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.
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
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
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
$2,824 / set
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 11.82 in
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
$4,412 / set
H 31.89 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Set of 6 Revolt Chairs by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands, 1956
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
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
$4,647 / set
H 30.32 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
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
$3,524 / set
H 31.5 in W 18.71 in D 21.26 in
Set of Four Pyramid Chairs Designed by Wim Rietveld for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1963
By Wim Rietveld, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Set of four famous ''Pyramid'' chairs Designed by Dutch designer Wim Rietveld for Ahrend de Cirkel in 1963. These Pyramid chairs have a grey/blue Petrol colored frame and light woode...
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
$7,031
H 24.81 in W 33.08 in D 26.78 in
Pierre Paulin Model F598 Groovy Armchair for Artifort Netherlands, 1972
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
Fantastic F598 armchair, also called Groovy, by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands 1972. This sculptural armchair has been recently reupholstered with lovely and high quality Pierre Frey wool and alpaca blend fabric from Paris, France. Like all iconic...
Metal
$2,229
H 31.11 in W 68.9 in D 24.41 in
Ahrend/ De Cirkel no. 600 Museum Bench by Bas Puyser, 1990s, Rijksmuseum
By Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in CULEMBORG, GE
Born in 1950 and educated at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, Bas Pruyser designed school furniture and ranges of tables and chairs for Dutch manufacturer Ahrend. Funnily, Pruyser drew his biggest succes from his designs for the waste management group Bammens. His work included the design of the iconic yellow waste...
Metal
$1,650
H 28.75 in W 76.5 in D 37 in
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Inspired Dutch Teak Daybed with New Grey Mattress
By Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Friso Kramer inspired Dutch teak single bed or daybed with grey enameled metal frame, inset teak panels and custom dove grey mattress. The mattress frame hooks into the end panels, m...
Metal
$1,647 / set
H 32.09 in W 18.31 in D 16.74 in
Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern Chairs "Revolt" by Friso Kramer for Ahrend
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
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
Industrial Stool Attributed to Friso Kramer
By Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The stool features a sturdy metal frame in a sleek and minimalist design, typical of mid-century industrial furniture. The swivel mechanism allows for easy movement and adjustability...
Metal
$9,600Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 31.11 in W 18.12 in D 18.9 in
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
$3,809 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
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
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
Sold
H 31.89 in W 23.63 in D 19.3 in
Chair 4050, calles Revolt Chair by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1954
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
one of our favourite designs is probably the most famous chair by the dutch designer friso kramer: chair 4060, called „revolt“, produced by ahrend-decirkel, presented for the first t...
Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 26.78 in D 20.48 in
Friso Kramer Resort desk chair Ahrend de Cirkel The Netherlands 1970
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice and rare industrial Resort armchair designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1960. The chair has a light grey lacquered metal frame wi...
Metal
Rare Set Pagholz Armchairs Friso Kramer
By Friso Kramer
Located in BE
Rare Set Pagholz Armchairs Friso Kramer Rare Dutch set of "Pagholz" chairs. These chairs are quite rare and don't come on the market in set very much. They were designed by Friso Kramer and Jaap...
Wood
Friso Kramer Repose Chairs Pair Ahrend de Cirkel, 1959
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice pair of so called 'Repose' easy chairs designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1959. These chairs have a very nice compass shaped frame with metal...
Metal
Friso Kramer Repose chairs Ahrend de Cirkel, 1959
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Important pair of modernist easy chairs model Repose, designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1959. The chairs have a very nice v shaped black painted ...
Metal
Sold
H 33.08 in W 25.99 in D 22.05 in
Friso Kramer Resort Armchair Ahrend de Cirkel the Netherlands, 1960
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Industrial Resort armchair designed by Friso Kramer, manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1960. The chair has a grey lacquered metal frame with V structure legs. The sea...
Metal
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H 32.29 in W 29.53 in D 26.38 in
Friso Kramer Mid-Century Modern Green Upholstered Repose Fauteuil, 1969
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Fauteuil, model Repose, designed by Friso Kramer in 1960. Manufactured by De Cirkel (Netherlands) the 9th of January of 1969. Enameled folded sheet metal frame with upholstered arm...
Metal
Friso Kramer "Resort" Office Desk Chair
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Friso Kramer 'Resort' black enameled metal frame and red upholstery. In very original condition with visible wear and patina consistent with it's age and use.
Metal
Friso Kramer Resort Armchair Set Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland, 1960
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic set of 6 Resport armchairs designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland, 1960, The chairs have a grey painted metal frame and have rare brown viny...
Metal
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H 33.08 in W 25.99 in L 33.08 in
Friso Kramer Resort armchair Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1960
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Industrial Resort armchair designed by Friso Kramer, manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1960. The chair has a grey lacquered metal frame with V structure legs. The se...
Metal
Sold
H 31.5 in W 19.69 in D 23.63 in
Rare Friso Kramer Revolt arm chair Delft University 1959 Ahrend De Circel
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Rare Friso Kramer Revolt arm chair Delft University 1959
Steel