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 "Reform" Industrial Dining or Work Table
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sleek, Mid-Century, Reform table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend Circle in 1955. Industrial enameled gray metal frame with faux teak wood Formica top...
Metal
Original Large Friso Kramer "Reform" Table with Black Linoleum Top and Gray Legs
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare original Friso Kramer 'Reform' conference or dining table for Ahrend de Cirkel with gray enameled metal frame and black linoleum top and aluminum trim. In original condition wit...
Aluminum, Metal
Large 'Reform' Table by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands, 1950s
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Steenwijk, NL
The famous 'Reform' table was designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel in 1955. This table is a true Dutch design in a very nice condition. At the mark on the solid metal frame ...
Metal, Aluminum
Friso Kramer for Ahrend De Cirkel Dining Table or Desk in Grey
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, table, lacquered steel, melamine-coated wood, aluminum, The Netherlands, design 1955 Designed by Dutch designer Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel ...
Aluminum, Steel
Fine Pieced Burl Top Dining/ Work Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A beautifully constructed table with an artistically conceived piece-work top in deep toned Burl Wood veneers. The top is plank-constructed in different dark wood grains of different...
Wood
Coast Table Square, Minimalist Dining Table or Desk
By Sun at Six
Located in San Jose, CA
The square version of the Coast Table – we’ve tried to create a quiet, humble table, with the beauty in its details. With this piece, we tried to emphasize the quality and character ...
Oak
$9,104Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.71 in W 86.62 in D 43.31 in
Black Dining Table Eco-shagreen top and brass legs handcrafted by Cupioli
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
Black Dining Table Eco-shagreen top and brass legs Handcrafted by Cupioli. Dining Table black scagliola shagreen top casted brass legs handmade in Italy This is a sophisticated dini...
Brass
1950s Wim Rietveld Friso Kramer Reply Drafting Table Ahrend de Cirkel
By Wim Rietveld, Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Wim Rietveld 'Reply' drafting table with rare side tray. The hinging mechanism was a collaborative design with Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel in 1958. Adjust...
Metal
70's Tobacco Leaf Dining Table or Desk
By Milo Baughman, Aldo Tura
Located in Miami, FL
Textural, organic, and terribly chic. This 70's dining table or desk is sheathed in tobacco leaves and given a acrylic finish to complement its sleek simplicity.
Acrylic, Wood
$49,500
H 28.35 in W 102.37 in D 51.19 in
Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper 'Eros' Large Oval dining table or Executive Desk.
By Skipper, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Almelo, NL
Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper 'Eros' Large Oval dining table or executive desk In black Marquina Marble, Italy, 1970s. This impressive sculpt...
Marble
$2,450
H 30 in W 78.75 in D 39.375 in
Mid-Century Executive Desk by Friso Kramer & Coen de Vries, 1950s
By Friso Kramer, EEKA, Coen de Vries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking example of Dutch mid-century modern design, this executive desk was designed by Friso Kramer and Coen de Vries for EEKA (Eindhovense Eisen- en Kantoorartikelenfabriek) in ...
Steel
Industrial Swing-Out-Seat Outdoor Dining Table
By Get Back, Inc.
Located in Oakville, CT
The get back outdoor industrial dining table. Taking our swing out seats a step beyond their usual bar and kitchen counter duties, Tim Byrne, founder of...
Steel, Iron
19th Century Pine Lancashire Mill Dining Table
Located in Staffordshire, GB
19th century pine Lancashire Mill table Original finish in reclaimed condition with great color, wear & patination. Fantastic proportions with elegant narrow legs and stretcher ...
Pine
Bespoke English Oak Dining Table by Jonathan Field.
By Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
English oak dining table commissioned for a private client's lakeside house in the Cotswolds, England. Made from several slabs of live edge oa...
Oak
$1,896Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.71 in W 47.25 in D 24.41 in
Dutch Industrial Design Desk by Wim Rietveld for Ahrend De Cirkel, 1960's
By Wim Rietveld
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Dutch Industrial Design Desk by Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer for Ahrend De Cirkel. Made in the Netherlands, late 1950's, early 1960's. A RARE and hard to find des...
