The design of brutalist furniture encompasses that which is crafted, hewn and worked by hand — an aesthetic rebuke (or, at least, a counterpoint) to furniture that is created using 21st-century materials and technology. Lately, the word “brutalist” has been adopted by the realms of furniture design and the decorative arts to refer to chairs, cabinets, tables and accessory pieces such as mirror frames and lighting that are made of rougher, deeply textured metals and other materials that are the visual and palpable antithesis of the sleek, smooth and suave.
ORIGINS OF BRUTALIST FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF BRUTALIST FURNITURE DESIGN
BRUTALIST FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
VINTAGE BRUTALIST FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The term brutalism — which derives from the French word brut, meaning “raw” — was coined by architecture critic Reyner Banham to describe an architectural style that emerged in the 1950s featuring monumental buildings, usually made of unornamented concrete, whose design was meant to project an air of strength and solidity.
Le Corbusier essentially created the brutalist style; its best-known iterations in the United States are the Whitney Museum of American Art, which was designed by Marcel Breuer, and Paul Rudolph's Yale Art and Architecture Building. The severe style might have been the most criticized architectural movement of the 20th century, even if it was an honest attempt to celebrate the beauty of raw material. But while the brutalist government buildings in Washington, D.C., seemingly bask in their un-beauty, brutalist interior design and decor is much more lyrical, at times taking on a whimsical, romantic quality that its exterior counterparts lack.
Paul Evans is Exhibit A for brutalist furniture design. His Sculpture Front cabinets laced with high-relief patinated steel mounts have become collector's items nonpareil, while the chairs, coffee table and dining table in his later Cityscape series and Sculpted Bronze series for Directional Furniture are perhaps the most expressive, attention-grabbing pieces in American modern design. Other exemplary brutalist designers are Silas Seandel, the idiosyncratic New York furniture designer and sculptor whose works in metal — in particular his tables — have a kind of brawny lyricism, and Curtis Jere, a nom-de-trade for the California team of Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels, the bold makers of expressive scorched and sheared copper and brass mirror frames and wall-mounted sculptures.
Brutalist furniture and sculptures remain popular with interior designers and can lend unique, eccentric, human notes to an art and design collection in any home.
Find authentic vintage brutalist chairs, coffee tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$3,253Sale Price|20% Off
Large Spanish Sunburst Light Fixture in Wrought Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Gilt Iron Foliage Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture, Spain 1950s. Large size. This piece was entirely made by hand in hammered iron. Richly decorated with leaves in two siz...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Original metal Brutalist wall lamp Octopus by Salvino Marsura, Italy 1980s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Rare mid-century modern metal Brutalist wall lamp Octopus by Salvino Marsura, made in Italy in the 1980s. Salvino Marsura is an Italian artist born in Treviso in 1938. His career be...
Metal
Brutalist pendant lamp by Felipe Delfinger for Feders, Mexico, 1960s
By Poliarte, Longobard, Felipe Delfinger, Tiffany Studios
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist pendant lamp by Felipe Delfinger for Feders, Mexico, 1960s. Custom stained glass diffuser in blue, orange, caramel and white tones, combined with a brass structure. Crafted...
Metal, Brass
Georges Pelletier Brown Ceramic Lamp, Custom Double Silk Rattan Lampshade
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made double rattan lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfectly wit...
Ceramic
Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles Gilt Metal Sconces, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles (French, b. 1954) Pair of Gilt Metal Brutalist Wall Sconces. 78" H x 3.25" W x 7.25" D. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Metal
$1,041Sale Price / set|40% Off
Mazzega murano glass Wall lighting Brutalist Pair , 1960s
By Mazzega
Located in La xara, VC
Original Period light Original lamp from the 50s/60s in the brutalist trend. a decorative piece that will give a unique atmosphere to your interior . There are several reasons to bu...
