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 Bronze Vase by Kaj Blomqvist for Rakennusvaline, Finland, 1960s
Located in Malmö, SE
A stunning Brutalist / Scandinavian Modern bronze vase with amazing patina. Designed by Kaj Blomqvist and made by Rakennusvaline, Finland, 1960s. Great original condition.
Bronze
Paul Evans Studio Patchwork Hinged Box 1965
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Studio Patchwork Hinged Box 1965 Patinated copper with applied bronze and pewter throughout, Interior with original "Blue Antique" finish Dimensions: 7 h × 16 w × 8 d in P...
Brass, Bronze, Copper, Pewter
French Rustic Olive Wood Salt Box – Wall-Mounted – 1970s Artisan Craft
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
French Rustic Olive Wood Salt Box – Wall-Mounted – 1970s Artisan Craft Description: This is a beautiful rustic salt box, handcrafted in solid olive wood, made in France in the 1970s...
Wood, Olive
Midcentury Brutalist Travertine Marble Italian Bookends Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful set of bookends in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects produced during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the texture of the marble, together with the pure and geometrical design, make it a wonderful example of midcentury elegance. This item is perfect for a desk in an office room or for being the focal center of a living room or a hallway entry...
Travertine
James Bearden "Segment Jewelry Box on Pedestal"
Located in New York, NY
"Segment jewelry box on pedestal," a new work in patinated steel with 24-karat gold leaf and fused bronze, copper, and glass enamel. By Des Moines, Iowa, ar...
Bronze, Copper, Steel
Travertine Marble Italian Box & Catchall Desk Accessory Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful square-shaped catchall and the rectangular Box in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects production during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli...
Travertine
Maches Mexican Brutalist Bronze Slanted Dresser Box
By Pal Kepenyes
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Brutalist dresser box. With embossed lines around the circumference and a slanted body. In the style of Pal Kepenyes. The lid is decorated with a bowl-like shape containing...
Bronze
Gustave Tiffoche Hand Built Ceramic Box, La Bourne, France, 1960, signed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wonderful example of Brutalist Organic Modern Sculpture
Ceramic
Rare & Early James Bearden "Pod Box on Stand" Steel & Blackened Bronze Brutalist
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and studio-made by American designer and craftsman James Bearden, this pedestal style box offers a unique blend of extraordinary hand-made quality and striking brutalist vis...
Bronze, Steel
James Bearden "Pod Box on Stand"
Located in New York, NY
"Pod Box on Stand," a sculptural work in patinated steel and fused bronze by Des Moines, Iowa artist James Bearden. The hinged and abstractly naturalistic...
Bronze, Steel
Olive wood box, France, 1960, brutalist style France
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A stunning decorative box made of olive wood dating from the 1960s, crafted in a brutalist style. The piece is carved directly from a stump or root, preserving the wood's natural for...
Wood
Brutalist Metal Patchwork Box with Insert Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
A cube form desktop box covered with patchwork copper by American artist and designer Paul Evans (1931-1987). The lidded box has a plastic insert box and was made as an ice box or a ...
Metal
Decorative box by Arnaldo Pomodoro for Edizioni Ars D, Milan 1980
Located in Conversano, IT
Stunning box designed by Arnaldo Pomodoro for Edizioni Ars D, Milan, commissioned by Ciga Hotels in the early 1980s. This highly limited edition consists of only 520 pieces, each cra...
Bronze
Curb Chain Brutalist "Martelé" Patinated Steel Decorative Box - France 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Decorative box in hammered steel with a curb chain motif. Brutalist design. France 1970's. In good vintage condition. This box will ship from France and can be returned to either Fra...
Steel
$228Sale Price|49% Off
Vintage Scandinavian Brutalist Box in Copper
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A wellmade and beautifully patinated box in hammered copper. Suitable for Jewelry or small personal items. Distinct brutalist styling with architectural...
Copper
Square Brutalist Stoneware Trinket by Sejer Keramik, Denmark, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Raw looking yet delicately glazed quardratic trinket/box in glazed stoneware. Abstract circular lid motif in earthy/dusty glazes. Brilliant decorative piece for personal smalls, jewe...
