Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
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
- Brutalism emerged during the mid-20th century
- Term coined by architecture critic Reyner Banham
- Originated in the United Kingdom
- Brutalist architecture gained popularity in the United States beginning in the early 1960s
- Inaugural brutalist projects include Unité d'habitation and the city of Chandigarh, India, both of which owe to influential architect Charles-Édouard “Le Corbusier” Jeanneret
- Le Corbusier’s cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, designed hundreds of chairs, tables, cabinets and lamps for Chandigarh
- Informed by the Bauhaus, constructivism, modernism and the International Style; part of mid-century modernism
- Contrasted starkly with Beaux Arts style
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
Textured brass drawer Pull 12 cm x Ø 1.2 cm
Located in Marrakech, MA
This drawer pull is made of solid brass and belongs to the Earth Prints collection. Its linear form highlights a simple silhouette enhanced by subtle surface reliefs.
Each piece is ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
A Pair of NEOCLASSICAL BRUTALIST SHABBY-CHIC Wrought Iron ANDIRONS, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
A pair of beautiful NEOCLASSICAL BRUTALIST SHABBY-CHIC andirons, with a kind of gothic influence : tripod wrought iron base with rolled wrought iron hooves, each topped with a tapere...
Category
1960s French Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Textured brass drawer pull 8 cm x Ø 1.2 cm
Located in Marrakech, MA
This drawer pull in solid brass is part of the Earth Prints collection. Compact and balanced, its smaller format offers practical proportions.
Cast using traditional methods, it ret...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Unique pair of wooden pedestal planters, France 1950's
Located in Forest, BE
Pair of handcrafted wooden pedestal planters. Made out of tree trunk / branch with wooden pot planters. Creates a sculpture.
Le brutalisme est un style architectural issu du mouve...
Category
1950s French Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
Mid-Century Brutalist Sculptural Concrete Planter with Clover Form
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This striking mid-century Brutalist planter features a rare sculptural clover or cloud-shaped silhouette, hand-poured in concrete and beautifully weathered by time. The organic, asym...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Concrete
Spanish Brutalist Fireplace Tool Set Stand in Wrought Iron, Scroll Loop Motif
Located in Barcelona, ES
Stand with Fireplace Tools, Hand Forged Iron
Eye-catching fireplace tool set on stand, silver patinated wrought iron. Spain, 1950s-1960s
The set includes four hand forged iron firepl...
Category
20th Century Spanish Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Italian Sculptural Brutalist Wrought Iron and Glass Coffee Table or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautifully hand crafted wrought iron side table with strong and thick glass top, placed on a decorative frame. The legs, greatly shaped and forged with the typical finish of hand fo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
James de Wulf Concrete Fibonacci Locking Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
Finding symmetry in organic landscapes is always a bit of wonder. The James de Wulf Concrete Fibonacci locking coffee table is the perfect center piece for the garden. Constructed of...
Category
2010s American Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Concrete
$19,020 / item
A BRUTALIST CONSTRUCTIVIST MODERNIST Wrought Iron ANDIRONS GRID France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
A powerful and architectural "Andiron" or "wood holder" forming a strong graphic fire base, with a real Brutalist, Modernist, style: 2 very massive bended iron legs structured by a ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Hammered Forged Bronze Fireplace Tool Set
By Paul Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
Hammered forged bronze fireplace tool set. A nice mix of mid century modern, antique and brutalism. Set includes a shovel, poker and log grabber.
Category
1960s American Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Peter Lipman-Wulf Sculptural Vessel
Located in New York, NY
Sculptural, hand-formed vessel of painted and glazed clay, likely for use as a bird bath, by German/American artist and educator Peter Lipman-Wulf. Born i...
Category
1960s American Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Clay
Etched Copper Planter Style of LaVerne
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Etched copper planter or basket in the style of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.
Category
1960s Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper
Four French modernist fibro-cement rectangular planters, C. 1975.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A nice set with each featuring a minimalist ribbed design characteristic of late 20th-century architectural gardenware. With clean lines and a utilitarian aesthetic, these planters r...
Category
Late 20th Century French Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Cement
Water Fountains, Italy, 1970s
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of gargoyles in fanciful design and decorative patina. Dimensions owl: 235 x 75 x 80 cm, flute player: 196.5 x 80 x 73 cm.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Other
$13,976 / set
Two Pair of French Brutalist Cast Bronze Door Pulls
Located in Hanover, MA
Two pair of heavy cast bronze and nickel plated architectural door pulls shaped like the gores of a terrestrial globe.
