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.
Beautiful cast iron Candlestick Holder Brutalist Era, Germany, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A large candlestick holder for four candles. Made of cast iron with a nice patina. Typically made in Germany in the 1960s, as a statement piece on a cupboard or credenza. Found at an...
Metal, Iron
Torres de Satélite Copper Candleholder - Goeritz and Barragán inspiration
Located in Guadalajara, MX
Inspired by the iconic Torres de Satélite—Mathias Goeritz and Luis Barragán’s monumental modernist sculptures of 1950s Mexico City—this handcrafted candleholder translates architectu...
Copper
Pair of Brutalist Cast Stainless Steel Candleholders by Olav Joa, Norway 1970s
A striking pair of Norwegian Brutalist candleholders designed by Olav Joa, circa 1970s. Executed in cast stainless steel (18-8), these sculptural candlesticks embody the bold archit...
Stainless Steel
1970s Brutalist Iron Candleholder Sculpture, Vertical Architectural Form
Located in Stockholm, SE
A sculptural Brutalist iron candleholder composed as a vertical architectural structure. The composition consists of stacked, heavy iron elements placed on top of one another in a ca...
Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron
Scandinavian Brutalist Candleholder in Glazed Stoneware
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Exceptionally decorative tri-fitted candle in vibrantly glazed brown ceramic. It's signed indistinguishable by an unknown Scandinavian artist/ceramist. It's in fine and intact condit...
Ceramic
Pair of Heavy Cast Bronze Candleholders
Located in London, GB
A pair of cast bronze candlesticks, with dark brown patina. European, second half 20th century. Heavy sculptural works with the feel of hand-crafted items, each piece slightly diff...
Bronze, Brass
$120Sale Price|35% Off
Swiss Brutalist Candle Holder, 1960's
Located in Bern, CH
Brutalist floor standing welded metal candle holder dating from the 1960's. Believed to be of Swiss origin. In the style of Jean Tinguely With single candle holder on a tripod base. ...
Metal
Paul Evans Style Brutalist Hand Wrought Copper Candlesticks, Circa 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful pair of mid-century modern Brutalist hand wrought copper large candlestick holders In the manner of Paul Evans USA, Circa 1970s Measures: 4.5"W x 4.5"D x 13"H. Very g...
Copper
Corry Ammeriaan Brutalist Candlestick for Artihove
Located in San Diego, CA
Corry Ammeriaan Brutalist Candlestick for Artihove, brutalist metal candle stick holder . rare piece by Dutch artist .
Metal
Large wrought iron candelabra with an abstract design and three candle holders
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage decoration - candle holders Brutalist decoration - Candle not included - This piece is probably unique. Measures : 43X36cm H:107cm This wrought iron chandelier features a t...
Iron
Por Amor – Contemporary steel sculpture and candleholder
Located in Guadalajara, MX
Inspired by the 1995 videoclip for "Por Amor", a hit from Mexican pop-star Thalía, which was shot at Luis Barragán's Casa Gilardi in Mexico City. In one of the video's most memorab...
Steel
Brutalist Aluminum & Brass Desenos Candlestick by David Marshall
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice Brutalist aluminum and brass "Desenos" candlestick by David Marshall, circa 1970s. The piece is the creation of the internationally renowned artist David Marshall, based ...
Aluminum, Brass
Large Italian Aluminum brutalist 1970s candlestick
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Large candle holder made of cast aluminum and handcrafted. Made in Italy in the 1960s and 1970s. Very good vintage condition: normal oxidation patina.
Aluminum
Vintage French Brutalist Candle Holders, Hand Forged Iron, Circa 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage French pair of handsome brutalist iron candleholders hand forged and hammered with their original painted finish. These elegant and simple pair of candle sticks have perfec...
Metal, Wrought Iron
$1,665 / set
Pair of candleholders by Matthew Hilton.
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Pair of candleholders in chrome plated aluminium by Matthew Hilton. A refined sculptural design defined by balance, negative space, and polished chrome surfaces. Both functional and ...
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
Sculptural Brutalist Bronze Candle Holder designed 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, shaped as a coral. It was designed by Austrian designer Heinz Goll...
Bronze
Mid-Century French Handcrafted Brutalist Iron Chain Link Candleholder
Located in COLMAR, FR
An authentic, brutalist, mid-century modern chain candleholder sourced in France. This is a spiked candleholder made for pillar candles (up to a max...
Iron
Rare Brutalist Iron Candleholder, Hand-Forged European Design, 1960s
Located in Herentals, BE
A rare and beautifully executed Brutalist iron candleholder, handcrafted in Europe during the 1960s. The columnar form, pierced with organic voids, and the thick, hammered surface cr...
