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.
Organic Sculptural Stoneware Vessel with Volcanic Texture, Handmade Ceramic
Located in Istanbul, TR
This piece is entirely handmade in my Istanbul studio using high-temperature stoneware. The surface is created through an experimental firing and glaze interaction that produces an o...
Stoneware
Scandinavian Modern Chamotte Stoneware Vase by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, 1960
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Elevate your decor with this exquisite Scandinavian modern chamotte stoneware vase crafted by the renowned ceramic artist Inger Persson for Rörstrand in the 1960s. Featuring Inger P...
Stoneware
Large Sculptural Vase #4 by Dena Zemsky
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.
Ceramic, Stoneware
Brutalist Vase · Hand-Hammered Silver-Plated Steel Circa 1970
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Some objects don't ask permission to exist in a space. This vase is one of them. Organic in form and sculptural in presence, this piece defies the boundary between functional object ...
Metal
Mid-Century Italian Studio Ceramic Vase with Applied Relief Figures
Located in Northport, MI
A striking mid-century Italian studio ceramic vase featuring applied relief figures and distinctive rounded accents. This cylindrical vessel is glazed in a rich black, providing a dr...
Ceramic
Small Brutalist Studio Pottery Vessel with Turquoise Drip Glaze
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hand-thrown studio ceramic vessel featuring a richly textured surface with layered turquoise and lavender-toned drip glazes over earthy brown clay. Its sculptural form and tactile fi...
Ceramic
Ceramic Brutalist Vase from Michael Andersen, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unique ceramic vase displaying exceptional techniques in glazes, Brutalist styling and shape. We have not been able to find any references of this design number/series. Besides the c...
Ceramic
Brutalist Studio Pottery Stoneware Vase - Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
An interesting brutalist style studio pottery stoneware vase, circa 1970s. Cool and different piece that is signed on the underside. The vase is in very good condition with no chips...
Stoneware
Stoneware vase, Brutalist style, 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is a vase-shaped stoneware lamp in the Brutalist style. It's heavy and can be used as a decorative piece or as a regular lamp, provided it's rewired. Created in France in the 19...
Sandstone
Thick crystal vase Argos model by César Baldaccini signed Daum France circa 1970
By Daum
Located in LE CANNET, FR
Brutalist crystal vase, designed by Cesar Baldaccini in the 1970s. Engraved signature "Daum France" on the base. Present with the Cristal Daum label. Luminous turquoise-blue color. N...
Crystal
Vintage Patinated Lava Glaze Planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage planter is a masterclass in Brutalist expression, featuring a heavily textured "fat lava" glaze that exudes raw, elemental power. The vessel's surface is a rugg...
Ceramic
Asymmetrical Brutalist Bronze a single flower vase by Heinz Goll, Italy 1960s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a very rare and absolutely extraordinary sculptural asymmetrical Brutalist vase done in bronze, for a single flower. It was designed by Austrian designer Heinz Goll...
Bronze
Solid Oak Planter Stand Attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Solid oak planter stand attributed to Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf, produced in Denmark during the 1960s. The piece features finely carved decorative details and a strong sculptu...
Zinc
Sculptural Matte Black Ceramic Vase, Contemporary Organic Modern Design
Located in Istanbul, TR
This contemporary ceramic vase is handcrafted in stoneware and finished in a deep matte black surface that highlights its sculptural silhouette. The form features a fluid, organic pr...
Stoneware
Organic Sculptural Stoneware Vessel with Volcanic Texture, Handmade Ceramic
Located in Istanbul, TR
This piece is entirely handmade in my Istanbul studio using high-temperature stoneware. The surface is created through an experimental firing and glaze interaction that produces an o...
Stoneware
Small Scandinavian Brutalist Stoneware Vase w. Orange High Fire Glaze
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A small high fired stoneware vase executed with reddish orange glazes with earthy/black accents. Unknown Scandinavian ceramist in the style of Jaap Ravelli circa 1970. Measurements...
