Is it art? Is it furniture? Is there a distinction? These are questions designer Brian Thoreen answers in his provocative work, which ranges from curved glass tables, weighed down by cast bronze blocks, to blown glass “melted” over angular handcrafted metalwork. Sometimes his designs are obviously quite functional and categorical, other times artistic merit outweighs function. Either way, his works highlight and draw on the power inherent in his chosen materials, and Thoreen thrives in the spaces in between.
Thoreen had explored a range of disciplines and mediums before committing to furniture design. He filled his 20s with experimentation with painting, fabrication, building, welding, architecture and fashion — but he always came back to making furniture. Thoreen studied painting in community college, though much of his talent in design is a culmination of experience he amassed through jobs along the way. He worked as an art installer at Kayne Griffin Gallery, a carpenter at Southern California architecture firm Marmol Radziner and also founded his own gallery MASA and experimental glassmaking collective, VISSIO.
While Thoreen has found a renewed vigor since relocating to Mexico in 2017, the 1960s and '70s Los Angeles art scene informs much of his work. Thoreen learned firsthand from many artists of the era including James Turrell, Ed Ruscha, Larry Bell and Robert Irwin. These visual artists, who were associated with the period's Light and Space movement, explored light in relation to geometric abstraction and minimalism, which resurface as themes in Thoreen’s furniture.
Thoreen’s Cantilever tables and Reaching Console in his sculptural Unsettled collection, which was exhibited at Patrick Parrish’s gallery in New York City in 2017, feature a sublime marriage of marble, smoked glass and cast bronze, and the components are not held together by the typical hardware associated with these kinds of structures — none of the pieces use fasteners of any kind.
With his prioritization of minimalism and the honesty of the materials, Thoreen endeavored to ensure that his pieces wouldn’t need any fasteners secured by screws to stand on their own, relying instead on what he knew about mass and space (a set of bronze counterweights is doing the heavy lifting on the collection's Console). As such, like each of the designer’s works, they’re striking statement pieces in any space — “unsettled” or not.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Brian Thoreen decorative objects, storage case pieces and lighting.
Brian Thoreen Green Mixed Marble and Brass Coffee Table
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Geometric coffee table in mixed marble, brass, steel and wood by LA-based designer Brian Thoreen. This version, in green marble, was designed exclusively for Design Miami 2015. Other...
Marble, Brass, Steel
$5,162 / item
Tacchini Vertical Nest Light by Brian Thoreen
By Brian Thoreen
Located in New York, NY
Soft folds become luminous sculptures that seem to grow naturally. The light diffuses calmly, and blurs perceptions and contours creating an atmosphere of peace and seductive mystery...
Plastic
$3,618 / item
Black Tomatoe Decorative Center Piece Vessel
By Emiliano Godoy, Héctor Esrawe, Brian Thoreen
Located in Mexico City, MX
Announcing Tomato, a limited-edition design work by: Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, and Brian Thoreen for Vissio. Each Tomato is individually blown by a team of Nouvel Studio artisans so that no two are ever exactly alike. The four-person team required to make the Tomatoes begins by blowing a large bubble with molten glass...
Glass
$6,900
Burnout 4
By Brian Thoreen, Emiliano Godoy, Héctor Esrawe
Located in Mexico City, MX
Burnout sculptural vessels by Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, and Brian Thoreen, are a formal study of entropy as expressed through sequential degradation of a wood mold by the glass ...
Glass
$2,506 / item
2 Bars 1 Glass Big Decorative Center Piece Vessel
By Héctor Esrawe, Brian Thoreen, Emiliano Godoy
Located in Mexico City, MX
Vissio is delighted to announce the launch of 2B1G, a new series of limited-edition works produced in collaboration by: Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, and Brian Thoreen. 2B1G (2 ...
Steel
Burnout 4 Hand Blown Glass Decorative Vase
By Brian Thoreen, Emiliano Godoy, Héctor Esrawe
Located in Mexico City, MX
Burnout sculptural vessels by Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, and Brian Thoreen, are a formal study of entropy as expressed through sequential degradation of a wood mold by the glass ...
