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.
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze "Stalagmite" Coffee Table, Signed brutalist MCM
By Paul Evans
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Paul Evans designed Pe-71 coffee table Stunning designer collectors piece that's in great original condition. The glass top has surface scratches . Dim: 42" D x 16" H
Metal
Tom Greene Brutalist Cocktail Table - Vintage Torch Cut Brass Round Coffee Table
By Paul Evans, Tom Greene
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage Tom Greene Brutalist style cocktail table, circa 1970s. Torch cut brass brass base with glass top. Base is in excellent condition with no flaws of note. Glass top shows minor...
Metal, Brass
Sculptural Side Table, Rustic, Burnt Black Wood, Carved, Handmade, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
This commanding functional sculpture is hand-carved from a single, massive hardwood log. It features a substantial, thick circular top supported by heavy legs that have been hand-hew...
Wood
Freestanding Desk in Oak by Henning Kjærnulf, Danish Mid Century Modern, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant freestanding writing desk designed by Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf in the 1950s. Crafted in rich oak, the piece showcases a tactile warmth through its finely grained s...
Brass
Handcrafted Dining Table in Solid Warm Brown European Oak, Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra table is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city devel...
Oak, Walnut
Oak Frame Coffee Table with Slate Inset, France 1970s
Located in Berlin, DE
This brutalist coffee table combines a circular slate inset with a solid wood frame, creating a striking contrast between textured stone and warm wood. Its clear geometry and careful...
Slate
Free Form Organic Designer Coffee Table In Aged Plaster Finish
Located in NEW YORK, NY
A contemporary addition to your living space, this piece radiates the beauty of nature and serves a practical purpose. The coffee table features a captivating organic shape that draw...
Marble
Japanese Antique Brutalist Side Table 1860s-1900s / Coffee Table Wabisabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese Brutalist side table. It is composed of materials that were originally used during the Meiji period (1860s–1900s), and it po...
Wood
Large Oval Dining Table - Solid European Oak - Aperta Capsule
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Aperta is inspired by the mystery and attraction of light and space breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures. The objects feature a precise slit, creating a sense of...
Oak, Walnut
German Brutalist Oak Dining Table with Butterfly Leaf
Located in Lutz, FL
Vintage Oak Brutalist Dining Table circa 1970’s, in the style of Guillerme et Chambron, Maker Unknown. Purchased by original owner in Mainz-Kastel Germany in the 1970’s during his de...
Oak
In Stock - STOR Dining Table Stained Solid Ash - 123"x49"
Located in Calgary, AB
Oversized turned legs and exposed joinery make a bold statement. The exposed end-grain joint is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, a detail that visibly confirms solid wood ...
Ash
Danish Oak Two-Sided Desk Attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, 1970s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Kai Lyngfeldt Larsen
Located in Round Top, TX
Danish oak two-sided desk attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, circa 1970s. This beautifully crafted piece exemplifies the refined simplicity and enduring quality of mid-century Danish de...
Brass
Vintage 1960s Brutalist Round Solid Natural Oak Dutch Coffee Table
Located in Casteren, NL
This round coffee table was made in the Netherlands in the 1960s and stands as a strong example of post-war artisanal furniture design, in which material and construction are the pri...
Oak
Vintage Brutalist Oak Dining Set, Extension Table and 6 Chairs
Located in Lutz, FL
Vintage Oak Brutalist Dining Set circa 1970’s, in the style of Guillerme et Chambron, Maker Unknown. Purchased by original owner in Mainz-Kastel Germany in the 1970’s during his depl...
Oak
Rustic solid oak coffee table with a one piece top, France 1950s
By Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina, Axel Vervoordt
Located in ECHT, NL
Rustic wabi sabi coffee table. Made in France in the 1950s. Made from solid oak. What makes this table special is that the top is a single slab of natural shaped oak. It has an amazi...
Oak
Luciano Frigerio 1928-1999 Brutalist Bronze Round Coffee Table circa 1975
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Luciano Frigerio 1928-1999 Brutalist Bronze Round Coffee Table circa 1975 Sculptural winged bronze round table with clear cut glass top The table base is made of three bronze butter...