Stoneware
Pair of brutalist organic black ceramic vases, 1950's, France
Located in BELFORT, FR
One of a kind pair of organic and brutalist ceramic vases, black, perfect condition. They are both signed, but wasn't able to identify the artist.
Ceramic
Icelandic Brutalist Vase with Volcanic Blood Glaze, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Icelandic studio piece executed in free-form red-clay. Vibrant red blood glaze with purple and brown accents infused with volcanic minerals and ashes. Unknown Reykjavik ceramist circ...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist German Studio Pottery Vase Gerhard Liebenthron 1975
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist German Studio Pottery Blue Carafe Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1975
Pottery
Italian Brutalist Ceramic Planter, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Italian studio planter. Decorated with a mustard colored main glazes and set with splashes of thick blue lava glaze to the circular perforations and dots. Marked: Italy 77 to its bas...
Ceramic
Hand Blown Glass Solarized Ghost Vase by Gregory Nangle, Brutalist Design
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Solarized Cleaving Ghost Vase. Hand Blown Crystal Glass and also available in Ruby transparent color, faded silvering at base. The artist blows these into M...
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Silver
Modernist Ceramic Twin Vase with Sgraffito Decor in Style of Gambone
By Fratelli Fanciullacci, Guido Gambone, Aldo Londi
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Unusual twin vase features abstract modernist decor on the front side in beige-brown color that was applied in sgraffito technique and then tinted. The reverse side of the vase is a...
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Mid-Century Brutalist West German Pottery WGP Fat Lava Vase from Jopeko, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist West German Pottery WGP Fat Lava Vase from Jopeko, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs...
Ceramic
Rick Owens Bronze Coupe Vase, Black Patina, Brutalist Design, France
By Rick Owens
Located in Chicago, IL
The now iconic bronze coupe vase from the Rick Owens bronze relic collection. This is shown in the black patina. Designed in 2012. Each bronze is signed. Can be used as vase or sculp...
Bronze
$167Sale Price|41% Off
Brutalist Icelandic Lava Vase by Glit HF, 1970s
By Glit
Located in Esbjerg, DK
HF Gilt is a renowned Icelandic ceramic pottery studio. The clay used in this piece is made from pumice stone collected from Icelandic volcanos. The ...
Lava
Brutalist Vase from BKW Böttger Keramik Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Vase from BKW Böttger Keramik Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information:...
Ceramic
Stoneware spherical vase, France, 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A spherical stoneware vase, made in France in the 1960s, with a circular shape and a central opening, evoking a doughnut-like silhouette or a cosmic form. The surface is covered with...
Sandstone
$275Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century German Walther Glas "Solifleur" Single Stem Round Vase in Crystal
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage 1960s "Solifleur" single stem vase by german manufacturing company "Walther Glas". It's a quite big version of one of Walther's most famous design...
Glass, Art Glass
Brutalist Ceramic Vase by Bernard Rooke, England, 1970s, Signed
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brutalist ceramic vase by Bernard Rooke, England, 1970s. In 1960 he set up his own workshop in Forest Hill, London. Progressive designs were readily accepted in London at that time, ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$548Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Blue and White Reactive Art Glass Vase, Europe, 1970s
Located in Valencia, VC
Brutalist Blue and White Reactive Art Glass Vase, Europe, 1970s Striking European art glass vase produced during the 1970s, acquired in Belgium. The piece features a substantial bot...
Glass, Art Glass
$850Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Brutalist rugoso and somerso Murano glass by Salviati, Italy, 1960s
By Salviati
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Large brutalist hand-blown murano glass vase from the 60s. Stylized and organic body, manufactured by the process in which the piece is bathed in small fragments of glass that end up...
Murano Glass
$1,197Sale Price / set|20% Off
Brutalist David Marshall's style vases by Alfonso Márquez, Spain, 1970s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of big vases in the brutalist style by the Spanish designer Alfonso Márquez, 1970s. Both pieces are entirely made of metal, combining polished aluminum and brass. The labels are...