Price listed is per pair.
Category
1950s French Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Bronze, Nickel
Flower Door Handle PYT031 handmade cast in brass
Located in Benahavis, AN
Handcrafted Solid Brass Door Handle - Designed by David Marshall Sculpture.
The unique handcrafted brass door handle is a stricking fusion of art and function, designed and made by ...
Category
2010s Spanish Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Chalet bell set
Located in Nivelles, BE
Set of iron and copper chalet bells consisting of 3 bells that tinkle in the wind or when swaying.
Great for the front door of a mountain chalet.
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper, Iron
$244
Solid bass cabinet Knob Ø 4 cm Earth Prints Collection
Located in Marrakech, MA
This solid brass cabinet knob belongs to the Earth Prints collection, inspired by irregular forms and natural textures. With a diameter of 4 cm and a subtly domed profile, it is well...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Brutalist French Reclaimed Fireplace Surround In Hard Limestone
Located in Beervelde, BE
Rustic French feeling limestone fireplace surround from the 17th century.
Rare brutalist design.
Original fireplace mantle for authentic interior d...
Category
17th Century French Antique Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Limestone
Solid brass cabinet pulls ø 20 cm : A refined texture for doors and furniture
Located in Marrakech, MA
Use: Indoor or protected outdoor
Part of the Earth Prints collection, this pair of solid brass cabinet pulls highlights the richness of natural textures. Cast in brass foundry and m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Round Push Pull Door Knobs in Acrylic and Brass for Architectural Projects
Located in London, GB
Double pair of clear perspex and brass round door knobs, European 1970's.
These identical door handles can be applied inside or outside on a pair of ...
Category
1970s European Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Vintage Boho Patchwork Pedestals - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pure expression of 1970s glamour, this iconic pair of patchwork pedestals brings incredible texture and visual interest to any interior. Each cube is meticulously wrapped in tessel...
Category
Late 20th Century American Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Burl
$2,950 / set
Jean-Paul Créations Brutalist Stainless Steel Andirons, France, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Minimalist nickel-plated or stainless steel andirons
Flame shaped front end
rare piece by Jean-Paul Créations, France
these andirons will ship from France
price does not include ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Hand Made Metal Brutalist Bonsai Tree in Rust Finish
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist hand made iron Bonsai tree sculpture. The sculpture has wonderful all over rust finish, gained from years of outdoor life, this piece was origina...
Category
1970s American Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Handmade Sculptural Iron, Copper, Bronze 4 Piece Railings, by Larry Griffis Sr.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Handmade sculptural iron, copper, bronze 4 piece railings, by Larry Griffis Jr. Stunning artistic railings originally commissioned for downtown Buffalo N...
Category
1970s American Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Bronze, Copper, Iron
Large Ceramic Art Tiles with Multi Color Bright Glazes 1960s
Located in London, GB
Art tiles, set of four, each unique in glaze in dramatic colors and explosive patterns. The translucent glazes are applied thick so that they create a crackling effect. These glazes ...
Category
1970s German Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Ceramic
Architectural Pair of Square Bronze Push Pull Door Handles with Nature Relief
Located in London, GB
Set of two square Brutalist bronze door handles with forest vegetation textures European 1970's. Their relief with original dark patina will give real personality to a house.
These i...
Category
1970s European Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Bronze
Arrow Form Mid Century Modern Arts and Crafts Andirons
Located in New York, NY
Pair of solid iron andirons of arrow form, with original rust surface. Both are structurally sound and sturdy, free of damage or repairs. Executed in the Brutalist, Arts and Crafts s...
Category
1950s American Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Modernist Sculptural Copper Wall Plate Signed Bolba H
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Brutalist/modernist sculptural copper wall plate signed Bolba H.
Category
Mid-20th Century Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper
Concrete Tree Trunk Garden Set, France, 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
This garden set from 1970s France is cast in concrete with a striking faux-bois finish, mimicking carved tree trunks. Comprising a round table and four chairs, each element is molded...
Category
1970s French Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Concrete
Monumental Midcentury Brutalist Center or Garden Table Sculpture
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Mid-Century Modern iron center table or garden patio table made on a monumental scale. The Brutalist style sculpture is supported by three br...
