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.
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Adjustable Task Stool, Teak, Gray Metal Base
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Backless drafting stool designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel features a circular teak plywood seat mounted on a height-adjustable pedestal with wide four-prong star base. Th...
Metal, Enamel, Steel
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Adjustable Height Drafting Stool, Blonde Plywood
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
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 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
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
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
Adjustable-Height Stool by Toledo
By Toledo Metal Furniture Co.
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A black patinated steel adjustable-height stool with an oakwood seat and a ring footrest. Designed and manufactured by Toledo in the USA, 1930s. Adjusts from 25.5" to 28.5" H.
Steel
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 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
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
$4,376 / 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
From $2,086 / item
+ 8 moreH 44.1 in W 17.72 in D 20.87 in
Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Stool with Adjustable Height
By Marcello Zilliani, Opinion Ciatti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia Stool is a swivel stool with die-cast aluminium shell. Chrome-plated steel structure, base and footrest. Adjustable in height with gas piston. ...
Metal
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
$4,610 / 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
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Adjustable Bar Stools
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Pair available only. Fully adjustable in height from 30.5, 28.5, 26.5 and 24.5 seat heights. Swiveling freely bar stools are in amazing condition. Almost no wear. Made by the Admiral Chrome Corp from Detroit Michigan...
Steel, Chrome
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
$3,793 / 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
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
Sold
H 25 in W 13 in D 13 in
Mid-Century Friso Kramer Adjustable Height Drafting Stool, Blonde Plywood
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Friso Kramer designed this adjustable height drafting stool for Dutch manufacturer Ahrend de Cirkel during the 1960s. The circular seat employs blonde plywood construction with a war...
Metal, Enamel, Steel
Friso Kramer Adjustable Drafting Stool for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1950s
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Backless drafting stool designed by Friso Kramer for the Dutch manufacturer Ahrend de Cirkel. The round plywood seat mounts on a telescoping gray-enameled steel column with the origi...
Metal, Steel, Enamel
Sold
H 23.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
1960's Industrial Design Atelier Stool by Friso Kramer for Ahrend De Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Dutch Industrial Design Atelier Stool by Friso Kramer for Ahrend De Cirkel. Made in the Netherlands, 1950's / 60's period. Adjustable in height. Grey lacquered steel base wit...
Steel
Friso Kramer Height Adjustable Drafting Stool with Footrest
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Friso Kramer drafting stool with Birch seat. Both the seat and the foot rest are height adjustable. In original condition with visible patina including some enamel wear and ...
Steel
Industrial Design Friso Kramer Drawing, Architect Stool Ahrend de Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Industrial design drawing stool / studio stool designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel. Matches perfectly with the reply drawing tabl...
Steel
Friso Kramer Stool Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1960
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice industrial stool designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1960. It has a light grey lacquered metal frame with a plywood seat. The sto...
Metal
4 drafting stools by friso kramer for arend de cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
4 drafting stools by friso kramer for arend de cirkel
Steel
Sold
H 38.19 in W 15.36 in D 20.28 in
4 Matching Black Drafting Working Stools by Friso Kramer, Ahrend De Cirkel, 1960
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
IMPORTANT NOTE: PRICE LISTED IS FOR THE SET OF 4 ONLY TO BE SOLD AS A SET! A hard to find matching set of 4 drafting and swivelling University working stools...
Metal
Friso Kramer Stools Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1960
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice Industrial stools designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1960. We have several models of these stools in stock. All of them have a ...
Metal
Industrial Design Friso Kramer Drawing, Architect Stool Ahrend de Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Industrial design drawing stool / studio stool designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel. Matches perfectly with the reply drawing tabl...
Steel
Friso Kramer Adjustable Drafting Stool
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Backless drafting stool by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, plywood seat with small pedestal base. Adjustable height with original knob. Visible wear to the enamel and plywood. In ...
Metal
Friso Kramer Industrial Stools for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Functional and Industrial stools by Friso Kramer. The stools are adjustable in height (± 45-65 cm) and swivel. Good vintage condition with black enameled steel bases and oak seats. S...
Steel