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 "Rotunda" Black Metal and Glass Coffee Table by Ahrend de Cirkel
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare "Rotunda" coffee table by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel. Black enameled metal base with magazine shelf and glass top. In good original condition with some signs of wear to f...
Metal
Round Black Metal 1960s Italian Side Table with Glass Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round black metal Italian side table from the 1960s with thick glass top.
Metal
Black Metal Side Table, by Marco Zito, Made in Italy
By Michael Schmidt
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (1.8) Free standing side table in mat black metal. This black metal side table...
Metal
$700Sale Price|20% Off
H 20 in W 18 in D 18 in
Black Metal Mid Century Post Modern Perfect End Table MCM
Located in Basel, BS
A very excellent accent design piece. This metal, black magazine holder end table would look great in a Modern or Mid-Century decor. It features a gorgeous sculptural design, and doe...
Metal
$1,600
H 20 in W 24 in D 24 in
Mid-Century Modern Plaster Rock and Glass Square Side Table Table by Sirmos
By Sirmos
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sculptural faux rock formation table made by Sirmos in the 1970s. It features a plaster molded rock formation base with a clear glass top.
Glass, Plaster
$1,900 / set
H 18 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Max Sauze Isoceles Pair of Black Metal and Glass Side or Coffee Tables, France
By Max Sauze
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Max Sauze Isoceles black metal and glass side, end tables or coffee tables for Attro France. Circa 1970. The geometric shape gives the name to the tables. Very graphic in d...
Metal
Alpha Table by Hans Eichenberger, Chrome and Glass
By Hans Eichenberger
Located in Raleigh, NC
Frosted glass and chrome side table with unique three-legged base. A wonderful mid-century example from Hans Eichenberger.
Chrome
Glass Top Metal Side Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Round glass top table with metal spiral base. Base has been redone in a bare metal style finish. (Please confirm item location NY or NJ with dealer).
Vintage Brass and Glass Side Table by Maison Raphael
Located in Austin, TX
Vintage side table in solid gilt brass with two glass shelves by Maison Raphael.
Brass
Friso Kramer Reform Table Small Ahrend de Cirkel, 1963
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice small 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 white formica 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
Friso Kramer University Coffeetable Ahrend De Cirkel The Netherlands
By Friso Kramer
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Note: this table is currently part of the ''From the Guggenheim Museum to the Cobra Museum'' exhibition in Amstelveen, The Netherlands A rare round coffeetable by Dutch industrial d...
$1,630
H 29.53 in W 51.19 in D 35.44 in
XL Dutch Reply Architect Drafting Table Friso Kramer, Wim Rietveld Ahrend, 1959
By Friso Kramer, Wim Rietveld, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Wim Rietveld & Friso Kramer Drafting Table for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1959 **The Netherlands** A rare and highly sought-after Dutch modernist drafting table designed by Wim Rietvel...
Steel
Pair of Campaign Style Side Tables in Metal and Black Glass
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Campaign style side tables in nickel and brass with black glass inset in the top.
Metal