Bronze, Copper
Large Solid dark Oak Rustic Artisan Round Coffee Table, France, 1960s
By Pierre Chapo, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Den Haag, NL
Large Solid dark Oak Rustic Artisan Round Coffee Table, France, 1960s
Oak
Warm Brown Oak Brutalist Dining Table - Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra table is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city devel...
Oak, Walnut
$5,077Sale Price|35% Off
Brutalist Coffee Table in Solid Natural Light Oak - Brut by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brut coffee table by Mokko with dimensions L:135 x W:80 x H:30 cm. Made in the Netherlands out of solid European oak. The light oak is finished with a matte varnish. A custom wooden...
Oak
Concrete Circular Dining Table Atlante Ultra High Perfomance Cement Mortar
Located in Rome, Lazio
Atlante is a round dining table with essential lines and a strong inspiration. Completely fashioned in UHPC concrete mortar by a team of expert artisans, this table perfeclty emodie...
Concrete
French 19th Century Carpenter’s Workbench
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French 19th century workbench is a fascinating relic of technology from before the assembly line, a hybrid of artisanal rusticity and industrial innovations. The top planks are ...
Iron
Freestanding Desk in Oak, Danish Mid Century Modern, Henning Kjærnulf, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant freestanding writing desk designed by Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf in the 1950s. Crafted in rich oak, the piece showcases a tactile warmth through its finely grained s...
Brass
Pair of Paul Evans Cityscape Nightstands - Chrome Patchwork by Directional
Located in Raleigh, NC
Pair of Paul Evans Cityscape nightstands in chrome patchwork, produced by Directional. Each features a two-tiered C-shaped design with integrated drawer, creating both open and enc...
Chrome
$29,500 / item
James de Wulf Outdoor Concrete Pool Table
Located in Paia, HI
The classic James de Wulf Concrete Billiards Table is a staple to any game room. The regulation sized table is constructed of concrete reinforced with carbon fiber. It features a smo...
Concrete
Lothar Klute, sign. Coffee Table for Atelier Lothar Klute, 1994
By Lothar Klute
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
A special bronze alloy made it possible for the artist Lothar Klute to forge the bronze. The glass was produced using a specific melting process and specially adapted for the table. ...
Bronze
$1,200 / item
Brutalist Iron and Wood Round Accent Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
The table captures the essence of sculptural rawness and refined materiality, embodying the expressive character of Brutalist design. Forged iron legs display a hand-hammered texture...
Iron
Concrete Side Table "G" Abecedario Collection Green Color by Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee table G is part of the Abecedario Collection; it marks the beginning of a language in cement that will create a concrete alphabet made up by tables and ...
Concrete
Rustic Sculptural Coffee Table, Burnt Black Wood, Carved, Handmade, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
This sculptural coffee table is a one-of-a-kind work of functional art, carved by hand from a single hardwood log and charred using the traditional shou sugi ban technique. Its organ...
Wood
Nesting Tables in Oak, Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker, Mid Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
A refined and decorative set of three oak nesting tables, crafted in the 1960s in the style of Danish designer Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf. These tables display the hallmarks of Danish ...
Oak
Extra Large Brutalist Two Tier Iron and Glass Console Table after Evans c1970's
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Brutalist school console table in the style of Paul Evans, made in the USA c. 1970's. The table is constructed of solid iron bars, which are hand sculpted to create a dim...
Wrought Iron
$892Sale Price|25% Off
Solid Black Oak Brutalist Cadence Side Table
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Form follows rhythm. The Cadence side tables are inspired by the simplicity and power of the rhythmic stepped brickwork visible in the architecture of Amsterdam's 'South Plan' area; ...
Oak, Walnut
Sculptural Side Table, Stool, Burnt Wood, Oak, Black, Carved, Rustic, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved side table. Carved from a single piece of burnt wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handmade design wil...
Wood, Oak
$6,380 / item
James de Wulf Concrete Leaning Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
A play on balance, this table is constructed entirely of two concrete pieces. The tabletop is singly supported by the leg, while the two merge with gravity to lock into place. Their balance is a sight to behold. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Color shown in natural tone A perfect complement to the James de Wulf concrete...
Concrete, Cement
Solid Oak Wooden Hari Coffee Table
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by the simplicity of traditional Japanese architectural timber structures. The low coffee table balances three minimalist volumes composed of solid wooden parts. Designed b...
