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.
Gianfranco Frattini coffee table Cassina Italy 1960
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful coffee table designed by Gianfranco Frattini and manufactured by Cassina in Italy in 1960. Made from rich walnut wood, the table has a warmth and timeless appeal. The addit...
Brass
Yngvar Sandstrom Coffee Table by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1955
By Yngvar Sandström, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning crafted coffee table designed by Yngvar Sandstrom and manufactured by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1955. The table is beautifully crafted with solid beech and solid teak woode...
Birch, Teak
Alfred Hendrickx Style Coffee Table, Belgium, 1958
By Alfred Hendrickx
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice Belgian coffee table with black lacquered wooden legs, brass connected frame and a triangular glass top. This was from the end of the 1950s for sure but we don't know the m...
Brass
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
Fons Vermeulen coffee table Lomm Netherlands 1982
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A rare and symmetrical coffee table designed by Fons Vermeulen for a private residence, Lomm, The Netherlands, 1982. This remarkable square coffee table is a true masterpiece of Boss...
Copper
Tapio Wirkkala 9020 coffee table by Asko Finland 1958
By Asko, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
The coffee table Model 9020, designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Asko in Finland in 1958, is an exemplary piece of Scandinavian modern design. Renowned for its simplicity,...
Glass, Oak
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...
Piet Hein & Arne Jacobsen Round Coffee Table, Danish Design, 1960s
By Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen, Piet Hein
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Piet Hein & Arne Jacobsen coffee table with white laminate. six star base of aluminium and steel. Made by Fritz Hansen.
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Piet Hein & Arne Jacobsen Round Coffee Table, Danish Design, 1960s
By Piet Hein, Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Piet Hein & Arne Jacobsen coffee table with new laquered white top. six star base of aluminium and steel. Made by Fritz Hansen.
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Arne Jacobsen Round Coffee Table in Oak Coffee Table Danish Mid-Century
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Superb minimalist coffee or coctail table designed by table Arne Jacobsen in the late 1950's as a companion to his famous Egg and Swan chairs. This table made by Fritz Hansen with an...
Aluminum
Friso Kramer "Rotunda" Coffee Table for Ahrend de Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Rotunda coffee table by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel features a round clear glass top supported by four slender black enameled metal legs with a matching circular lower shel...
Metal, Enamel
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Round Coffee Table, Danish Design, 1960s
By Fritz Hansen, Piet Hein, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson coffee table with new laquered white top. Chromed Bruno mathsson legs. Made by Fritz Hansen.
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
