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 Wrought Iron Candle Holder, Seven Arms, Vintage 1970s, Black
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large brutalist Candle Holder. Handmade from wrought Iron. 7 arms and tripod foot.. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist Period: 1970s Item Type: V...
Metal
Mid-Century Italian Brutalist Bronze Amadeus Series Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Brutalist Bronze Amadeus Series Candleholder by Kurt Jesch for Fratelli Tonini, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additio...
Metal
Large Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large Brutalist Candle Holder handmade from steel. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gray Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern Period: 1960s Item Type: Vintage, Antiq...
Metal
$1,304Sale Price / set|20% Off
Jens Harald Quistgaard. Danish cast iron candlesticks, 1960s
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist and Space Age style candlesticks designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard and manufactured by Dansk Design in Denmark, 1960s. Both pieces are made of solid cast iron with a centr...
Brass, Iron
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s This well sized hand forged candle holder is wonderfully shaped like a tree, it origins from Europe, 1970s. It is original...
Wrought Iron
$7,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
Paul Evans Rare and Early Candlesticks, Set of Three, 1953
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Rare and Early Candlesticks, Set of Three, 1953 Sandblasted pewter Each: 20½ h × 3¼ dia in (52 × 8 cm) Provenance: The Artist Collection of Dorsey Reading Exhibited: Paul...
Pewter
Pair of Wrought Iron Tall Floor Candle Holders in Brutalist Giacometti Style
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti
Located in Carimate, Como
Pair of wrought iron tall floor candle holders in brutalist Giacometti style
Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Extendable Floor Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Extendable Floor Candleholder, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Color: Black Styles: Brutalist, Mid-...
Iron
Vintage Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Gallo, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Gallo, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Bronze...
Bronze
Hand-forged wrought iron candlesticks, France 1950s
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Antwerp, BE
Striking pair of hand-forged wrought iron candelabra from France, dating to the 1950s. These sculptural five-light candleholders strongly reflect the aesthetic associated with Jean T...
Wrought Iron
$580Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Brutalist Rare Hand Hammered Brass Candle Holders
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare pair of candleholders solid hand hammered brass, we got these pair in Norway beautiful and unique.
Brass
Vintage Brutalist Candle Sconce of Wrought Iron, Italian, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage wrought iron candle sconces in the Brutalist style will certainly light up a room and create interesting shadows. Sculptured and patinated, each iron piece holds a single tap...
Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candleholder 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candleholder, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Wrought Iron Color: Black Styles: Brutalis...
Wrought Iron
32-Inch Tall Bronze Brutalist Candle Holder, Mid-20th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A sculptural and commanding Brutalist candle holder, standing at an impressive 32 inches in height. Crafted in solid bronze with a raw, hand-forged texture, this piece embodies the b...
Bronze
$2,200 / set
Solid Aluminum Brutalist Candelabras
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Brutalist candelabras, in the style of Paul Evans. Striated texture, black patinated impressions, six candle wells, beveled angle edges with archi...
Aluminum
60s Mid Century Modern Brutalist K L Hakuli Brass Abstract Art Menorah Israel
By Yaacov Agam, Wainberg Israel
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Beautiful Artisan made, K. L. Hakuli for Weinberg, Israel Brutalist 9 candle Hanukkah Menorah Piece is off-centered and very abstract with incised v...
Brass
Rare Gold BMF Nagel Quist Variomaster Brutalist Stockable Modular Candleholder
Located in Vienna, AT
Stackable modular candleholder by BMF Quist Nagel, rare gold edition. The candleholders were designed by Ceasar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel and manufactured by BMF (Bayerische Metallwaren...
Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candle Holder
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candle Holder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 Additional information: Color: Black Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern Item Type...
Iron
Vintage Sculptural Brutalist Iron & Glass Wall Candleholders by Dantoft, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large 1970s Brutalist Wall sculptures made by Danish design company Dantoft kunstartikler (trans.: art objects). Made from black lacquered and welded iron set in a graphic formation ...
Iron
Large Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron floor candelabra candle holder, knot
Located in BELFORT, FR
Large mid century and brutalist style wrought iron floor candelabra.