Oak, Walnut
James de Wulf Straight Split Locking Concrete Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
A stylish update to the classic Split Locking table, the straight split locking concrete coffee table features a parallel split radius in the tabletop. C...
Concrete
Brutalist Coffee Table with Slate top France, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Round coffee table with dark slate stone top and oak frame. The stone has a natural textured surface, contrasting with the warm oak wood. The table stands on four sturdy square legs ...
Slate
1920s Baroque Style Writing Desk / Table in Solid Oak, By a Danish Cabinetmaker
Located in Odense, DK
A beautifully proportioned Danish writing desk / table from the 1920s, crafted entirely in solid oak with a warm, aged patina. The table features a finely shaped tabletop above a dra...
Oak
$835Sale Price|65% Off
French Brutalist Oak Coffee Table, in the style of Pierre Chapo, 1950s, Handmade
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Forest, BE
Very unique oak handmade massive slays of tree. The top is patinated and shows various shades of brown/brownish colors and honey tones. Elegant and brutalist describe that table properly. The height is 31.5 cm and is 86 cm x 66 cm. Very strong table. Lovely coffee table. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pierre Chapo est né dans le 19e arrondissement de Paris, mais en 1937 la famille s'installe à Vierzon, dans le Cher, le jeune homme s'essaie à la peinture. Puis rencontre en 1947 un charpentier de marine; dans son atelier il découvre le travail du bois, et décide de s'inscrire à l'École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, section architecture avec Henri Larrieu et Louis Aublet. Les études sont entrecoupées de voyages vers les pays scandinaves, du service militaire en Allemagne, ainsi que d'un périple d'un an en Amérique centrale et un stage dans un cabinet d'architectes en Arizona. De retour en France, Pierre Chapo poursuit le travail du bois essentiellement le chêne, le frêne et l'orme massif qu'il articule avec le double intérêt qu'il porte au design contemporain et au savoir-faire de l'artisanat traditionnel. Après quelques années, il ouvre une galerie boulevard de l'Hôpital, où il expose ses réalisations ainsi que celles d'autres créateurs comme Isamu Noguchi avec lequel il partage une approche sculpturale et organique, il reçoit ses premières commandes parmi lesquelles un lit simple demandé par Samuel Beckett. En 1960, lors de l'exposition Arts et techniques de l'artisanat, son travail est reconnu par la ville de Paris dont il reçoit la Médaille d'or. Puis c'est le développement de l'atelier de fabrication de meubles, à Clamart et la participation à plusieurs projets avec des fabricants et des aménagements avec différents architectes-maitres d’œuvre dont le travail de certains comme Charlotte Perriand pour la station des Arcs l’influencera6 et dont il éditera plus tard une table basse. En 1967, il expose au Salon des artistes décorateurs et remporte la Médaille de bronze de la Société d'encouragement à l'art et à l'industrie9. Cette même année, il s'installe à Gordes et y crée sa société et son usine qui vend et fabrique les meubles audacieux et robustes, en bois massif qu'il dessine, tout en conservant l'atelier de Clamart et la boutique de Paris, étendant son réseau avec des dépositaires à Bruxelles et dans plusieurs villes de France...
Hardwood
Paul Kingma Style Coffee Table of Dark Stained Oak with Slate Top Denmark 1980s
By Paul Kingma
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Brutalist Paul Kingma style slate-topped coffee table from the 1980s. The frame is made of dark stained oak with a table top of inlaid large pieces...
Slate
$12,300 / item
James de Wulf Concrete Backgammon Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
Concrete Backgammon Game Table by James de Wulf. Each table is made custom for indoor and outdoor living areas. The table is sealed and waxed for a unique luster. Table will devel...
Concrete
Rainer Daumiller, Extendable Round Dining Table in Pine, Danish Modern, 1970s
By Rainer Daumiller, Hirtshals Savvaerk
Located in Odense, DK
A large round dining table in solid pine with beautiful structure and wood grains. Designed by Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Sawmill in 1970s, Denmark. This table has been refinishe...
Pine
Large Round Vintage Brutalist Oak Farmhouse Coffee Table
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This large, round coffee table from the 1960s is crafted in a Brutalist style from heavy, high-quality oak. The wood exhibits a beautiful patina and minor signs of wear, giving the p...