Stoneware
Arenson Studio “Infinity” Brutalist Hammered Brass, Leather Box
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Hand-hammered copper box by Arenson Studios, West Palm Beach, FL, circa 1970s.
Copper
Multi Metal Brass and Copper Brutalist Style Hand made Hinged Box with Bun Feet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Muti-Metal Hinged box of Brass and Copper. The piece is of the Brutalist Style and its hand Crafted qualities of welded or soldered pieces of Metal t...
Brass, Copper
Decorative Box in olive wood, brown color, brutalist style, France circa 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Box in olive wood, free-form. With a lid that turns and can be removed from the base of the box. The shape of this box is free and sinuous, which makes it very original and rare. The...
Wood, Olive
Decorative Box or Vase in Terracotta Africa 20th Century Brown Color
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Decorative Box or Vase in Terracotta Africa 20th Century Brown Color.
Terracotta, Rattan
$140Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Tin Wrapped Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Brutalist tin wrapped wooden box, circa 1970s. The piece was made in Mexico and is in very good vintage condition. #843
Metal
Midcentury Travertine Marble Italian Box Catchall by Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful square-shaped box in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects production during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the texture of the marble, together with the pure and geometrical design, make it a wonderful example of midcentury elegance. This item is perfect for a desk in an office room or for being the focal center of a living room or a hallway entry...
Travertine
Solid Carved Walnut Box In The Style of Marolles, France 1940's
Located in New York, NY
An original solid carved walnut box with a handle and built-in hinge.
Walnut
James Bearden Jewely Box "Dwelling" Series
Located in Hudson, NY
This is a one-of-a-kind, trinket box from the "Dwelling" series, of torch-cut, welded, textured and enameled steel. Created by American artist, James Bearden, this unique item is a t...
Steel
Vintage Asian Cast Character Sliding Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add a touch of Eastern philosophy and artisanal charm to your desk or vanity with this captivating vintage figural trinket box. The piece features a heavy, cast metal sculpture of a ...
Bronze
Hollywood regency lucite tuxedo set, Guzzini Italy 1970
Located in Firenze, IT
Travertine figures porcupine and fish Mannelli Brothers, Italy 1970s H 15 cm 4 × 18 cm H 10.5 cm 3 × 10.5 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use
Metal
Bone, Horn Patchwork Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative keepsake, jewelry box clad in geometric horn and bone tiles, some with hand engraving, lined in wood. A great addition to any desk or coffee table.
Bone, Horn, Wood
James Bearden Abstract Table Top Sculpture
Located in Kansas City, MO
Tabletop sculpture of torch cut steel and applied patina by artist James Bearden. This complex work features a Kinetic or mobile element on the top portion.
Wire, Cut Steel
$487Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.17 in W 6.11 in D 3.94 in
Rectangular Carved Travertine Box in the style of Fratelli Mannelli Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
An essential and elegant box made in Italy that can contain whatever you want, cigarettes, business cards or use as a jewelry box. Dating back to around the 70s, it is made of traver...
Travertine, Metal
Artisan-Crafted Decorative Box Embellished With a Silver Dragon
Located in Miami, FL
Designed exclusively by Urban Art Home, this is a distinct and elegant decorative wood box made with lacquer and embellished with a sculpted sterling silver dragon. The square box ...
Sterling Silver
Italian Murano Faceted Glass & Brass Hinged Box / Jewelry Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful hinged Murano glass box in pristine clear faceted glass and brass trim and original decorative key and tassel. It is a wonderful desk or...
Crystal, Metal
Paul Evans Mixed Metal Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Paul Evans Mixed Metal Riveted Box Good original Surface Useful Size
Metal
$1,200Sale Price|33% Off
H 3.5 in W 7 in D 4.5 in
Huge Malachite Box 7" Gemstone Jewelry Box Hinged 4.5 lb
Located in Somis, CA
This magnificent, large 4.15 lb malachite box is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and the inherent beauty of fine-grade gemstone malachite. The carefully selected stone displ...
Malachite
1920s Tiffany Studios Zodiac Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Marked” Tiffany Studios on underside. Solid bronze box with Zodiac motifs and Greco-Roman grid motif. Classic art deco shapes and forms.
