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 Stabilux Cabinets for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1950s
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dutch Mid-Century, 1950's, gray enameled metal four compartment storage cabinet module. Designed by Dutch post-war design luminary Friso Kramer as part of the Stabilux line for Ahren...
Metal
Italian Mahogany Secretaire Cabinet, 1950s
Located in Meda, MB
Precious cabinet secretaire produced in Italy in the 1950s, The whole cabinet is veneered in mahogany with a fine solid wood carving in the center of the two doors representing two b...
Mahogany, Maple
Vintage Industrial Storage Cabinet, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
Unique vintage industrial shelf cabinet This piece will add that now so modern industrial touch to any interior. We have a second similar cab...
Metal
Milo Baughman, Cabinet, Walnut, USA, 1950s
By Milo Baughman
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut cabinet or sideboard designed by Milo Baughman and produced by Glenn of California, USA, c. 1950s. Refinished. Mild to moderate wear to exterior. Mild to heavy wear insid...
Walnut
Vintage Drinks Cabinet from Beithcraft, 1950s
By Beithcraft
Located in South Shields, GB
A mid century mahogany Beithcraft drinks cabinet or linen cabinet There's a cupboard with a mirror back and shelf, along with three drawers.
Teak, Walnut
$7,991
H 38.98 in W 50.4 in D 22.84 in
Serena Cabinet by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova 1950s Italy
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in London, London
Serena cabinet with drawers by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova Walnut A sculptural and subtly architectural cabinet designed by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in the 1950s. ...
Walnut
Bodil Kjær 1950s Rosewood 2-Drawer Cabinet
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in San Francisco, CA
designed in 1959 by Bodil Kjær to accompany her iconic ‘James Bond’ desk in a well-figured and deeply patinated rosewood; manufacrtured by E. Pedersen & Søn for Jason Møbler; fitted ...
Rosewood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Brass Hardware, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful sideboard cabinet designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, made of sandalwood with solid brass hardware. Cabinet has drawers on each side, center Lucite pull out shelf and on...
Brass
$747
H 18.51 in W 37.01 in D 13.39 in
1950s, Cabinet by Jindrich Halabala for Up Zavody, Czechoslovakia
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Praha, CZ
-Black glass plate with certain signs of use. -In good original condition.
Smoked Glass, Wood
Henredon, Cabinet, Walnut, USA, 1950s
By Henredon
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut cabinet or sideboard designed and produced by Henredon, USA, 1950s.
Walnut
Göran Malmvall cabinet, Sweden, 1950s
By Goran Malmvall
Located in Antwerpen, BE
A cabinet model 810, from the series Svensk Fur by Goran Malmvall for Karl Andersson & Soner. Pine, a pair of doors with underlying shelving and drawer fittings. Lock case and key mi...
Pine
$1,350Sale Price|60% Off
H 39.38 in W 53.55 in D 17.72 in
Midcentury French Modernist Cabinet Vaisselier, 1950s
Located in Paris, IDF
Warm light brown oak and rich copper form a beautiful color palette in this cabinet vaisselier from the 1950s. On the front and top of the cabinet, the oak displays a striped lightwood/dark wood pattern that feels fun and very much of the era, while the recessed portions of the oak appear to shift into burnt orange for a subtle injection of natural color. Opening the door at the front of the cabinet, a series of small drawers are revealed for hidden storage and organization; the left side of the cabinet is formed by transparent glass, ideal for stowing decorative items or glassware, as well as giving the piece a sense of being filled with light. Though it was created by an unknown French craftsman, this piece is reminiscent of avant-garde designer Jean Royere’s work. Place it in your living room for a unique midcentury French modernist...
Copper
French Designer, Cabinets, Wood, France, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of white and blue-lacquered wood cabinets or sideboards designed and produced in France, c. 1950s. Moderate to heavy wear with imperfections on side panels and door faces. I...
Wood
Friso Kramer Stabilux Cabinets for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1950s
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dutch Mid-Century, 1950's, gray enameled metal four compartment storage cabinet module. Designed by Dutch post-war design luminary Friso Kramer as part of the Stabilux line for Ahren...
Metal
Friso Kramer Euroika Night Cabinets Auping, 1963
By Friso Kramer, Auping
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very rare and beautiful pair of night cabinets designed by Friso Kramer for Auping, Holland 1963. These cabinets are from the Euroika series designed by Kramer in 1963. The Euroika series had a Bed, bed cabinets, table, chair, mirror and a toilet cabinet...
Metal
Sold
H 55.12 in W 40.16 in L 55.12 in
Friso Kramer Stabilux Cabinet Ahrend de Cirkel The Netherlands, 1955
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Industrial and rare Stabilux cabinet designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1960. This very nice symmetric cabinet is made of lacquered metal and has several ...
Metal
Friso Kramer "Euroika" Series Medicine Cabinets for Auping
By Auping, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare midcentury wall mount medicine cabinet. Two available, slightly different wood colors. A= Reddish and B=Teak both have plexiglass do...
Plexiglass, Teak, Glass
Friso Kramer Euroika Vanity Set Auping, 1963
By Friso Kramer, Auping
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare vanity set from the Euroika series designed by Friso Kramer for Auping, Holland, 1963. This set contains a vanity mirror and storage cabinet. Both have a teak plywood casing and...
Glass, Teak, Plywood