Oak
Brutalist Faux Verdigris Finish Glass Top Coffee Table c. 1970/1980's
Located in New York, NY
Voguish Brutalist coffee table in rich faux Verdigris paint finish, made in the USA c 1970-1980's. The table features a metal base in original dark green and black finish, with a gl...
Metal
$12,931Sale Price / item|10% Off
Elefante Console Table 55, Joel Escalona, Dynamic Wood Design
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 55, Joel Escalona, Dynamic Wood Design ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernis...
Hardwood
Round Brutalist Coffee Table in Stone & Steel, French Mid-Century Modern, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
A round coffee table from the 1970s, crafted in France, featuring a large stone tabletop supported by a sturdy steel base. Its circular form and robust design embody the Mid-Century ...
Stone, Steel
Spanish Drinks Table / Side Table / Martini Table with Handle, Gilt Iron
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Brutalist Squared Drink Table in Wrought iron Gilt patinated brutalist Martini table with squared top and handle, Spain, 1950s Wrought iron table standing on four footed base...
Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron
$9,549Sale Price / item|10% Off
Solid Wood Coffee Table Serie 3 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Elegant Spaces
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solid Wood Coffee Table Serie 3 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Elegant Spaces ——— Sereno Coffee Table Series – A Note from Joel Escalona What happens when structure becomes art? Th...
Hardwood
Silas Seandel Hand-Welded Steel Coffee Table with Glass Top
Located in Bradenton, FL
Sculptural Silas Seandel (American, 1937-2021) Hand-Welded Coffee Table. Table features a dramatic, hand-welded steel base composed of stacked, organic ring forms with a burnished pa...
Steel
Rustic Side Table Root Wood Tree Trunk Brutalist 54cm
Located in Poperinge, BE
Decorative vintage table in brutalist and natural style, nice side table or plant table made of solid root wood with 4 wooden legs, probably teak, inspired by the Scandinavian style,...
Wood
Danish Baroque-Inspired Oak Desk / Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs, 1900s
By Pierre Chapo, Philip Arctander
Located in Odense, DK
This charming table blends rustic craftsmanship with decorative elegance. Made from solid oak, it features beautifully turned barley twist legs – a detail that became popular during ...
Oak
Wrought iron coffee table in the style of Lothar Klute Coffee table in the style
By Lothar Klute
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
Coffee table in artfully forged iron with a bronze patina. Glass top specially cast and machined for this table.
Wrought Iron
Side Table, Pedestal, Solid Burnt Wood, Rustic, Organic, Handmade, Carved, Black
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved side table. Carved from a single piece of burnt oak wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handmade design...
Wood, Oak
1970s French Brutalist Oak Round Coffee Table
Located in High Point, NC
This striking 1970s French Brutalist round coffee table showcases the bold simplicity and material honesty emblematic of the Brutalist movement. Crafted from solid oak, the table fea...
Oak
Chain Link Drinks Table / End or Side Table / Floor Ashtray, Gilt Iron and Wood
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish gilt wrought iron chain link drink side table with wooden top and ashtray, Spain, 1950s. Beautiful hand forged iron occasional table with chain link stem standing on a four f...
Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Iron
$12,931Sale Price / item|10% Off
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a...
Hardwood
A Vintage Brutalist Side table, Massive Oak, France, circa 1970s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
Unique round vintage side table from France in solid oak. Made by anonymous designer, c. 1970s . Wear constant with age and use including marks, scratches.
Wood
Large Sculptural Dining Table - Aperta by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Aperta is inspired by the mystery and attraction of light and space breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures. The objects feature a precise slit, creating a sense of...
Oak, Walnut
Paul Evans Brutalist Cocktail Table in Patinated Steel and Bronze, c. 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptional Brutalist coffee table by Paul Evans, created as part of his celebrated Sculptured Metal Collection for Directional, exemplifies the raw artistry and architectural p...
Bronze, Steel
Oak Mid-Century Modern Rustic Brutalist Round Coffee Table, 1960s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning Mid-Century Modern Rustic Brutalist round coffee table. Striking Dutch design from the 1960s. Solid oak top on four solid oak legs. This wonderful Mid-century Modern Rustic ...
Oak
Large Round Coffee Table in Solid Dark Brown European Oak - Aperta by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by light breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures, Aperta features a precise slit, creating a sense of lightness to its solid form. The Aperta Coffee Table...
Oak, Walnut