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.
Enzo Mari, Travertine desk organizer, Fratelli Mannelli Italy 1970s
By Enzo Mari, Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Firenze, IT
Travertine desk organizer Enzo Mari, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s. H 10 cm - 13 × 14.5 cm. Conditions: good condition consistent with age and use. Defects.
Travertine
Beautiful Metal Crane Flamingo Figure Smokers set Brutalist Era, Germany, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A large Figurine made of wrought iron for Holding Cigarettes, Matchsticks and Smoking Accessories. Made of metal with a nice patina and rusty parts. Typically made in Germany in the 1960s, as a statement piece on a cupboard or credenza. Also nice for a mens room.
Metal
Brutalist Silvered Bronze Table Set by Morbelli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Conversano, IT
A rare and sculptural brutalist-style table set crafted in silvered bronze with a richly textured surface and organic openwork design. Produced by the renowned Italian art foundry Mo...
Bronze
Corkscrew C020 handmade in cast brass
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Corkscrew was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast brass.Makes a beautiful Wedding or Company Gift. Handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop in Sp...
Aluminum, Brass
$98
H 0.75 in W 2 in D 2 in
Limited Edition Cast Sculpture in Bronze or Brass, Constantin by Costantini
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
Constantin, a Limited Edition series of cast Bronze, Brass or Leaded Bronze in Polished, Brushed or Rustic finish by Costantini founder William Stuart; his homage to Constantin Brancusi. Each piece is unique and hand-numbered by the artist. Options available will be confirmed at time of order. About William Stuart William C Stuart...
Brass, Bronze
1970s Lucite Ashtray and Lighter Set
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1970s Lucite chrome ashtray and lighter desk set. Lighter measurements: Width 3.75", depth 2.5, height 4.25".
Chrome
Glass Ashtray, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Glass ashtray is an object realized in 1970s. Art glass, D 15 x 4 cm. Very good conditions!
Art Glass
Smoking Set, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Smoking Set is a decorative object realized in the 1970s. A ceramic blue colored smoking set composed by a lighter and an ashtray. Dimensions: Lighter: h.7.5 x 7 cm Ashtray: h. ...
Ceramic
Vintage Glass Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage glass paperweight is an original Contemporary Design Object realized in the 1970s. Original art glass. Made in Italy. Dimensions...
Art Glass
Pyramidal Smoking Set, Germany, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Pyramidal smoking set is an original decorative object realized in Germany in the 1970s. A unique object composed by four ashtrays and a lighter. Table lighter vintage plastic ...
Metal
$145 / item
H 0.74 in W 1.5 in D 0.5 in
Carl Auböck Midcentury Elephant Handmade Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist elephant keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte A...
Brass
$305 / item
H 3.5 in W 18 in D 9 in
Salle de Bain 'M' Handmade Cast Concrete Tray in White by UMÉ Studio
By UMÉ Studio
Located in Oakland, CA
Cast in one pour, this piece is derived from classic bathroom tile to organize and curate your personal belongings. Perfect for your everyday bedside table items, including a tube for a fresh flower. A play on a classic architectural sample : the bathroom tile. Everyday it exists in the corner of our eye, an invisible actor of our daily routine. Out of context it becomes an object full of the rituals it witnessed. On the "wrong" surface it attracts the eye - desires a touch. Used the "wrong" way it is this newly found friend - that was always there. The Salle de Bain series plays on an oft-overlooked architectural detail: the bathroom tile. By displacing the familiar shape from a quotidian surface to its own distinct form, the cast-in- concrete tray...
Concrete
$145 / item
H 2 in W 1 in D 0.2 in
Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Seahorse Handmade Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist seahorse keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped a...
Brass
$135 / item
H 2.25 in W 4.75 in D 13.5 in
Salle de Bain - S - Handmade Cast Concrete Tray in White by UMÉ Studio
By UMÉ Studio
Located in Oakland, CA
Cast in one pour, this piece is derived from classic bathroom tile to organize and curate your personal belongings. Perfect for your everyday bathroom or desk items. A play on a classic architectural sample: the bathroom tile. Everyday it exists in the corner of our eye, an invisible actor of our daily routine. Out of context it becomes an object full of the rituals it witnessed. On the "wrong" surface it attracts the eye - desires a touch. Used the "wrong" way it is this newly found friend - that was always there. The Salle de Bain series plays on an oft-overlooked architectural detail: the bathroom tile. By displacing the familiar shape from a quotidian surface to its own distinct form, the cast-in- concrete tray...
Concrete
$425 / item
H 7 in W 22 in D 13.25 in
Salle de Bain 'L' Handmade Cast Concrete Tray in White by UMÉ Studio
By UMÉ Studio
Located in Oakland, CA
Cast in one pour, this piece is derived from classic bathroom tile to organize and curate your personal belongings. Perfect for your everyday essentials. A play on a classic architectural sample : the bathroom tile. Everyday it exists in the corner of our eye, an invisible actor of our daily routine. Out of context it becomes an object full of the rituals it witnessed. On the "wrong" surface it attracts the eye - desires a touch. Used the "wrong" way it is this newly found friend - that was always there. The Salle de Bain series plays on an oft-overlooked architectural detail: the bathroom tile. By displacing the familiar shape from a quotidian surface to its own distinct form, the cast-in- concrete tray...
Concrete
$865 / set
H 3.5 in W 18 in D 9 in
Salle de Bain, Set of Three, Handmade Cast Concrete Tray in White by UMÉ Studio
By UMÉ Studio
Located in Oakland, CA
The Salle de Bain series plays on an oft-overlooked architectural detail: the bathroom tile. By displacing the familiar shape from a quotidian surface to...
Concrete
Noughts & Crosses Game M001 handmade in cast brass & aluminium
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Noughts & Crosses Game was created by David Marshall, from sand cast aluminium and brass. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our foun...
Aluminum, Brass
Noughts & Crosses Game M001 handmade in cast brass & aluminium
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Noughts & Crosses Game was created by David Marshall, from sand cast aluminium and brass. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our foun...
Aluminum, Brass
F.lli Mannelli Travertine Italian Desk Set Brutalist Style, 1970
Located in Prato, Tuscany
Desk set in Tuscan travertine Brutalist style; the set consists of a fish-shaped ticket holder, a rounded pen holder, and a triangular envelope holder; they were designed and produce...
Travertine