Iron
Two Massive Brutalist Candlesticks by David Marshall
Located in Stockholm, SE
Two massive, brutalist candlesticks designed and manufactured by the Scottish artist David Marshall made with an ancient sand pressing technique. They come with patina. A great gift ...
Brass, Steel
$192Sale Price / set|60% Off
Vintage rock form candleholders in real stone, 1970s
Located in View Park, CA
A pair of bouldercore candelaria, 1970s. Tones of basalt, moss, and aubergine. Real stone - heavy. Felted bases. Pick up in LA or worldwide delivery option...
Stone
$2,379Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Brutalist Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Brutalist bronze candlesticks with wooden base, circa 1970 Good vintage condition.
Bronze
Midcentury Heavy Copper Candle Stick in Brutalist Style
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very tactile and heavy candle stick probably of Scandinavian origin. It is made of cast copper and has a star shaped foot that fluently turns into a round organically shaped top. Bot...
Copper
$285Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage 1970's Handmade Art Studio Pottery Eclectic Design Candle Holder
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Eclectic Design Handmade Art Studio Pottery Candle Holder. Made in the 1970's, probably Italy. Brutalist in style, hand made large candle holder with leafs and petals in diff...
Ceramic
$504Sale Price|38% Off
Brutalist Style Brass Candleholder, Hand-Crafted in Sweden, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A monumental candleholder in cast brass, created in the spirit of brutalism. Its form unfolds like a branching structure, at once reminiscent of a tree and of modernist architecture....
Brass
Brutalist metal candle holder , 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Brutalist metal candle holder , 1970s
Metal
$428Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Sculptural and Brutalist Candlesticks Made in Brass and Copper, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
A pair of sculptural candlesticks probably made in Italy between the 60s and 70s. The irregular texture created like a bas-relief by small and irregular signs engraved in the surfac...
Brass, Copper, Aluminum
Vintage Original Gilt Tipped Candlestick
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This evocative studio pottery candlestick is a masterclass in architectural form and tactile texture. Featuring a flared, volcano-like base, the piece exhibits a powerful Brutalist e...
Stone
Brutalist candle stick cast iron vintage 1970’s
Located in Delft, NL
Brutalist candle stick cast iron vintage 1970’s
Iron
Set of Three Brutalist Blackened Copper Candle Holders by Thomas Roy Markusen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trio of Brutalist-style graduated candleholders by famed metalsmith, Thomas Roy Markusen, who was previously commissioned to create a pair of candle-holders for the White House colle...
Copper, Nickel
Pair of Brutalist candlesticks in hammered aluminium, Germany 1970s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a striking pair of large-scale Brutalist candlesticks, executed in hammered aluminum, dating to the 1960s–1970s. These sculptural pieces are defined by...
Aluminum, Brass
Brutalist Candle Holder by Horst Dalbeck, 1970s, Germany
Located in Delft, NL
Dimensions: 26cm W, 16,5cm H, 8,5cm D. Material: Bronze. Designer: Horst Dalbeck. Period: 1970’s. Origin: Germany.
Bronze
Brutalist Postmodern Candlestick by Jonathan Christian, France, 2024.
Located in Lille, FR
Sculptural Brutalist candlestick by Jonathan Christian.
Carrara Marble
Brutalist Postmodern Candlestick by Jonathan Christian, France, 2024.
Located in Lille, FR
Sculptural Brutalist candlestick by Jonathan Christian.
Carrara Marble
Unique Hand Forged in Fire Artistic Design Candlestick with Three Frog like Legs
Located in Lisse, NL
This is the kind of unique artwork that brings a smile to your face. We bet you have never seen such a candlestick. This artistically designed and very well made candlestick dates f...
Wrought Iron
$392 / item
Pyramid Candelabra II
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Candelabra was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast aluminium and sand cast brass. Handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop in Spain from recycle...
Aluminum, Brass
Brutalist Candle Holder by Horst Dalbeck, 1970s, Germany
Located in Delft, NL
Dimensions: 26cm W, 16,5cm H, 8,5cm D Material: Bronze Designer: Horst Dalbeck Period: 1970’s Origin: Germany.
Bronze
Brass brutalist candle stick, 1960’s
Located in Delft, NL
Brutalist candle holder
Brass
Brutalist Mid-Century Brass Candelabra by Heinz Goll, Austria, 1960s
By Heinz Goll
Located in Vienna, AT
Brutalist candelabra in hand-cast brass by Austrian artist Heinz Goll, created in the 1960s. This rare, sculptural piece features 1 candle holder rising from a textured base, evoking...
Brass
Hammered Bronze Candlesticks in Brutalist Style, France, Circa 1970s
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant and timeless, this pair of hammered bronze candlesticks perfectly embodies the refined aesthetic of the 1970s. The metalwork, hand-hammered, creates subtle plays of texture t...