Metal, Steel
$1,196Sale Price|30% Off
H 30.71 in W 83.86 in D 24.81 in
Table with Royal heritage 1910s Large Kitchen Table or retail Shop Display
Located in Markington, GB
Industrial fabric cutting table we bought this out of the Windsor of Woollies knitwear mill, they made fabrics for the European royal families. Thi...
Wood
Friso Kramer Small Facet Table for Ahrend de Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage “Facet” table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands, 1970s. Dutch utilitarian design, this model features an almond-colored laminate top with distinctive...
Metal
Friso Kramer 'Facet' Table for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1970s
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A handsome Friso Kramer 'Facet' table, designed for the renowned Dutch furniture maker Ahrend de Cirkel in the 1970s. The table features a durable almond laminate top and a sturdy br...
Metal
Sold
H 29.5 in W 39.5 in D 27.75 in
Small Mid-Century Friso Kramer Black and Gray 'Reform' Dining Table or Desk
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare original small sized Friso Kramer "Reform" dining table or desk with black enameled metal frame and charcoal gray linoleum top. Some scratching and markings on the top. Wear is ...
Metal
Friso Kramer Reform table Ahrend de Cirkel The Netherlands 1955
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice industrial “Reform” table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1955. The Reform series contained a lot of variety of tables in different sizes and...
Metal, Aluminum
Friso Kramer Reform Working Table Ahrend de Cirkel 1955
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice medium and rare sized Industrial 'Reform' table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1955. This dining table was a part of the Reform table program that was designed by Friso Kramer in 1955. The Reform series contained a lot of variety of tables in different sizes and editions to the client’s needs. One thing was always the same, the structure of the base, applied in several different sized and shaped tables. This base was a folded metal frame which was light but also very strong. The tops varied from hardcore, linoleum, Formica and wood. Whatever the client wanted. This has a rectangular shaped top, finished with dark grey linoleum and an aluminum edge. The table has a grey painted frame in good condition with normal wear and losses. This table comes from TH Delft...
Metal, Aluminum
Sold
H 29.73 in Dm 47.45 in
Friso Kramer Early Edition Revolt Chairs + Rare Matching Round Reform Table 1953
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
4 Revolt chairs and a matching round Reform table by Dutch designer Friso Kramer for Ahrend De Cirkel Friso Kramer is considered as the Dutch Jean Prouve and made his design for t...
Aluminum, Sheet Metal
Friso Kramer Industrial "FACET" Table or Desk
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury Friso Kramer "FACET" work or dining table. Cream Formica top with brown enameled metal frame in original condition with visible wear, scratching and small chipping of top....
Metal
Sold
H 27.17 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Friso Kramer Round Dining Table Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1965
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Super rare dining table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, the Netherlands, 1965. This table is from the Eindhoven University of Technology. Very nicely shaped table with...
Metal
Sold
H 29.53 in W 39.38 in D 39.38 in
Friso Kramer Reform Dining Table Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands, 1955
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice industrial Reform dining table designed by Friso Kramer and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel, The Netherlands 1955. This round version is hard to find. It has light grey fe...
Aluminum, Metal
Friso Kramer Reform Table Ahrend de Cirkel, 1955
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice medium sized industrial dining or working table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1955. This dining table was a part of the Reform table program that was de...
Metal, Aluminum
Friso Kramer Reform table Ahrend de Cirkel, 1955
By Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice medium dining or working table designed by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Holland 1955. This table has a very nice light grey formica top and a black frame, we always h...
Metal, Aluminum
Sold
H 29.14 in W 27.56 in D 39.38 in
Friso Kramer, Mid Century Modern, Metal and Linoleum Reform Table, circa 1950
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table, model reform, designed by Friso Kramer, circa 1950. Manufactured by De Cirkel (Netherlands) Enamelled folded sheet metal frame in excellent original condition. Winner of ...
Metal