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.
Rare Square-ish Friso Kramer REFORM Table for Ahrend de Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare, Dutch Mid-Century, REFORM table by Friso Kramer, arguably Netherland's greatest designer of the post-war era. Designed for the acclaimed Ahrend de Cirkel company and manufactur...
Metal, Aluminum
1960s Friso Kramer Style Industrial Desk Teak Formica Top by Werzalit
By Friso Kramer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Industrial work desk attributed to the Friso Kramer style manufactured by Werzalit in Austria during the 1960s. The design features a compact cantilever frame construction in dark gr...
Metal
Mid-Century Gispen Conference Table, Enameled Steel Base, Espresso Wood
By Gispen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gispen manufactured this substantial table in 1972 during the Dutch company's peak production of commercial and institutional furnishings. The design employs a T-base pedestal constr...
Enamel
Arne Jacobsen DJOB Table: Beech Wood & Aluminum, Mid-Century Modern
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century table or writing desk designed by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen in 1971 as part of the DJOB furniture system for Denmark's National Bank. The office furniture series DJOB...
Aluminum
Friso Kramer Round "Reform" Industrial Table with White Top and Black Metal Legs
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round Industrial "Reform" table by Dutch Mid-Century Industrial design great Friso Kramer. Designed by Kramer at the beginning of his storied career in 1955 for manufacturing company...
Metal
1970s Eames Style Conference Table by Castelli
By Charles and Ray Eames, Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Conference table produced by Italian manufacturer Castelli in the 1970s, designed in the manner of the Eames Segmented Base table system. The rectangular top is finished in a light b...
Metal, Chrome
Dutch Friso Kramer Industrial 'Reform' Work Table in Metal
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, work table, lacquered steel, linoleum, aluminum, the Netherlands, 1950s. This work table is designed by Friso Kramer in the 1940s. The table feat...
Aluminum, Steel
Large 'Reform' Table by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, Netherlands, 1950s
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
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
Dining Table attributed to Alfred Hendrickx from Belform, 1960s
By Belform, Alfred Hendrickx
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 1960 / table / Alfred Hendrickx / Belform / Mid-century / Vintage Design Rectangular dining table designed by Alfred Hendrickx for Belform in the 1960s. This sleek table f...
Chrome
Wim Rietveld Mid-Century Modern Table, Metal Frame, Circa 1960
By Wim Rietveld
Located in Barcelona, ES
This table was designed by Wim Rietveld and manufactured by Ahrend de Cirkel in the Netherlands in, circa 1960. The table has a steel frame. It remains in a vintage condition, with...
Metal
Friso Kramer Reform Table Small Ahrend de Cirkel, 1963
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
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
Italian dining table, Cantù production, 1960s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian dining table, Cantù production, 1960s. Dimensions: H= 78 cm; W= 178 cm; D= 88 cm.
Brass, Iron
