 Arms
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare first production Revolt armchair designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland, 1953. This chair was made for the TH Delft who commissioned Friso Kramer and Ahrend to decorate the new interior. These famous TH Delft chairs...
Metal
Friso Kramer "Repose" Armchair in Shades of Gray with New Upholstery, 1960
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing Mid-Century "Repose" lounge chair by Dutch design great Friso Kramer. Chair is outfitted with an enameled metal frame, matching Skai arms and is newly upholstered in grey fa...
Metal