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.
Brutaliste sculpture en bois et acier " Le messager " de l'artiste Ankh
Located in Meyrin, Switzerland
Sculpture de l’artiste sculptrice Ankh, diplômée des Arts Décoratifs de Genève (1980). Issue des premières séries de la sculptrice intitulée " Vers je ne sais quelle étoile " et " L...
Steel
$600 / set
Brutalist Metal and Wood Horse Bookends
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique circa 1970s, USA Brutalist-style horse bookends composed of cut and soldered sheet metal heads and legs with carved wooden bodies and wire tails. Very good, vintage condition,...
Sheet Metal
Mid Century Brutalist Bronze and Amethyst Sculpture with Bird and Cactus
Located in Toronto, ON
A unique bronze and amethyst sculpture in a truly Brutalist / organic style treatment with a fine, raw surface patina. Bird, textured brush and cactus motifs are abstracted in cast b...
Amethyst, Bronze
Brutalist Handcrafted Wall Sculpture of a Rooster, Europe, circa 1960s–1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brutalist Handcrafted Wall Sculpture of a Rooster, Europe, circa 1960s–1970s A striking Brutalist wall sculpture depicting a rooster, handcrafted in forged and welded metal with an ...
Metal
Vintage Coastal Patinated Bronze Cattail Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Capture the raw, organic beauty of nature with this striking vintage cattail sculpture. Expertly crafted from mixed metals, this artisan piece showcases a dynamic composition of slen...
Brass, Copper
Abstract sculpture in patinated plaster by Oto Logo, Yugoslavia 1961
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a stunning Brutalist abstract sculpture made by Yugoslav artist Oto Logo. Done in post-war Yugoslavia, the sculpture is done in the organic expressionis...
Plaster
Vintage Cast Concrete Horse Head
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This monumental vintage horse head sculpture is a striking example of mid-century garden art, offering a bold architectural presence for the refined home. Cast in substantial heavy c...
Concrete
Three Studio Brutalist Abstract Metal Sculptures like Jeré Paul Evans, 60's, Set
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Set of Three Brutalist Metal Tree Sculptures like Jeré, Paul Evans, 1960's, USA Torch-cut, welded and grinder-worked sheet metal in various organic abstract forms resembling trees. F...
Sheet Metal
American Nautical Hand-Crafted Coral Brass Fish Sculptural Table Lamp Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Brutalist Style whimsical nautical Brass Fish on a natural white coral core and mounted on a rectangle Wood Base. The Stem is a copper piece of pipe and topped with the socket and ...
Coral, Brass
Vintage Plaster Head Sculpture on Wood Base
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Exuding an air of quiet contemplation, this vintage plaster head sculpture is a striking example of Mid-Century artistic expression. The piece fe...
Plaster, Wood
Brutalist totem sculpture in cast bronze by Anna Mizak
Located in London, England
Verdigris bronze totem sculpture on plinth base. Anna Mizak was born in 1939 in Poland. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and later at the Royal Institute of Art in ...
Bronze
$2,200 / set
Chess Set by Marco Celotti Circa 1970
Located in Hudson, NY
A one of a kind chess set by Italian American artist Marco Celotti. Created circa 1970, the set is quit marvelous. Each figure is filled with detail. Even the individual pawns, each...
Pottery
Bronze Brutalist Sculpture Stylized Bouquet of Flowers
Located in Kent, CT
A well-executed mid-century Brutalist bronze sculpture depicting a stylized bouquet of flowers. Dark patina. Raised on a shaped wood block stand. Artist unknown. Dimensions: 15″L x 6...
Bronze
Mid Century Modern Paul Evans Style Brutalist Bronze Sculptural Plates
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
These two-panel bronze screens feature a high-relief, abstract textural surface typically achieved through torch-cut metal, welded slag, or cast resin with a metallic patina. The asy...
Bronze, Steel
Silas Seandel Bronze Sculpture Brutalist Signed
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Art Acquisitions Of A Silas Seandel Bronze Sculpture Brutalist Signed Approximate Measurements in Inches 15 1/2" high (including ba...