Glass
$2,139 / item
2 Bars 1 Glass Small Decorative Center Piece Vessel
By Héctor Esrawe, Brian Thoreen, Emiliano Godoy
Located in Mexico City, MX
Vissio is delighted to announce the launch of 2B1G, a new series of limited-edition works produced in collaboration by: Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, and Brian Thoreen. 2B1G (2 ...
Steel
$2,384 / item
2 Bars 1 Glass Medium Decorative Center Piece Vessel
By Brian Thoreen, Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy
Located in Mexico City, MX
Vissio is delighted to announce the launch of 2B1G, a new series of limited-edition works produced in collaboration by: Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, and Brian Thoreen. 2B1G (2 ...
Steel
Price Upon Request
Glass and Bronze Standing Mirror by Brian Thoreen
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Standing mirror made of mirrored bronze glass and cast bronze by Los Angeles based designer Brian Thoreen. Edition of 8 + II AP. Custom available.
Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Block Table
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Side table by Los Angeles based designer Brian Thoreen. Made of curved grey glass and weighted upright by a cast bronze block. Also available in bronze glass. Edition of 8 + II AP.
Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Vessel 2
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of three vessels developed as the material maquette's for Brian Thoreen's larger works. Comprised of a cast bronze bowl, grey marble and grey glass. Also available in brown or re...
Marble, Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Vessel 3
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of three vessels developed as the material maquette's for Brian Thoreen's larger works. Comprised of a cast bronze vessel, red marble and grey g...
Marble, Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Vessel 1
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of three vessels developed as the material maquette's for Brian Thoreen's larger works. Comprised of a cast bronze bowl, red marble top and bronze glass base. The height of a sma...
Marble, Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Cantilever Tables
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cantilever tables by Los Angeles based designer Brian Thoreen. Made of marble, bronze glass, cast bronze. Custom material combinations available - inc...
Marble, Bronze
Price Upon Request
Shift Coffee Table by Brian Thoreen
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Shift coffee table by Los Angeles based designer Brian Thoreen. Made of brown marble and bronze glass. Custom material combinations available, including grey glass and red and grey m...
Marble
Price Upon Request
"Reaching Console" by Brian Thoreen
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Smoked glass and brass console table comprised of two separate tables reaching towards each other by Los Angeles designer Brian Thoreen. Cantilevered by a brass column, the glass ele...
Brass
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Black Rubber Credenza / Sideboard
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful black rubber and brass credenza with an aniline dyed wood interior by Brian Thoreen. Made to order in Los Angeles with a lead time of 10-12 weeks. Please inquire for custo...
Brass
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Bronze Growth Side Table
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cast bronze and brass table by LA-based designer Brian Thoreen. Custom sizes and finishes are available.
Brass, Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Modernist Brass Dining Table
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Amazing solid brass and steel dining table by LA-based designer Brian Thoreen. Custom sizes and finishes are available.
Brass, Steel
Price Upon Request
Large Brian Thoreen Rubber and Brass Credenza or Sideboard
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful rubber and brass credenza with an aniline dyed wood interior by Brian Thoreen. Made to order in Los Angeles with a lead time of 10-12 weeks. Please inquire for custom sizi...
Brass
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Black Mixed Marble and Brass Coffee Table
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Geometric coffee table in mixed marble, brass, steel and wood by LA-based designer Brian Thoreen. This black version is an open edition. The green version is an edition of 8 + 2 AP t...
