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Brutalist Decorative Objects

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

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
Blow Glass Milk Jar by Odilon Avalos
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Descendant of a family of glass workers, Odilón Ávalos Razo, was born in Puebla in 1881. He came to Guadalajara attracted by the economic and Industrial development that characterize...
Category

1940s Mexican Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Vintage Curtis Jere Style Brutalist Lily Flower Sculpture.
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage Brass Stone Flower Sculpture. Mid Century Brutalist Style , no Makers Mark. Beautiful Rainbow Petina, wooden Base. Vintage Condition Con...
Category

1970s Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Cast Bronze Brutalist Warrior Bust
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A wonderful stylized bust of a warrior. It appears that a dragon like creature sits on his helmet, rather is his helmet. You can't help but draw similarities to Game of Thrones. This...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage Molten Bronze and Green Marble Signed Gerber Abstract Sculpture
By Adolf Gerber
Located in North Miami, FL
One could interrupt the nature of this vintage signed abstract bronze and dark green with black marble sculpture through the feet. Brutalist in molten form of the bronze. The variega...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Mid-Century German Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern German Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1967
Category

1960s German Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

Olive tree bowl, brutalist design
Located in JASSANS-RIOTTIER, FR
Trinket bowl from France in the fifties Monoxyl piece, brutalist design Carved in one piece of olive tree Nice patina
Category

Mid-20th Century French Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Brutalist Copper Vase with Blue & Brown Enamel Overlays by Rita Brierton
Located in San Diego, CA
Brutalist copper vase with blue and brown enamel overlays by Rita Brierton, circa 1991. The vase is very heavy and finely crafted; the piece measures: 3.5" W x 2.5" D x 9" H. #1091.
Category

Late 20th Century American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Large Sculptural Vase #4 by Dena Zemsky
Located in New York, NY
Large sculptural vase #4 by Dena Zemsky. Hand-built, glazed stoneware vase form. Signed and dated on underside.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Brutalist Copper Vase with Dark Blue Enamel Overlays by Rita Brierton
Located in San Diego, CA
Brutalist copper vase with dark blue enamel overlays by Rita Brierton, circa 1993. The vase is very heavy and finely crafted; the piece measures: 3.75" W x 2.5" D x 12.5" H. #1090.
Category

Late 20th Century American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Brutalist Steel Sculpture on Wood Base
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Brutalist steel sculpture on wood base. This incredible sculpture is not signed. We looked all over and cannot find a signature. Wood base is 8.25" wide, 4" deep and 10" high. S...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

"Kabuto #4, " by Lucien Petit
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware sculpture. Wood fired.   
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Torch Cut Brutal Sculpture
Located in Denton, TX
1970s metal freestanding sculpture very organic.
Category

20th Century North American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Decorative Bowl Copper Franco Bastianelli for Laurana Midcentury Italy 1960s
Located in Palermo, IT
Bowl/decorative object by Franco Bastianelli for Laurana made in Italy in the 60s. The bowl with particular shapes was made of enameled copper in shades of blue, green and red. The i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Paul Evans Welded Steel 1967 Brutalist Cocktail Table
Located in Buffalo, NY
Paul Evans welded steel 1967 Brutalist cocktail table. Wonderful patina, class Evans design, retains original glass. Heavy base can hold much l...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

1960's Extra Large Brutalist Craftsman Planter In Solid Teak
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Teak planter stand with a sculptural design. Crafted from solid teak, this elegant piece features a curved bowl-like top supported by a conical base, making it a stylish and function...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Teak

Vintage Boho Carved Stone Rams Head
Located in west palm beach, FL
Earthy and powerful, this vintage boho carved stone ram’s head sculpture is a striking study in organic form and primal symbolism. Hand-sculpted from speckled sandstone, the stylized...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Sandstone

Italian Design Contemporary Pair of Brutalist Cast Bronze Double Lit Lamps
Located in New York, NY
This exclusive pair of Italian sculpture custom design lamps, handcrafted for Cosulich Interiors & Antiques, presents a very interesting Brutalist cast bronze base and sail-shaped fr...
Category

2010s Italian Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Bronze

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 ...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Steel

Brutalist Steel Sculpture of “Amphetrite” by Dale Edwards
By Dale Edwards
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Welded steel sculpture of “Amphetrite” goddess of the ocean. By American sculptor Dale Edwards. Signed Dale and dated 74 (see detail photos). In origi...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Brutalist Stoneware Sculpture
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Brutalist stoneware sculpture with white glazed relief details.
Category

Mid-20th Century Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Brutalist Bronze Ram Sculpture on Lucite Plinth Signed M. Katz
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Brutalist bronze ram sculpture on Lucite plinth signed M. Katz.
Category

