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.
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
Pair of Large Ceramic Table Lamps for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Haico Nietzsche for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The beige ceramic base has a subtle concave shape, which is mirrored in ...
Ceramic
A Sculptural RUSTIC MODERN BRUTALIST Ceramic TABLE LAMP, VALLAURIS, France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
A very large, spectacular and sculptural, table or floor lamp with 2 lights and 2 handles, Modernist, Free Form, Popular Art, Shabby-Chic, unique piece in thick ceramic with brown an...
Ceramic
1 of the 2 Ceramic Table Lamps by Soholm, Silk Lampshade, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 beautiful ceramic table lamps by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made silk lampshade by R. Houben. The beautiful brown and seagreen lila ceramics make a stu...
Ceramic
1 of the 2 Ceramic Table Lamps by Søholm, Custom Made Shades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 beautiful ceramic table lamps by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The beautiful blue and brown ceramics make a stunning combinat...
Ceramic
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
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Paddle Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
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
Vintage mid century Brutalist pottery lamps by Vanguard USA, 1970s TWO AVAILABLE
Located in Hastings, GB
Brutalist pottery lamps by Vanguard, USA, 1970s. They have a very Bernard Rooke look. Pair available, but selling separately. Original textured wide conical shades. Newly rewired wit...
Pottery
$4,002Sale Price|30% Off
Rare Brutalist Italian Glass Paste and Wrought Iron Table Lamp by Longobard, 70s
By Longobard
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Rare Murano glass table lamp designed and made by Longobard in 1970. The structure is in hand-crafted gilded wrought iron with the insertion of colored glass paste. Original logo, fi...
Wrought Iron
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
$2,194Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist table or floor lamp "Drop" by Giotto Stoppino for Tronconi, Italy 1976
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Post-modern style Italian table or floor lamp "Drop", designed by Giotto Stoppino in 1976 and produced by Tronconi (Enrico Tronconi, editor). Frosted or sanded glass body in the shap...
Metal, Chrome
Cereus Lamp by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
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
$1,295Sale Price|30% Off
Sculptural Brutalist Bronze Table Lamp by Richard Barr for Laurel
By Harry Balmer, Laurel Lamp Company, Richard Barr
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Large scale Sculptural Brutalist Bronze Table Lamp by Richard Barr for Laurel Lamp Company. Comprised of torch cut bronze on a square base. Lamp is a very unique statement piece. Bru...
Bronze
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
A Pair of Laurel Table Lamps by Richard Barr c. 1970
By Richard Barr
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of sculpted brass table lamps in brutalist organic form by Richard Barr. Each present very well. Bases appear original and show some aging. Rewired to include integrated dimme...
Brass
Pair of XL Ceramic Table Lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm Silk Shade, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm Pottery, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom silk lampshade made by Rene Houben. The warm colors of the ceramic with th...
Ceramic
Dazor, Edge mounted model 2134 Floating Desk Lamp. 1960s
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
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN BRUTALIST Lucite TABLE LAMP, by DALLUX, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
An important and rigorous rectangular table lamp with free decoration, Modernist, Post-Bauhaus, from Forme-Libre, geometric structure in 4 thick strips of amber plexiglass resin with...
Lucite
Brutalist Ceramic Baluster Table Lamp, Red & Black 1940s-1950s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Striking vintage ceramic table lamp features the baluster shaped base, decorated with semi-matte complex red glaze with black accents, imitating the wood texture. The color of the re...
Ceramic, Pottery
Pair of Hand Painted Sculptural Table Lamps for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful ceramic table lamps from Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The vibrant ceramic base has a beautiful shape with hand painted waves. The light...
Ceramic
Pair of Blue Tiered Silhouette Ceramic 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 with off white innershade. The beautiful blue ceramics and the tiered silho...
Ceramic
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
Claude Victor Boeltz 24-Karat Gold Plated 'Exploded' Table Lamp
Located in Hastings, GB
Claude Victor Boeltz sculptural 24-karat gold plated 'exploded' table lamp with eagle and rock crystal inclusions An incredible statement piece The natural rock quartz crystal wands...