Bronze
American Post-War Brutalist Abstract Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-War Design Brutalist abstract sculpture composed of welded iron shapes with a rust patina.
Iron
Mid 20th Century Italian Carved Wood Abstract Sculpture by Moroder David
Located in Memphis, TN
A carved wooden abstract sculpture by Moroder David, Italy, second half of the 20th century, composed of stacked geometric forms with incised and relief detailing. The composition is...
Wood
Brutalist Abstract Cast Aluminum& Marble Sculpture by D. Calvi, ca. 1970’s
Located in New York, NY
Abstract Brutalism D. Calvi Cast & Partially Polished Aluminum, Marble ca. 1970’s DIMENSIONS Height: 22 inches (w/ base) Width: 9.5 inches Depth: 4 inches Base: 11 x 6 x 3 inches A...
Marble, Aluminum
White-Headed Gull, Chainsaw Carved, Burnt Oak Abstract Sculpture, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
This hand-carved sculpture captures the fleeting essence of a White-Headed Gull in abstract form, rendered in deep blackened timber that emphasizes its sculptural presence. The piece...
Oak
"Caravan I" Ernest Shaw, Large Brutalist Mixed-Media Wood and Iron
By Ernest Shaw
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Brutalist/Tribal sculpture with elemental form and Industrial style. Made of wood, iron, rubber and string. Signed and dated 1987 on Verso.
Iron
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of 21st Century Abstract Bronze Floral Sculpture
Located in Augusta, GA
Pair of bronze abstract floral sculpture Hand made in the Brutalist-style by local Atlanta artist Made with a beautiful verdigris patina Made...
Brass, Bronze
Brutalist Bronze "Dove" Sculpture, Religious / Church
Located in Buffalo, NY
Super Stylized Cast Bronze Sculpture depicting a Dove. Salvaged from Downtown Buffalo New York Church, most likely part of a railing, alter. Amazing detail.Definitely created by a sk...
Bronze
Zinc agave plant sculpture on pedestal stand by Domani modern Sutherland
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Produced by Domani Design/ Belgium ZInc agave plant in urn atop rectangular pedestal approx 23 x 23 inches diameter x 76 inches high
Zinc
Large Brutalist Abstract Sculpture by Charles Bound, c.1980
Located in Surbiton, GB
Wood fired stoneware vessel by Charles Bound (b. 1939). Dimensions (cm, approx): Height: 24.
Stoneware
Vintage Abstract Geometric Rings Sculpture Z
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage iron sculpture is a masterful example of Brutalist-inspired abstract art. Composed of interlocking, hand-welded rings that ascend in a graceful, rhythmic curve,...
Wrought Iron
Contemporary Abstract Ceramic Totem Sculpture with Polychrome Glaze
Located in BORGO, FR
This unique contemporary ceramic sculpture features a tall, slender silhouette reminiscent of an abstract totem or an organic architectural form. Entirely handcrafted, the piece is a...
Ceramic
NONO Crafts Dark Elegance, Biomorphic Burned Oak, Still Stand No93
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Crafts Dark Elegance, Biomorphic Burned Oak, Still Stand No93—— Joel Escalona's wooden standing sculptures are objects of raw beauty and serene grace. ...
Hardwood
$14,320Sale Price / item|20% Off
Still Stand No86 Reveals Dark Elegance in a Carved Burned Oak Totem
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Still Stand No86 Reveals Dark Elegance in a Carved Burned Oak Totem —— Joel Escalona's wooden standing sculptures are objects of raw beauty and serene grace. Each one is a testame...
Hardwood
$14,320Sale Price / item|20% Off
Carved from Elegance, Still Stand No80 in Burned Oak by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Carved from Elegance, Still Stand No80 in Burned Oak by NONO —— Joel Escalona's wooden standing sculptures are objects of raw beauty and serene grace. Each one is a testament to th...
Hardwood
Dark, Modern Totem in Burned Oak, Escalona's Vision, Still Stand No81
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Dark, Modern Totem in Burned Oak, Escalona's Vision, Still Stand No81 —— Joel Escalona's wooden standing sculptures are objects of raw beauty and serene grace. Each one is a testa...