Metal, Iron
$1,200 / set
Pair of Wall lights by Bruno Herbst Sweden 1970s
By Bruno Herbst
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of large, heavy 1970s Bruno Herbst metal and glass wall lamps. A rare model clean and simple design executed in its original lacquer metal. Heavy duty style, almost Brutalist ...
Metal
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Double Decker Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Double Decker lamp is a tall, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp is composed of a...
Brass
XL Pelletier Brown Warm Tones Ceramic Lamp, Custom Silk Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfectly with the custom m...
Ceramic
Large Brass Sconces by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Substantial Brass Wall Lamps designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Set (2) of flame-cut sun-shaped brass sconces * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sorensen * Model:...
Metal, Brass
$3,930 / item
AVRA Wall Sconce - Piccolo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Buds of warm natural alabaster – glowing harbingers of Spring after a long Winter - nestle in textured, Brutalist – inspired cast bronze frames. Custom Sizes Available. Models in t...
Alabaster, Bronze
Rare 1970s MCM János Lehoczky Artisan Brutalist Hand Wrought Steel Chandelier
By János Lehoczky, Paul Evans, Károly Bieber
Located in St. Louis, MO
Very Rare 1970s Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Iron and glass chandelier, hand forged by the hands of Hungarian blacksmith János Lehoczky. Great scale, perfect for dining room, hallway...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$5,715 / item
ALMA Ceiling Surface Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A slab of hand cut Natural Alabaster glows in the grasp of a Brutalist-inspired cast Bronze frame. Custom Sizes Available. Models in the collection are individually hand-crafted by...
Alabaster, Brass, Bronze
Harry Balmer Harold Weiss Laurel Ribbon Brutalist Table Lamp c. 1960/70's
By Laurel Lamp Company, Harry Balmer
Located in New York, NY
Classic Brutalist school table lamp designed by Harry Balmer and Harold Weiss, for the Laurel Lamp Co. circa 1960/70's. Known as the Ribbon Lamp, this piece features an exaggerated ...
Metal, Copper
Substantial Brass Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Substantial Brutalist Brass Pendant Light designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sør...
Brass
French Brutalist Brazed-Copper Table Lamp, Signed and Dated 1975
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
French brazed-copper table lamp with a strong sculptural presence, dated 1975 and bearing an indecipherable signature. The hand-worked copper reveals a deeply textured patina, typica...
Copper
Series03 Wall Sconce, "Smoke" Patinated Sculpted Brass, Goatskin Parchment Shade
Located in Ozone Park, NY
Sculpted solid brass in a "smoke" acid patinated finish, machined and mechanically fastened. Goatskin parchment shade with accordion-folded face and hand stitched edges. Hand-dyed br...
Brass
$4,645 / item
AVRA Wall Sconce - Alto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Glowing buds of natural alabaster nestle in a Brutalist-inspired solid cast bronze frame. Models in the collection are individually hand-crafted by the skilled artisans in our studi...
Alabaster, Bronze
Big murano table lamps in the style of F. Fabbian, Italy, 1970s, set of 2
By F. Fabbian
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of big table lamps from the 70s, in the style, design and manufacture of the Italian glass brand F. Fabbian. The shade is conical in two-tone Murano glass and the structure is p...
Brass
$2,725Sale Price|20% Off
Sunburst Brutalist Light Fixture in Gilt Iron with Nail Design
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Gilt Iron Sunburst Nail Design Ceiling Light Fixture France, 1940s. Wrought sunburst flush mount with spikes design in gilt iron. This stunning sunburst ceiling light sh...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Midcentury Italian Brutalist Spider Detailed Rare Green Glass Body Sconce
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Wrought iron body with detailed rare gr...
Wrought Iron
$6,591Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Sunburst Perforated Flush Mount Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s (36 in)
Located in Barcelona, ES
Monumental Brutalist Sunburst Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf XXL Sunburst light fixture with perforated holes at the central spherical plate and nail deta...
Wrought Iron, Iron, Gold Leaf
mid century brutalist style wrought iron and glass WALL LAMP sconce 1960s 1970s
Located in Mannheim, DE
Outstanding vintage brutalist style wall lamp made of black shiny lacquered wrought iron and thick clear and amber color ice glass. Around 1960s to 1970s. The lamp is in very good a...