Bronze
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
Pair of Marcello Fantoni Torch Cut Iron Brutalist "Skyscraper" Table Lamps
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Tall pair of Marcello Fantoni handcrafted Torch Cut Steel Table Lamps, 1950's. Featuring open pierced, welded and sealed cylindrical pipe type forms with Nickel, Silver coloration an...
Steel, Cut Steel
Pair of Large Ceramic Table Lamps for Soholm by Haico Nietzsche, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Haico Nietzsche for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The beige ceramic base has a subtle concave shape, which is mirrored in ...
Ceramic
Brutalist Metal Table Lamp by Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sculptural metal table lamp by Laurel Lamp Company, executed in a bold Brutalist style. The design features textured metalwork with strong, architectural detailing, reflecting the ...
Metal
$690Sale Price|23% Off
1960s Handcrafted Ceramic Table Lamp by Bernard Rooke, England
Located in Glasgow, GB
An uncommon and quietly expressive example of Bernard Rooke’s studio pottery, this handcrafted ceramic table lamp dates to the 1960s and reflects a more organic, almost lyrical direc...
Ceramic
Italian Brutalist Iron And Glass Lamp By Longobard
Italian Brutalist Iron And Glass Lamp By Longobard. We present a rare and unusual Italian Brutalist table lamp with a hammered iron base and a multicolored chiseled glass shade. This...
Iron
Contemporary Sculptural Hand-Built Ceramic Table Lamp by Maku Ceramic
Located in Istanbul, TR
This contemporary table lamp features a hand-built ceramic base with an expressive, asymmetrical silhouette inspired by organic forms and natural erosion. Each curve and recessed de...
Stoneware
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
Scandinavian mid century brutalist table lamp, melted copper, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Forserum, SE
A sculptural, handcrafted Scandinavian brutalist table lamp, constructed from partially melted copper. The lamp holder is mounted on a copper pipe marked Svenska Metallverken, a comp...
Copper
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
Brutalist Table Lamp by Harry Balmer for the Laurel Lamp Company, ca. 1970's
By Harry Balmer, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Brutalist table lamp, by Harry Blamer, for the Laurel Lamp Company circa 1970's. The lamp features a torch cut body of welded iron segme...
Iron
Mid-Century Brutalist Welded Steel Table Lamp in the Manner of Paul Evans 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Striking American Brutalist table lamp executed in welded and torch-cut steel, circa 1970s. The sculptural base is composed of four vertically oriented steel panels arranged in a cru...
Steel
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
Mid-Century French Brutalist Iron Chain-Link Table Lamp
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A striking Mid-Century French table lamp dating to circa 1950s–1960s, featuring a sculptural body formed from a substantial series of interlocking iron chain links, rising from a sim...
Iron, Wrought Iron
A Sculptural Bronze BRUTALIST SHABBY-CHIC Neoclassical TABLE LAMP, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional table lamp (or rather a night light) to be considered as a true light sculpture, Art-Deco, Modernist, Shabby-Chic, Brutalist, conical base or base in thick solid bronz...
Bronze
Pink Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the undulating forms of night‑blooming desert cacti, the Cereus Lamp balances minimalism with playful organic movement. Hand‑built from speckled stoneware using slab‑cons...
Brass
Exceptional Italian Brutalist Green Dalle de Verre Table Lamp in Brass, 1970s
Located in The Hague, NL
This exceptional table lamp was produced in Italy in the 1970s. A refined example of Italian Brutalist lighting, the design combines strong architectural lines with a more decorative...
Brass
Brutalist "Fer Battu" Iron Double Arm "Ferronnerie" Table Lamp - France 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist wrought-iron lamp with two light arms. Originally a 1970s candlestick converted into a lamp. The sockets are mounted on swivel joints. US wiring. Fine ironwork craftsmanshi...
Wrought Iron
Green Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the undulating forms of night‑blooming desert cacti, the Night Blooming Cereus Lamp balances minimalism with playful organic movement. Hand‑built from speckled stoneware ...