Bronze
Paul Evans Style Brutalist Candleholder, 1970s
Located in London, GB
Paul Evans style Brutalist candleholder, 1970s.
Bronze
Brutalist Bronze Candlestick for 3 Large Candles
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Stylish bronze candlestick of the rough Brutalist kind. It almost seems as if the molten bronze did not go into a mold but found its own way to shape up into an object. Four eleg...
Bronze
Tripod Candelabra G023 handmade cast in brass by David Marshall
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Tripod Candelabra was created by David Marshall, from sand cast brass. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop in...
Brass
Pair of 1970s Brutalist Bronze Candle Holders
Located in London, GB
Bronze cast pair of round low candle holders on square feet with geometric pattern on the surface, suitable for 4-5 cm wide candles.
Bronze
Brutalist Candleholder - Gilt & Patinated Bronze - 1950s
Located in MOUGINS, FR
A candle-holder in wrought iron. It is plated with gold leaf and patinated, resting on three curved feet. This piece is in Brutalist style and was manufactured in the 1950s. It comp...
Bronze
Extra Large Brutalist Iron Chain Candlestick Holder in black iron, France 1960s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an extra large Brutalist candlestick holder made of iron chain. It features a large holder of 20cm or 8 inches in diameter that can hold a very large ca...
Iron
Brutalist Candlestick Holder done in solid brass Austria 1970s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a gorgeous Brutalist candlestick holder done in solid brass. It features striking design typical for the era. Made in Austria in 1970s. Very good vinta...
Brass
$750 / set
Pair of Brass Brutalist Candlesticks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of solid brass candlesticks. The pair of beautifully patinated candlesticks feature thick round bases with narrow stems and the same thick round candle holder...
Brass
Sculptural Brutalist Iris-shaped 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, shaped as Iris flower. It was designed by Austrian designer Heinz Goll...
Bronze
Candelabra Sinuoso 4 Velas made of solid Brass and Aluminium Handmade
Located in Benahavis, AN
The " Candelabro Sinuoso " was created by David Marshall in 1997, Scottish Artist living in Spain, the candlestick is produced from sand cast aluminium and brass. All our pieces are...
Brass, Metal, Aluminum
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Craftsman / Brutalist Candelabra in Bronze
Located in New York, NY
Sophisticated pair of Mid-Century Modern, handmade Brutalist candelabra / candlesticks in solid bronze. Soft, natural golden brown patina. Each piece complimenting the other with t...
brutalistic candleholder by an unknown artist
Located in Kiel, SH
decorative candleholder by an unknown artist in steel, cast iron and ceramic
Cast Stone, Steel
Large Brutalist Hammered Wrought Iron Candlestick, Tripod Design, 1970s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Striking Brutalist candlestick from France, dating to the 1970s, handcrafted in hammered wrought iron. The piece features a dramatic sculptural design composed of curved, organically...
Wrought Iron
Puzzle 3 Pieces Candelabra Solid Cast Aluminium and Brass Handmade
Located in Benahavis, AN
The decorative Candelabra was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast aluminum and sand cast brass. Beautiful piece to Decorated your Home, makes a beautiful Wedding Gift...
Aluminum, Brass
$1,498Sale Price / set|35% Off
Set of Five 1950s German Brutalist Gold Chromed Metal Church Candleholders
Located in London, England
Set of five 1950s German candle holders featuring gold-chrome metalwork with a distinctive Brutalist aesthetic. Each piece showcases the movement's characteristic geometric compositi...
Aluminum, Chrome
$381Sale Price|24% Off
Brutalist Style Midcentury Chain Candlestick
Located in London, GB
A large metal candlestick, blacksmith made in the form of a chain. Well-formed and stylish. Brutalist, Belgium, circa 1970s. Dimensions: 51 height x 21 diameter in cm.
Metal
Set of Four Brutalist 1970s Oak & Brass Candlesticks
Located in Norwich, GB
A set of four Brutalist brass and solid oak candlesticks. Circa 1970. There are a few signs of use to the finish as expected with age and use, the brass having the original patina. ...
Brass
Mid-Century Design Brutalist Candle Holder, 1970’s
Located in Delft, NL
Nice heavy brutalist candle holder.
Metal
Brutalist brass pair of candle holders, France 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
A pair of great brutalist candle holders France, circa 1970 Solid brass H 21 cm x 13 cm x 40 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects
Brass
Vintage Boho Zig Zag Candlesticks - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add sculptural interest and earthy texture to your space with this striking pair of Vintage Boho Zig Zag Candlesticks. Crafted from plaster or stone composite, their architectural, s...
Concrete