Metal
Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Substantial Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Set (2) of large pendant lights with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: S...
Brass
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Paddle Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Paddle lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for bedside or accent lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp feat...
Brass
Alice Flushmount or Sconce in Brass with Hand Blown Sandblasted Glass Cube
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Alice collection is inspired by brutalist modular architecture. The textured hand blown glass cubes are sandblasted to create a soft glow. Available in satin brass or matte black...
Brass
Tenfold Chandelier 32inch Brushed Bronze Perforated Metal Pendant Light
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD CHANDELIER 5 TIER 24inch in Brushed Bronze by Luft Tanaka Studio Brutalism meets glam. Inspired by Brutalist architecture and Op Art, the Tenfold Series features interlockin...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Pair of Large Sculptural Iron and Glass Wall Flush Mounts Sconces, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful and large pair of sculptural iron and textured Murano glass wall lights/sconces, 1960s Lamp sockets: 1x E27 (US E26).
Iron
Brutalist Sconce by Marc Weinstein, USA 1960’s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This brutalist sconce was designed and produced by Marc Weinstein in the USA during the 1960s. Crafted from iron, this striking sconce features hourglass-shaped metal pieces that hav...
Iron
$3,583Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Multicolored Hammered Glass and Wrought Iron Sconces by Longobard, Italy
By Longobard
Located in Benalmadena, ES
An extraordinary pair of wall sconces from the renowned Italian manufacturer Longobard, iconic of the Brutalist style of the 1970s. Each sconce features a crescent shape made of wrou...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, T-Top Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The T-Top lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for bedside or accent lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The T-top lamp...
Brass
Pair of Brutalist Bronze Wall and Murano glass Sconces by Felix Agostini, 1990s
By Arlus, Felix Agostini
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of Brutalist Cast Bronze Wall Lamps, Maison Arlus Style, in the style of Felix Agostini. This pair of wall lamps is in gilded bronze. It is inspired by the bark of trees and the...
Bronze
A BRUTALIST Wild Wood RUSTIC MODERN TABLE LAMP, France 1960
By Alexandre Noll, George Nakashima, Atelier Marolles
Located in PARIS, FR
A strong and very dramatic, organic and almost zoomorphic, massive wood table lamp, made by an anonymous French artist from the 60s, using a natural...
Wood
Pair of Blue Green Ceramic Cone Table Lamps by Soholm, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The beautiful blue and green ceramics make a stunning combination with the...
Ceramic
Bunker Ceramic Lamp by Kalou Dubus, Black Stoneware, Sculptural Design
By Kalou Dubus
Located in PANTIN, FR
This sculptural lamp by French artist Kalou Dubus is part of the Bunkers series, a body of work inspired by the powerful geometry and raw presence of brutalist architecture. Handcra...
Ceramic
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Disc Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Disc lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for lighting living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp features a cylindrical base that p...
Brass
1 of the 3 Ceramic Floor Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
Set of three industrial ceramic floor table lamps, 1970s. This set brings an industrial and rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shapes, it offers a unique presenc...
Ceramic
Brutalist style Murano glass sconce , Italy, 1970s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Large Brutalist style Murano glass sconce, Italy, 1970s. Composed of several rectangular and elongated pieces of whitish translucent Murano glass, which are superimposed on top of ea...
Metal, Steel
Pair of Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps with Silk Shade Backhausen, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful pair of ceramic table lamps by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The green and brown ceramics an...
Ceramic
$2,003 / item
1 of the 3 Ceramic Brown Pendants, Denmark 1960
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the three stunning round ceramic hanging lamp with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s in Denmar...
Ceramic
Pair of Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps by Noomi Backhausen, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful pair of ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made Silk lampshade by R. Houben. With off white inner shade. The green an...
Ceramic
$420Sale Price|20% Off
Dazor UL-P 2324-26 Industrial Floating Desk Lamp. 1950s.