20th Century Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

1970 Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase by Inge
Located in Garnerville, NY
Handmade slab built monumental Brutalist pottery vase. Meticulously decorated and glazed with organic and geometric patterns and shapes. Applied neck. Signed and dated, Inge, 70 a th...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Brutalist Mixed Media Sculpture in Copper and Glass
Located in Boynton Beach, FL
Handmade mixed media sculpture. Done in a mid century brutalist style. Phenomenal mix of textures between the welded metals and smooth glass. Gorgeous array of colors in the glass pi...
Category

1960s Unknown Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Unknown French artist. Brutalistic unique sculpture in dark steel. Late 20th C.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Unknown French artist. Brutalistic unique sculpture in dark steel. Late 20th century. Measures: 18.5 x 9.5 cm. In excellent condition.
Category

Late 20th Century French Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Clear Bubble Glass Decanter Signed Julio Santos 1970s Hand Blown Brutalist
Located in Melbourne, AU
Australian-Portuguese glass artist Julio Santos was an expert in his craft. This decanter is a lovely example of his work. Signed 'J. Santos' to the base ...
Category

1980s Australian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

"Femur" Contemporary Decorative Golden Object in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Contemporary decorative object, in cast brass. Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This golden decorative object was meticulously handmade by master artisans one delicate piece at a time...
Category

2010s South American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Brutalist Sculpture by Dimitri Hadzi
By Dimitri Hadzi
Located in New York, NY
Bronze, brass and wood cabinet scale Brutalist sculpture by noted sculptor Dimitri Hadzi. Intriguing abstract mixed metal example signed on the base, as shown.           
Category

Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Iron

1960s Brutalist Steel Abstract Sculpture
Located in Raleigh, NC
Heavily textured and expressive vintage sculpture. Has tons of movement and a wonderful patina.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Cut Steel

Mid-Century Design Brutalist Candle Holder, 1970’s
Located in Delft, NL
Nice heavy brutalist candle holder.
Category

1970s German Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Expressive Brutalist Abstract Wall Relief in Ceramic, 1970s
Located in London, GB
Expressive abstract relief sculpted in rough clay and glazed with copper oxides in matt grey-green. It is a dynamic wall decoration, signed H77.  
Category

1970s Dutch Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Brutalist Hand Forged Double Vase
Located in Charleston, SC
Excellent vintage 20th Century hand forged metal vase. It has a very thin profile and two necks, one being much taller than the other. The vase is signed but after extensive research...
Category

20th Century Unknown Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Harlequin, American Cubist Modernist Welded Metal Sculpture, ca. 1970s
Located in New York, NY
About sculpture This figurative sculpture of a Harlequin standing in a relaxed pose is unusual not only in the choice of materials; but, most importantly, due to the unusual combina...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

"Prince", Contemporary Sculptural piece in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This contemporary sculpture in cast brass was meticulously handmade by master artisans one piece at a time. It is therefore quite difficult, if not impossible to make identical items. The brass casting is produced by formation of a mold from a mixture of sand and the liquid alloy of copper and zinc. The projects are based on a contemporary appropriation of traditional methods from Brazilian artisans and reinterpreted through the integration of new forms and noble materials. An aesthetic infused with “beauty of imperfection" is obtained by the expressive potential of each material, generating works that recall nature and rationality. Estúdio Orth...
Category

2010s Brazilian Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Patinated Iron Tree Form Sculpture
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
This tree can of course be used as a decorative piece. Also used as a clothing/hat rack, etc.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Signed Curtis Jere Brass Floral Table Sculpture Mounted on Board
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a lovely floral brutalist table sculpture by C. Jere dated 1967. It sits on a ebonized wood board. It is impressive in size. There are some imperfections to the base (see ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Paolo Soleri Special Order Large 55 inch Brutalist Windbell 1975
Located in Chicago, IL
Paolo Soleri Special Order Large 55 inch Brutalist Windbell 1975 Cast aluminum, patinated bronze, and copper 55 h × 13 w × 7½ d in Cast artist's cipher to body. Condition: Natural pa...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Copper

1970s Mid Century Surrealist Verdigris Bronze Sculpture, Signed and Dated
Located in Charleston, SC
Signed “Alix ‘78”, this verdigris bronze sculpture of a 3 armed man flexing his muscles? I’m not quite sure What he is, but he is so awesome! The different textures and shapes ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

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.   
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Gabor Kalman Brutalist Steel Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Kalman takes steel and torch-cuts it, then contours it for a Brutalist effect. Signed base Gabor Kalman '68. This item is currently on view in our NYC Greenwich Street Location.
Category