Wrought Iron
Vintage Brutalist Floral Metal Candleholder 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist Floral Metal Candleholder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Brown Period: 1970s Item Type: Vintage,...
Metal
Modernist Candle Holder - Stainless Steel Brutalist Candlestick - Italy 1980s
By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Modernist Candle Holder - Stainless Steel Brutalist Candlestick - Italy 1980s Superb design for this piece, quite reminiscent of the Memphis Group style. Made of stainless steel an...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Matthew Hilton. Brutalist candle holders, England, 1980s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist candlesticks by Matthew Hilton, England, 1980s, set of 2. Sculptural shapes made of aluminium. Totally timeless pieces for any current interior with a classic or contempora...
Aluminum
Brutalist Candelabra, Sculpture in Wrought Iron, 1970s, France
Located in Antwerp, BE
Handcrafted brutalist candelabra, sculpture with five bronze holders made in France, one piece unique five-arm candelabra a work of craftsmanship by an unknown artist. It's an except...
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Pair of Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron candle holder sticks
Located in BELFORT, FR
Pair of mid century and brutalist style wrought iron candle holders. Perfect condition.
Wrought Iron
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Vintage 3-Arm Wrought Iron Candelabra, Handcrafted
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage hand-crafted wrought iron candle holder features sculptural shape with 3 branches with textured leaves flowing upwards from the base and terminating into round candle holder...
Wrought Iron
Set of 2 Mid-Century Brutalist Danish Studio Pottery Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Danish Studio Pottery Candleholder by Inge Hjorth, 1960s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Addition...
Ceramic
1980s Brutalist Iron and Brass Italian Three Arms Candelabra
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This striking 1980s Italian candelabra is a masterclass in Brutalist design, merging raw industrial strength with sophisticated Mid-Century flair. Hand-forged with a dramatic archite...
Brass, Iron
Brutalist Metal Candelabra, Black Finish, Vintage Design, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist candelabra with 5 arms. The arms finely executed are finished in black. A tripod serves as a foot. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist ...
Metal
Sculptural Brutalist Gilt Bronze Candle Holder by Heinz Goll, Austria 1960s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an extremely rare and absolutely extraordinary sculptural Brutalist candle holder done in gilt bronze. It was designed by Austrian designer Heinz Goll...
Bronze
Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Candleholder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Brown Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern ...
Metal
Brutalist Wall Candle Holder by Erkki Hovi for Finn Atelier Oy, Finland, 1970s
Located in Göteborg, SE
Bring sculptural drama and Nordic craftsmanship to your interior with this striking Brutalist wall-mounted candle holder, designed by Finnish artist Erkki Hovi and crafted by Finn At...
Pine
Pair of Signed Iron Brutalist Candle Holders
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice pair of signed iron brutalist candle holders, circa 1970s. The set is signed on the base "Perry", is in good vintage condition and measures 3"W x 3"D x 3"H. Cool well cr...
Iron
$554Sale Price|53% Off
Brutalist Style Pink and Brown Ceramic Drip Glaze Candelabra by Vallauris
By Vallauris
Located in Glasgow, GB
A vintage ceramic candelabra by the renowned French pottery makers Vallauris. Handcrafted in the 1960s, this rare and distinctive piece reinterprets the traditional French candelabr...
Ceramic
Sculptural Brutalist Bronze Candelabra from Ystad/Scandia, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A sculptural candleholder/candelabra cast in washed bronze. It is to be installed with 5 regular sized candles. This design comes from Scandia/Ystad-Metall in Sweden and It was likel...
Bronze
French Hand-Forged Iron Three-Arm Candelabra, Mid-20th Century
Located in Rümmingen, BW
"shipping note: If your region or country is not listed under the shipping options please contact us directly" This elegant three-arm iron candelabra was handcrafted in France, like...
Iron
Brutalist Japanese Iron Interactive Candleholder, 1960s
Located in New Windsor, NY
An exceptionally fine and unusual iron Japanese candleholder. A candleholder and sculpture. The interior ring twirls making lighting a candle a periodic ritual. How do you not give t...
Iron
Brutalist Metal Candle Holder, Black Finish, Vintage Design, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Candle Holder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-o...