Brass
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 beautiful ceramic table lamps by Haico from Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The ceramic base fits perfectly with the custom made silk shade by Re...
Ceramic
Pair of Sculptural Plaster Table Lamps by Casual Lamps of California
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A monumental pair of sculptural plaster table lamps by Casual Lamps of California. These vintage brutalist style lamps are bold and unique, ye...
Brass
Brutalist Ceramic Baluster Urn Table Lamp, Red & Black 1940s-1950s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Striking vintage ceramic table lamp features the urn or baluster shaped base, decorated with bands of textured abstract graphic elements, accentuated with gray and black color on ma...
Ceramic, Pottery
Pair of Soholm "Erika" Ceramic Table Lamps by Noomi Backhausen, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamps by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a pleated lampshade. The green and brown ceramics and the beige pleated lamps...
Ceramic
Pair Mid-Century Stiffel Solid Brass Brutalist Table Lamps with Original Shades
By Ralph Lauren, Dorothy Draper, Frederick Cooper, Stiffel
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking and highly sophisticated pair of Mid-Century Modern Stiffel table lamps, masterfully crafted in solid brass with a bold sculptural silhouette that bridges classic refineme...
Brass
$3,812 / item
Wrought iron lamp by artist Donna handcrafted
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Table lamp by French artist Pierre Donna. Patinated and oxidized steel base designed and handmade in the artist's studio. Understated, timeless design with a unique patina for each p...
Iron
Pair of mid century black oak and steel Laurel lamps
Located in Liberty, NY
Great pair of steel and black oak Laurel lamps. The measurement of 40" height is to top of harps, they measure 27.5" to top of sockets. Nice vintage condition, the harps show some o...
Steel
Green Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the undulating forms of night‑blooming desert cacti, the Cereus Lamp balances minimalism with playful organic movement. Hand‑built from speckled stoneware using slab‑cons...
Brass
World War Two Trench Art, Brass Shell Case Table Lamp, USA, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brass table lamp made of a naval artillery shell dated production year 1943. The shell is meticulously incised with lines to create a brick pattern. Marked at the bottom 3" MK7 MOD 1...
Brass
Pair of Large Grey Ceramic Table Lamps for Soholm with Silk Shade, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful ceramic table lamps from Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a silk custom lampshade with creme silk innerschade designed door R. Houben. The off-white and dark g...
Ceramic
Pair of Mid Century Modern Curvy Brutalist White Ceramic Table Lamps
Located in Leicester, GB
Gorgeous pair of mid century modern ceramic table lamps. These lamps were made in England by Doulton, circa 1960's. A bold, curvy brutalist design, very heavy for their size, glazed ...
Ceramic
1 of the 2 Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps with Custom Lampshades, Noomi Backhausen
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade with beautiful pattern. The green and brown ceramics a...
Ceramic
Pair of Lamps Gilt Metal by Pierre Casenove for Fondica, France, 1990s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare pair of table or bedside lamps in gilt gilding metal, bronze style by Pierre Casenove for Fondica. Famous artist who have worked for the manufacture like Mathias, Stéphane Galer...
Metal
1 of the 2 Ceramic Table Lamps, Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The green and brown ceramics and the beige lampshade ...
Ceramic
Sculptural Table Lamp Carved in an Olive Wood Block France 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This table lamp, is carved in the Olive wood. The wood has this light brown color of this wood, with the old patina. This lamp was made in France, circa 1950, US PLUG ADAPTATOR W...
Wood
Pair of Blue Ceramic Table Lamps by Soholm, Silk Lampshade, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful ceramic table lamp by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made silk lampshade by R. Houben. With off white silk inner-shade. The beautiful blue ceramics ...
Ceramic
Pair of Brutalist Stained Oak Wing Lamps - France 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Brutalist lamps in stained oak. Structure not entirely identical, one being taller than the other. France 1970s. These lamps have been rewired for use in the US. Shades for s...
Oak
Cereus Lamp Raffia Shade (Small) 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 night blooming cacti, the Cereus Lamp balances minimalist design with playful natural form. Hand‑built from a dark, rusty‑brown c...
Brass