1960s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Cut Steel

Brutalist Bronze Figurative Sculpture by Davis David, 1993
Located in Miami, FL
Brutalist bronze figurative sculpture by Davis David, 1993 Offered is an abstract Brutalist Postmodern figurative bronze sculpture. The bronze sculpture depicts two abstract figur...
Category

1990s North American Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Small Mid-Century Brutalist Bronze Jug
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A small decorative German brutalist jug made of bronze. 1960´s. Dimensions Height: 13 cm / 5.11 inch. Diameter: 12 cm / 4.72 inch. Weight: 3,68 kg
Category

1960s German Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Enzo Mari, Travertine desk organizer, Fratelli Mannelli Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Travertine desk organizer Enzo Mari, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s. H 16 cm - 19 × 15.5 cm. Conditions: good condition consistent with age and use.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Travertine

Still Stand Abstract Wood Sculpture, Chainsaw Carved, Burnt Oak
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Still Stand Abstract Wood Sculpture, Chainsaw Carved, Burnt Oak
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Croatian Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Oak

Brutalist French Steel: 72” Jean Yves Gosti Cut Steel Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, US
**Title: "Duality in Steel: Life-Size Brutalist Sculpture by Jean Yves Gosti"** This striking 6-foot cut steel figurative sculpture by French artist Jean Yves Gosti embodies the ess...
Category

Early 2000s French Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Cut Steel

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,...
Category

1970s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Sheet Metal

2 Brutalist Candle Holders
Located in Antwerpen, BE
A pair of sculptural Mid-century candle holder in cast iron. The candle holder holds one thick candle and is in a very good original condition. Made in the late 1960’s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Wooden Zodiac Sagittarius Wall Plaque Relief Brutalist Midcentury, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful wooden wall plaque relief sign, made in the Brutalist style in Germany in the 1970s. This is a wonderful Zodiac sign. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as a decorati...
Category

1970s German Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Plywood

Large 19th Century Stoneware Ceramic from La Borne Pottery French Handmade
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
La Borne - 19th century Large stoneware pottery from center of France Realised circa 1880 Original good condition its peculiarity is to have a piece of another pot fixed...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Puzzle Table Clock D021 Solid Brass and Aluminum Handmade in Spain
Located in Benahavis, AN
The decorative Table Clock was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast aluminum and sand cast brass. Handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop in Spain fr...
Category

2010s Spanish Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Solid Aluminum Brutalist Candelabras
Located in Chicago, IL
Brutalist candelabras, in the style of Paul Evans. Striated texture, black patinated impressions, six candle wells, beveled angle edges with archi...
Category

1960s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Dark green brutalist ceramic vase, Italy 1980s
Located in Firenze, IT
Dark green brutalist ceramic vase Italy 1980s H 21 cm - 16.5 × 9.5 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

1960s Bronze / Brass Art Statue Made and Signed by Thure Thörn, Sweden
By Thure Thorn
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Extremely beautiful and decorative master piece of brass art made by the famous Swedish artist Thure Thörn of a sitting woman with great patina true the years. Only seven are made an...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Swiss Brutalist floor standing wrought iron Candle Holder
Located in Bern, CH
Brutalist floor standing wrought iron candle holder dating from the late 1950's - early 1960's. Believed to be of Swiss origin. With single candle holder on a tripod base. Height: 90...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage Brutalist Style Gilt Wall Sconce Candle Holder
Located in Seattle, WA
Three Pronged Wall Sconce . Possibly Spanish Based on Research. Spiked Poles That’s are pointed at the bottom. Back Plate has Holes to Place Screws Through. Dimensions. 14 W ; 4 D ;...
Category

1970s Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Carved Monumental Hand Sculpture Enameled Black 1960's
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Monumental scale self supporting sculpture of a modern representation of a hand. Painted in numerous coats of black enamel with signs of erosion and age, this piece spent a good dea...
Category

1960s American Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

Dark green brutalist ceramic vase, Italy 1980s
Located in Firenze, IT
Dark green brutalist ceramic vase Italy 1980s H 24.5 cm - 25 × 9 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

Italian crucifix Brutalist Sculpture from the 1960s
Located in bari, IT
Italian brass brutalist sculpture from the 1960s depicting a stylized crucifix.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Vase André Rozay, La Borne, France 1946
Located in PARIS, FR
Ce vase en céramique signé André Rozay est une pièce unique, incarnant parfaitement le style organique et texturé pour lequel l’artiste est reconnu. Présentant des motifs en relief r...
Category

1940s French Vintage Brutalist Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Brutalist decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Brutalist decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include David Marshall, James Bearden, David Palombo, and Taylor Ruby Bell. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $42 and tops out at $450,000 while the average work can sell for $1,290.

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