Hardwood
French Sculptural Hand-Built Terracotta Vessel, Organic Modern, 1960s
Located in Memphis, TN
A striking French hand-built terracotta vessel dating from the 1960s, distinguished by its expressive organic form and sculptural presence. Four abstract, finger-like projections ris...
Terracotta
Dark Elegance, Biomorphic Black Solid Wood Crafted by NONO, Still Stand No93
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Dark Elegance, Biomorphic Black Solid Wood Crafted by NONO, Still Stand No93 —— Joel Escalona's wooden standing sculptures are objects of raw beauty and ...
Hardwood
Monumental Brutalist Owl, Mid-Century Modern, Italy
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful Brutalist owl sculpture, handmade, copper and brass, modernist, signed Italy.
Brass, Copper
$9,364Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Elefante Sideboard 12, Intricate Oak Form, Sleek Surface
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Sideboard 12, Intricate Oak Form, Sleek Surface ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist ...
Hardwood
$9,364Sale Price / item|20% Off
Elefante Oak Console 06 by NONO, Bold Texture, Sleek Edge
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Oak Console 06 by NONO, Bold Texture, Sleek Edge————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist Touch...
Hardwood
Sculpture-Base Unseen Force #67: Joel Escalona's Oak Coffee Table, Unique Design
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Sculpture-Base Unseen Force #67: Joel Escalona's Oak Coffee Table, Unique Design Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to ...
Hardwood
Gallery-Style Unseen Force #65: Solid Oak Table by Joel Escalona, Luxe Decor
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Gallery-Style Unseen Force #65: Solid Oak Table by Joel Escalona, Luxe Decor Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the nature of the production process, each piece may vary in grain, texture, shape or even size. The dimensions provided refer to the table only. The dimensions and shape of the sculpture may vary. — About the Concept. Unseen Force Coffee Tables and Side Tables, design by Joel Escalona for NONO When Tables Talk Art...
Hardwood
Solid Oak Unseen Force #63: Joel Escalona's Masterful Coffee Table Sculpture
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solid Oak Unseen Force #63: Joel Escalona's Masterful Coffee Table Sculpture Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the n...
Hardwood
Unseen Force #61: Joel Escalona's Solid Oak Table, Art-Inspired Design
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Unseen Force #61: Joel Escalona's Solid Oak Table, Art-Inspired Design Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the nature ...
Hardwood
$9,882Sale Price / item|20% Off
Art-Form Table Unseen Force #58: Joel Escalona's Solid Wood, Elegant Decor
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Art-Form Table Unseen Force #58: Joel Escalona's Solid Wood, Elegant Decor Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the nature of the production process, each piece may vary in grain, texture, shape or even size. The dimensions provided refer to the table only. The dimensions and shape of the sculpture may vary. — About the Concept. Unseen Force Coffee Tables and Side Tables, design by Joel Escalona for NONO When Tables Talk Art...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's Unseen Force #57: Solid Oak Table, Sculptural Presence
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Unseen Force #57: Solid Oak Table, Sculptural Presence Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonize...
Hardwood
Unseen Force #55: Joel Escalona's Table, Sculpture-Inspired Solid Wood
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Unseen Force #55: Joel Escalona's Table, Sculpture-Inspired Solid Wood Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonize...
Hardwood
Artisan Oak Unseen Force #54: Coffee Table Art by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Artisan Oak Unseen Force #54: Coffee Table Art by Joel Escalona Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the nature of the production process, each piece may vary in grain, texture, shape or even size. The dimensions provided refer to the table only. The dimensions and shape of the sculpture may vary. — About the Concept. Unseen Force Coffee Tables and Side Tables, design by Joel Escalona for NONO When Tables Talk Art...