Bronze
An amaranth Wood Jewelry Box - Apple Shape - France 1970s
By Odile Noll
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
An unique jewelry box made of turned amaranth wood in the shape of an apple. Opens in two to store small items like jewelry, rings, earrings, pills, coins, etc. Elegant design with ...
Wood
$2,713 / set
H 2.37 in W 2.37 in D 2.05 in
Jewelry Ring Trinket Boxes Pair Cloisonné Swan Japanese Gift Love Valentine
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
- Once courtship is complete, male and female swans bond for life and this delightful pair of Japaneer cloisonné swans symbolize love and const...
Enamel
$1,031Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.78 in W 6.11 in D 4.14 in
1950s Onyx Mineral Stone Jewelry Box / Hinged Box
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern hinged box veneered in fine Onyx stone, Spain, 1950s. This exquisite vintage 1950s rectangular box is all constructed with onyx and features a brass hinge. This tr...
Stone, Onyx, Brass
Vintage Perletinn Brutalist Box in Pewter, Norway 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A Norwegian brutalist box for cigarettes, cigar, playing cards, jewelry or other personal smalls. Distinct crater paneling micmicing the surface of the moon. Made and designed by Per...
Pewter
Brutalist Brass Trinket Bowl Box
By Line Vautrin
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Brutalist patinated brass trinket bowl / box in the style of Line Vautrine
Brass
Metal Brutalist Hinged Tin Box 1960's, France
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Metal Brutalist Hinged Tin Box 1960's, France Hammered, sculpted and worked tin and ink with tiny nails over wood. Unique piece for jewelry, decor, vide poche or stash. Purchased Par...
Tin
Sold
H 3.15 in W 4.34 in D 6.3 in
Decorative Box for Cigarettes in olive wood brown color France circa 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Box in olive wood, Rectangular form. We have 3 compartments for 5 Cigarettes each, which makes it very original and rare. There are noon so far, the day I put this announcement on th...
Wood, Olive
Sold
H 3.15 in W 4.34 in D 6.3 in
Decorative Box for Cigarettes in olive wood brown color France circa 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Box in olive wood, Rectangular form. We have 3 compartments for 5 Cigarettes each, which makes it very original and rare. There are noon so far, the day I put this announcement on th...
Wood, Olive
Barbara Delfosse French Incised Ceramic Bird Box, circa 1950-1960
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Very special incised box by Barbara Delfosse, box in two parts, with russet glaze.
Ceramic
Paul Evans Brutalist Patchwork Metal Cube Box
By Paul Evans
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Patinated copper, steel and brass handmade cube box created by Paul Evans (1931-1987). Box measures 5" high by 4.5" by 4.5". In very good vintage 1960s condition showing some stainin...
Metal
Sold
H 4.73 in W 11.82 in D 9.06 in
1970s, Metal and Stones Brutalist Italian Unique Piece Jewelry Box
By Longobard
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A rare brutalist jewelry box designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies. The box it's totally hand-crafted and it's an unique piece, insid...
Stone, Silver Plate
Mid-Century Copper Box
Located in London, GB
A patinated copper box. Fracne, third quarter of the 20th Century.
Copper
Sold
H 12.5 in W 14 in D 14.75 in
18th Century German Hammered Copper & Brass Bread Box, Kitchen Utensil
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful antique 18th century German bread box. Perfect for decoration in your old country kitchen. The piece is in good used vintage condition with patina and a view minor dents. S...
Brass, Copper
Brutalist Hammered Brass Box or Jewelry Casket
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lidded Brutalist Hand Made box in hammered brass with interesting floral details. Catches light beautifully - a complement to any surface. Can be used as a jewelry box, 420 stash box...
Brass
Sold
H 3.63 in Dm 3.13 in
Maches Mexican Brutalist Bronze Dresser Box with Gemstones & Nude Dancing Figure
By Pal Kepenyes
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Brutalist dresser box. With stylized nude figures around its circumference, linked hand-in-hand as if in a Bacchanalian dance, the male figures with erect penises...
Brass
Brutalist Brass and Wood Lined Lidded Box Marked Budapest
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marvelous polished brutalist box with Budapest detail. A gleaming addition to any vanity, dresser or bookcase. This piece was acquired in Paris and is wood lined...
Brass