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Brutalist Metalwork

BRUTALIST STYLE

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 

  • Use of industrial materials — tubular steel, concrete, glass, granite
  • Prioritizes functionalism, minimalism and utilization of negative space
  • Spare silhouettes, pronounced geometric shapes
  • Stripped-down, natural look; rugged textures, modular construction
  • Interiors featuring airy visual flow and reliance on neutral palettes

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.

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Style: Brutalist
Golden "Figa" Single Door Handle in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Contemporary golden handle, in cast brass. Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This golden handle was meticulously handmade by master artisans one delicate piece at a time. It is therefo...
Category

2010s South American Brutalist Metalwork

Materials

Brass

Curtis Jere Brass and Turquoise Starburst
Located in Southampton, NJ
Beautiful and Unique metal sunburst by Curtis Jere. This stunning piece is truly a showstopper. Brass and Turquoise make a beautiful contrast. 37 x 37 x 6.5Deep
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1980s American Vintage Brutalist Metalwork

Materials

Metal

Golden "Figa" Contemporary Double Door Handle in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Contemporary golden handle, in cast brass. Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This door handle was meticulously handmade by master artisans one delicate piece at a time. It is therefore...
Category

2010s Brazilian Brutalist Metalwork

Materials

Brass

Pair of Red & Green Enameled Copper Mugs by Kwangho Lee, c. 2012
By Kwangho Lee
Located in New York City, NY
Highly collectible pair of enameled copper mugs by South Korean artist Kwangho Lee. With their stunning and explosive design, these copper mugs are a ne...
Category

2010s South Korean Brutalist Metalwork

Materials

Copper

"Primeiro" Contemporary Corkscrew in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This contemporary corkscrew in cast brass was meticulously handmade by master artisans one piece at a time. It is therefore quite difficult, if not ...
Category

2010s Brazilian Brutalist Metalwork

Materials

Brass

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Brutalist metalwork for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Brutalist metalwork for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage metalwork created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist metalwork made in a specific country, there are South America, Brazil, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original metalwork, popular names associated with this style include Estúdio Orth, and Kwangho Lee. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for metalwork differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $293 and tops out at $5,600 while the average work can sell for $825.

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