Hardwood
$9,882Sale Price / item|20% Off
Solid Wood Decor Unseen Force #56: Joel Escalona's Oak Coffee Table
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solid Wood Decor Unseen Force #56: Joel Escalona's Oak Coffee Table Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the nature of the production process, each piece may vary in grain, texture, shape or even size. The dimensions provided refer to the table only. The dimensions and shape of the sculpture may vary. — About the Concept. Unseen Force Coffee Tables and Side Tables, design by Joel Escalona for NONO When Tables Talk Art...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's Unseen Force #51: Sculpture-Accented Solid Wood Table
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Unseen Force #51: Sculpture-Accented Solid Wood Table Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or carbonized finish. Due to the nature of the production process, each piece may vary in grain, texture, shape or even size. The dimensions provided refer to the table only. The dimensions and shape of the sculpture may vary. — About the Concept. Unseen Force Coffee Tables and Side Tables, design by Joel Escalona for NONO When Tables Talk Art...
Hardwood
$2,400Sale Price / set|63% Off
4 Bronze Brutalist Figurative Head Art Sculptures, Circa 1920
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Four striking brutalist bronze sculptures of heads, incredibly well executed by a talented and likely well trained hand but are unsigned by the artis...
Bronze
James Bearden Trio of Brutalist Metal Giraffe Sculptures, Signed
Located in Dallas, TX
Brutalist style giraffe sculptures by James Bearden. Signed JB on the underside of one giraffe. Measurements of each as follows: Measures: 17.75"H x 3"W x 3.25"D 15.5"H x 2.75"W x 3...
Metal
Brutalist sculpture "Ram" by Yugoslav artist Miodrag Rogan, Yugoslavia 1990s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a stunning Brutalist sculpture depicting a ram. The sculpture was made by the Yugoslav artist Miodrag Misa Rogan, who is based and still works in Belgra...
Wrought Iron
$467Sale Price|20% Off
Italian crucifix Brutalist Sculpture from the 1960s
Located in bari, IT
Italian brass brutalist sculpture from the 1960s depicting a stylized crucifix.
Brass
Vintage Boho Artisanal Pigmented Plaster Scagliola Turtle Shell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking artisanal sculpture is a masterclass in organic Postmodern design, utilizing the sophisticated scagliola technique to mimic the intricate patterns of a turtle shell. Ha...
Plaster, Paint
Vintage Patinated Geometric Abstract Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
his striking vintage abstract sculpture is a masterwork of Mid-Century Brutalist design. Composed of hand-welded, semi-circular steel plates clustered together in a dynamic, biomorph...
Iron
Vintage Brutalist Torch Cut Copper Horse Head
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Unleash the spirit of raw artistry into your space with this captivating vintage Brutalist Torch Cut Copper Horse Head sculpture. A truly dynamic and expressive piece, this artwork m...
Copper
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Compressed Metal Pipe Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Mid-Century Modern metal sculpture has no artist's signature, but it believed to have been made in Canada in circa 1965. The sculpture is crafted from a length of steel pipe tha...
Metal
$765Sale Price|25% Off
Metal Sculpture Of Japanese Musicians On Marble Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three welded mixed-metal sculptures. Untitled and unsigned, the sculptures depict three musicians playing the koto (lap harp), shamisen (banjo), and sh...
Metal
Vintage Boho Hand Carved Eagle Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make a bold statement with this monumental vintage hand-carved eagle sculpture. Hewn from a single solid log, this imposing figure stands with a stoic, totem-like presence, showcasin...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Sculpture "Man with Arrow" Fantoni
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful Hand made,welded brutalist sculpture depicting man removing arrow,, Artist unknown but very well exicuted,,detailed hands ,,feet and rib-cage,, Done in the manner of Fantoni
Iron
$495Sale Price|23% Off
Brutalist Metal Sculpture of Female Ballet Dancer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Brutalist metal sculpture of female ballet dancer.
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Metal Brutalist Stylized Figurative Sculpture Marked "Ann"
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large metal mid-century sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canada in approximately 1965 in a Brutalist style. The sculpture is do...
Metal
Vintage Torch Cut Ram Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This captivating vintage sculpture depicts a stylized ram or ibex, expertly rendered in the Brutalist tradition. Hand-crafted using torch-cut metal techniques, the piece features a h...
Iron
Brutalist Bronze Sculture, Signed A. Benson, 1964
Located in Raleigh, NC
A striking vintage cast bronze very well executed. A stunning sculpture from all angles. A wonderful brutalist example weighing about 140 pounds. Signed a. benson 64
Bronze