Marble, Brass, Steel
Vintage Fused Glass Footed Vase, Hand Blown Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Sculptural vintage vase is decorated with free-flowing fused red and yellow glass designs on mottled pink glass background; colored glass encases clear glass core, with clear glass ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$280Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 28 in D 13 in
Vintage Oriental Chrysanthemum Jade Glass Flower Bonsai Tree In Celadon
By Chinese Jesus
Located in Birmingham, AL
a Chinese Republic Jade, glass, and hardstone flower bonsai tree in a celadon pot, likely from the mid-20th century. These "Ming Trees" are known for their craftsmanship and symbolism, representing harmony, peace, and prosperity. Materials: Jade, various hardstones, glass, and a celadon ceramic pot. Style: Bonsai-like arrangement with cascading branches. Flowers: Pink, white, purple, and red with yellow bead centers. Leaves: Made of jade, agate, or glass. Symbolism: Represents harmony, peace, and prosperity. Value: These trees are valued for their intricate detail and artistry. Description This exquisite oriental bonsai tree is a stunning addition to any collection. Crafted with care and attention to detail, this Chinese chrysanthemum jade glass flower tree...
Jade
Anzolo Fuga Hand Blown Glass "Pavone" Vase, 1950s
By Anzolo Fuga, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Hand blown glass “Pavone” vase with colorful rod and murrhine by Anzolo Fuga for Arte Vetraria Muranese (A.V.E.M.), Murano, Italy, 1950s. Reference: Rosa Barovier-Mentasti, Anzolo Fuga, Murano Glass...
Murano Glass
$378
H 5.91 in W 3.15 in D 1.97 in
Sommerso Crystal Art Glass Vase, Gunnar Nylund, Strömbergshyttan, Sweden, 1950
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Västra Frölunda, SE
A refined somerso art glass vase designed by Gunnar Nylund for Strömbergshyttan, Sweden, 1950s. The vase is crafted in thick clear crystal with a beautifully suspended pale amber co...
Crystal
$1,418
H 7.49 in Dm 7.09 in
Paolo Venini & Fulvio Bianconi “Fazzoletti” Murano Glass Vase, Italy, 1950s
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Västra Frölunda, SE
A striking and elegant Fazzoletti (“handkerchief”) vase designed by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Murano, during the 1950s. Handblown on the island of Murano, this pi...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
RETNA SMALL Eye Multicolor Decorative Cast Glass Piece
By Orfeo Quagliata
Located in Naucalpan, Edo de Mex
Born from a collision of ideologies, blending the traditional and the contemporary, with technical and artisanal methods. Under our commitment to offer the w...
Glass
$7,000Sale Price|27% Off
H 19 in W 10 in D 11 in
Mounted Sculpture Bust in Bronze on Base Bibelot Decorative Object Center piece
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Mounted Sculpture Bust in Bronze on Base Bibelot Decorative Object Center piece. Excellent color and details decorative hand finished On a Desk as garniture on a mantle fireplace, on...
Bronze
Tacchini Gunta Floor Lamp by Studiopepe in STOCK
By Studiopepe, Tacchini
Located in New York, NY
The lamp has a European plug, so it won’t work in a standard US outlet. An ethereal and floating sculpture that transforms matter into a design tool. A warm and suffused glow that d...
Resin
Raymond Subes Style Brass and green Marble coffee table
By Raymond Subes
Located in Miami, FL
French coffee table designed in the style of Raymond Subes featuring a polished green marble top ,and a gilded brass base
Marble, Brass
$992Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.54 in W 35.44 in D 17.72 in
Vintage Brass and Marble Coffee Table, Italy 1950s
Located in Catania, CT
Good vintage condition for this brass and marble coffee or side table produced in Italy during the 1950s. Normal trace of age and use but a crack on the upper part of the brass struc...
Marble, Brass
French Midcentury Marble and Brass Coffee Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A vintage, midcentury French brass and marble coffee/cocktail table in the style of legendary firm Maison Jansen. Reflecting the typical aesthetic codes of Hollywood Regency taste, t...
Marble, Brass
Mid-Century Brass and Green Marble Coffee Table, France, 1960s
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Mid-Century Brass and Green Marble Coffee Table, France, 1960s Additional information: Materials: Brass, Marble Color: Forest Green Design Period: 1960 to 1969 Year: 1960 Country of...
Marble, Brass