Metal
Candelabra Piramide III G016 handmade in cast brass & aluminium
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Candelabra Piramide III was created by David Marshall, from sand cast brass & aluminium. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our found...
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage Brutalist Bronze Candleholder, Three Arms, Gold Finish, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Heavy bronze candelabra with three arms. Additional information: Materials: Bronze Color: Gold Styles: Brutalist Period: 1970s Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Dimensions: 9...
Bronze
Quist Variomaster Brutalist Modular Candle Holders Set Chrome German 1970s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This set of four Variomaster modular candle holders was produced in the 1970s by Quist, a German manufacturer known for its bold interpretation o...
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder in Wrought Iron, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder in Wrought Iron, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Wrought Iron Color: Gray Styles: Brutal...
Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Material: ...
Metal
Scandinavian Brutalist Candelabra in Patinated Bronze, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A small scaled ( H: 14.5, W/D: 19 cm) candelabrum for 4 regular sized candles. It is fashioned from patinated bronze and showcases distinct Neo-gothic/brutalist vibes. It was possibl...
Bronze
Mid-Century Brutalist Cast Iron Candleholder by Jens H. Quistgaard, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Danish Brutalist Cast Iron Candleholder by Jens H. Quistgaard for Paro, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additio...
Metal
Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Candleholder with Gold Finish, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Candleholder, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal Style: Brutalist Color: Gold Item Type: Vin...
Metal
Brutalist Metal Candle Holder, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Metal Candle Holder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist Item Type: Vintage, Antique or ...
Metal
Vintage German Brutalist Metal Candleholder from Harjes
Located in Hamburg, DE
This flat candleholder follows organic forms. Official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer records. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gold Styles:...
Metal
Mid-Century Brutalist German Bronze Candleholder from Harjes, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist German Bronze Candleholder from Harjes, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mar...
Metal
Mid Century Brutalist Pair of Candle Holders in Patinated Solid Brass 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Mid Century Brutalist Pair of Candle Holders in Patinated Solid Brass 1970s. Wonderful pair of mid century brutalist candle holders in solid brass. Great freeform design - very mid ...
Brass
$120Sale Price|48% Off
Ruscha Keramik Brutalist Advents Candle Holder - West Germany, 1960's
By Ruscha
Located in Bern, CH
West German ceramic Brutalist Advents candle holder produced by Ruscha Keramik (W.Germany) in the late 1960's to mid-1970s. With four candle holde...
Ceramic
Mid Century Brutalist Candle Holder in Wrought Iron 1960s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mid Century Brutalist Candle Holder in Wrought Iron, Europe, 1960s. This is a wonderful and fairly large mid century candle holder in wrought iron with a very distinct chain like br...
Wrought Iron
Large pair of Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron floor candelabra candle holder
Located in BELFORT, FR
Large pair of mid century and brutalist style wrought iron floor candelabras. Measurements of the bigger one : height 119 cm, width 28 cm, depth 24 cm Measurements of the smaller on...
Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designe...
Metal, Bronze
Brutalist Bronze Candleholder 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Bronze Candleholder, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Bronze Color: Gold Styles: Brutalist Item Type: Vintage, Ant...
Bronze
Set of 3 Vintage Postmodern Brutalist Candle Holders in Stone, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Brutalist Candle Holders in Stone, 1980s, Set of 3, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Stone Color: Beige Styles: ...
Stone
mid century modern henrik horst wall CANDLE HOLDER iron brutalistic style
By Henrik Horst
Located in Mannheim, DE
Outstanding 1970s metal wall candle holder. Designed by Henrik Horst, Denmark. Eclectic brutalistic style. A unique piece and a perfect addition to any mid century interior. For cand...
Metal
Brutalist Aluminum Candlestick Holder designed by Gunther Lambert, Germany 1970s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a large Brutalist candlestick holder designed by Gunther Lambert. The candlestick holder is done in hammered aluminum, featuring beautiful and sleek des...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Brutalist Danish Pottery and Iron Wall Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Danish Pottery and Iron Wall Candleholder, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gray Styles: ...
Metal
Mid-Century Danish Brutalist Pottery Candleholder from Judi Kunst, 1960s
By Judi Kunst
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Danish Brutalist Pottery Candleholder from Judi Kunst, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: ...
Ceramic