By Dazor
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
This is a famous floating arm lamp by Dazor. Company was founded in 1938 and made itself the name on this design for it's durability, ease of adjustment and most importantly, for str...
Steel, Metal
Mid-Century Studio Pottery Brutalist Table Lamp, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Studio Pottery Table Lamp. A brutalist design of imposing size. The lamp body is made of heavy ceramic and has a rou...
Metal
$3,800 / set
1980s Signed Brutalist Bronze Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of 1980s solid bronze Brutalist style table lamps with chrome shades. The lamps are well made and very heavy "signed and dated 1987".
Brass, Bronze, Chrome
Brutalist Wall Sconce in Gilt Iron with Nails Design, France 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Wall Sconce in Wrought Gilt Iron with Nails Design, France, 1950s. Unusual wrought iron sunburst wall sconce with gold leaf finish and pointed spikes. It has a design with ...
Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Iron, Metal
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Cubic Chandelier by Sciolari
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A sculptural Brutalist pendant light by Gaetano Sciolari, made in 1960-1970, Italy. Ice cubic shaped Murano glass shade. The geometric design is a variation of Sciolari's classic "Cu...
Chrome, Iron
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 ceramic table lamps by, Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. The warm beige tones of the base and the beige lampshade (with lovely trimming) complement each other...
Ceramic
Brutalist table lamp , France 1960s
Located in Athens, Attiki
A Unique brutalist table lamp, France, 1960s-1970s. When lit, the lamp produces a warm, diffuse light. The stem of the lamp looks like a real abstract sculpture.
Iron, Wrought Iron
1 of the 3 XL Ceramic Floor Table Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the three ceramic floor table lamps, 1970s. This set brings a rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shapes, it offers a unique presence. The bases with blue...
Ceramic
Elegant small pair of 1970's butterfly brass sconces, ( brutalist style )
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A cute small pair of 1970's butterfly brass sconces, in the brutalist style, they are thin and delicate
Brass
Marz Designs "Polaris Wall Light", Small, Tumbled Brass
By Marz Designs
Located in BYRON BAY, NSW
Drawing from Brutalist architecture and the symbolism of the North Star, Polaris is a collection that embodies both origins, by fusing geometric form and celestial illumination to cr...
Aluminum, Brass
Tenfold 5T 18inch Chandelier, Polished Nickel Pendant Light, Customizable
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD CHANDELIER 5 TIER by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking polished and perforated sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the architectural styles and ar...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
$1,450 / item
Mid-Century Modern Sconces, Italy, circa 1960
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Brutalist style sconces in clear and orange Murano glass There are one in "clear" glass and one in orange-clear galss combination available at ...
Murano Glass
Flower-Shaped Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Flower-Shaped Brutalist Brass Pendant Light designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Substantial pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: Svend Aage ...
Brass
Cereus Lamp by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
The Cereus Table Lamp is inspired by the organic, undulating forms of desert cacti, striking a balance between minimalist design and playful natural shapes. Each lamp is hand-built u...
Brass
Brutalist Round Chandelier by Felipe Derflingher "Feders"
Located in Montreal, QC
Brutalist round chandelier made with three tiers of black wrought iron and brass pieces filled with square molded rossette glass pieces in assorted lively colors, 54 pieces in all. I...
Brass, Iron
French Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass, Nail Design, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Double Layered Nail Design sunburst light fixture, milk glass, gilt iron, France, 1940s-1950s. This sunburst light fixture features a gilt iron ring with two layers of iron nails su...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Pair of Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps, Noomi Backhausen, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made embriodery lampshade by R. Houben, with bronze inner shade. The ...
Ceramic
French Sunburst Light Fixture with Nail Design in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Ceiling Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass __________________________________________________________________________ Nail Design sunburst flush mount, gilt...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the organic, undulating shapes of desert cacti, this lamp strikes a balance between minimalism and playfulness. Each lamp is hand built with a speckled clay body using...
Brass