Category
20th Century American Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
$4,760 Sale Price
30% Off
1940s California Forged Flat Iron Planter Holder With Forged Rings Brutalist
Located in Monrovia, CA
Vintage California Forged Flat Iron Planter With decorative Rings Made In The USA In The 1940s.
The Twisted Top Brutalist Forged Ring Is 15.25 Inches And The Second Or Bottom Ring ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Metal, Iron
Large Wrought Iron Hammered Fireplace Tool Set : H 127cm
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Large Wrought Iron Hammered Fireplace Tool Set : H 127cm
Fireplace set - Vintage
Measures : 36x41cm H : 127cm
Weigth : ~ 15kg
Materials : Wrought Iron
Wear consistent with age and use
Category
20th Century Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Large Brutalist Bronze Door Handle with Scissors and Comb, West Germany 1960s
Located in Beograd, RS
A large and impressive Brutalist bronze door handle with the motives of scissors and comb. The handle is heavily textured, with lots of movement and depth in the design surrounding t...
Category
1960s German Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Bronze
Sculptural Balustrade
Located in Benahavis, AN
This Balustrade can be ordered by piece, we also can provided you with a detailed estimate to created the complete staircase with handrails and intermediated rails.
Please consult us...
Category
2010s Spanish Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
$1,747 / item
Brutalist atomic iron garden sculpture.. exterior or interior, Hand exicuted
Located in Buffalo, NY
Brutalist atomic iron garden sculpture.. exterior or interior, Hand exicuted.. Great color and patina..
Category
1950s American Vintage Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Brutalist Welded Steel & Stone Abstract Sculpture by Sue Taves, Indoor/Outdoor
By Sue Taves
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning brutalist welded steel & stone abstract sculpture by Sue Taves . great indoor or outdoor,,garden.. Powerful composition,, signed and dated,, Modernist abstract,,
Category
1990s American Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone, Cut Steel
Hand Beaten Copper Cooking Cauldron on Stand, Log Basket
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Hand beaten copper cooking cauldron on stand, log basket
This is a lovely early Cooking Pot, it is made in hand beaten copper, slightly flaring out at...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper
Long Arts and Crafts Beaten Brass Fender
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Long Arts and Crafts Beaten Brass Fender
This is a good large Brass Fender it is worked in beaten brass and with a slightly brutalist look to the finish
The Fender is in good co...
Category
1880s Antique Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Modern Balustrades Solid Cast Aluminium and Brass
Located in Benahavis, AN
This Balustrade can be ordered by piece, we also can provided you with a detailed estimate to created the complete staircase with handrails and intermediated rails.
Please consult us...
Category
2010s Spanish Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
$1,514 / item
Heavily Embossed Age Darkened Steel Fender, Brutalist Look, Made by Dudley
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Heavily embossed age darkened steel fender, brutalist look, made by Dudley
This is a good oxidised pressed steel fender it has a leafy pattern worke...
Category
Early 20th Century Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Steel
Bronze Vase Fountain with Black Marble Sink and Patina Base
Located in Washington, DC
Bronze vase fountain with black marble sink and patina base "Four Parts".
An incredible cabinet with two doors that open to a large storage space wi...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Balaustre Solid Aluminum
Located in Benahavis, AN
This Balustrade can be ordered by piece, we also can provided you with a detailed estimate to created the complete staircase with handrails and intermediated rails.
Please consult us...
Category
2010s Spanish Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Aluminum
$1,164
Set of 4 Arts and Crafts Gothic Candle Stands This is a Set of 4
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Set of 4 Arts and Crafts Gothic Candle Stands
This is a Set of 4 Superbly Hand Forged Iron 5ft Floor Standing Cathedral Candle Sticks
These wonderful pieces were designed by Harri...
Category
1990s Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Heavy Studded Darkened Brass Fender, Brutalist Look
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Heavy studded darkened brass fender, Brutalist Look
This is a good large Victorian beaten brass fender it has a studded pattern worked in the age darkened brass giving it a Brutalis...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
"Ruvido" Freestanding Sink Made of Marble Customizable
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This carved washbasin in Nero Marquinia marble, treated with Acid Shield for enhanced durability and protection, embodies the bold, raw beauty of Brutalist design, a style that emerg...
Category
2010s Italian Brutalist Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Limestone, Marble
Brutalist building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Brutalist building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, decorative objects, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist building and garden elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Willy Guhl, James de Wulf, David Marshall, and Denis Milovanov. 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 building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $74 and tops out at $75,000 while the average work can sell for $1,950.
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