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.
Set of Six Adjustable Architect Stools Designed by Friso Kramer
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
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
Set of Three Italian Brass Chiavari Round Stools
By Fratelli Levaggi/Guiseppe Gaetano Descalzi
Located in Hanover, MA
Extremely rare set of three round brass Chiavari stools, made in Italy, circa 1960. Four legs with flared tapered legs around an upper and lower brass ring. Fitted round seat upholst...
Brass
Set of 2 White EMSA Stool, Germany, 1960s
By Emsa Germany
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Space Age style plastic stool was made in Germany by EMSA around the 1960s-1970s. The futuristic shape is tapered and aerodynamic, with a tulip foot and an off-white color. This orig...
Plastic
$465 / set
H 14.97 in W 21.66 in D 13.78 in
Set of Two Faux Leather Brown Vintage Stools, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s. Beautiful brown high quality faux leather. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic o...
Fabric
Set of Two Mustard Yellow Stools, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful mustard velor upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristi...
Velvet, Wood
Levantine Mother of Pearl Inlaid Stools, Set of Four
Located in El Monte, CA
A set of four levantine mother of pearl inlay stools with carved wooden sides and legs. Curved seat frame on four turned legs united by stret...
Mother-of-Pearl, Rope, Wood
$495
H 23 in W 15.25 in D 13.25 in
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Adjustable Height Drafting Stool, Blonde Plywood
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Backless drafting stool designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel features blonde plywood seat mounted on enameled metal pedestal base. Height adjusts from 16 to 23 inches via or...
Metal, Enamel
Set of Two Camel Boucle Vintage Stools, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s. The stools consist of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. Stools were designed b...
Fabric
Set of Two Petrol Blue Vintage Stools, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s. Beautiful petrol blue high quality velvet upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, chara...
Fabric
$1,326Sale Price / set|26% Off
H 41.34 in W 21.26 in D 21.26 in
Contemporary set of 2 stools by Studio Tecnico Interna8, Wood Fabric
By Interna8
Located in Pordenone, IT
Stool in solid beech wood. Seat with webbing and plywood frame padded with elastic expanded polyurethane. This listing is for 2 stools.
Wood
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Adjustable Drafting Stool, Blonde Plywood
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Backless drafting stool designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel features a circular blonde plywood seat mounted on an adjustable height mechanism with tripod base. The design e...
Metal, Enamel, Steel
Set of Two Light Beige Stools, Europe, 1960s
By Rajmund Hałas
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful light beige upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic ...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
$1,013
H 19.69 in W 16.15 in D 16.15 in
Early Dutch Industrial Stool Attributed to Friso Kramer, Ahrend De Cirkel, 1950s
By Friso Kramer
Located in Balen, BE
Industrial stool attributed to Friso Kramer for Ahrend De Cirkel, The Netherlands, circa 1950s. A refined example of Dutch post-war functionalist design, featuring a black lacquered...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 43.5 in W 15.5 in D 22.5 in
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Drafting Stool, Birch Plywood, Gray Enameled Metal
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Friso Kramer drafting stool designed for Ahrend de Cirkel represents Dutch functionalist design at its finest. The stool features molded birch plywood seat and back paired with ...
Metal, Enamel, Steel