Aluminum, Brass
Mid-Century Minimalist Dutch Studio Pottery Vase from Mobach, 1960s
By Mobach
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Minimalist Dutch Studio Pottery Vase from Mobach, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer ...
Ceramic
$1,051Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Dutch ceramic Rob den Tonkelaar vase, 1960s
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Fascinating, unique and ultra rare vase by ceramist Rob den Tonkelaar, student of Jaap Ravelli, famous dutch potter. One of a kind expressive object object in very good condition wi...
Clay
Mid-Century Brutalist German Studio Pottery Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist German Studio Pottery Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional informa...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Brutalist German Carafe Vases from Hartwig Heyne Pottery, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist German Carafe Vases from Hartwig Heyne Pottery, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional informatio...
Ceramic
V-Vessel, High-Reflective Ceramic Vase by Alexey Krupinin
Located in Topanga, CA
V-Vessel is a handcrafted ceramic piece by Alexey Krupinin, blending sharp angular geometry with a highly reflective glazed finish and subtle surface variation. The artist is drawn t...
Ceramic
Signed Brutalist Studio Pottery Vase, Japanese-Inspired Sculptural Ceramic
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
An expressive studio pottery vase combining a flattened, rounded silhouette with richly textured surfaces and an earthy palette. Ochre and mustard tones mingle with cream, deep brown...
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
Vintage German Brutalist Studio Pottery Carafe Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1980
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Brutalist Studio Pottery Carafe Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1980, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution markIt is completely au...
Ceramic
Rick Owens Bronze Coupe Vase, Nitrate Patina, Brutalist Design, France
By Rick Owens
Located in Chicago, IL
The now iconic bronze coupe vase from the Rick Owens bronze relic collection. This is shown in the nitrate patina. Each piece is handmade and hand patinated so there is always a slig...
Bronze
Vintage Studio Pottery Brutalist Drip Glaze Vase, Signed, circa 1970s
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking vintage studio pottery vase featuring a faceted geometric form with an organically sloped rim and expressive hand-applied drip glaze decoration. Executed in earthy terraco...
Pottery, Stoneware
$161Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Terracotta Vase, Tenmoku Glaze, 1970s UK
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Brutalist studio pottery vase, hand-built in terracotta, dating to circa 1970s, United Kingdom. Rectangular in form, the vase is decorated with applied circular rings layered alon...
Terracotta
$188Sale Price / set|49% Off
Danish Brutalist Glazed Ceramic Planters, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Curated set of 2 ceramic pieces. A pot shaped bowl/planter from Dot keramik in Denmark circa 1970 and an unknown square fat-lava vase or small planter from the the early 1970s. The s...
Ceramic
Brutalist Vintage Steel Fish Sculpture 1960's in the Manner of Fantoni
Located in Wilton, CT
Large vintage Brutalist steel sculpture of fishes fashioned from old pliers and a sheet metal snip. In the manner of Marcello Fantoni. The steel has been drizzled with solder to give...
Steel
Monumental Mid-Century Fat Lava Floor Vase with Rare Movable Ceramic Handmade
Located in Vienna, AT
An extraordinarily rare and monumental 66 cm (26 inches) tall West German Fat Lava floor vase, showcasing a masterclass in mid-century exper...
Ceramic
Organic Sculptural Stoneware Vessel with Volcanic Texture, Handmade Ceramic
Located in Istanbul, TR
This piece is entirely handmade in my Istanbul studio using high-temperature stoneware. The surface is created through an experimental firing and glaze interaction that produces an o...
Stoneware
Sculptural Soft Green Glazed “Pallini” Vase by Matteo Giampaglia, Italy 2023
Located in New York, NY
Hand-sculpted in Florence by renowned Italian artist Matteo Giampaglia, this extraordinary piece blurs the line between functional vessel and fine art sculpture. Every detail is form...
Ceramic
Large Seafoam Green Vintage Modernist Biomorphic Studio Pottery Sculpture Vase
Located in Lutz, FL
Large vintage modernist sculpture or vase by Joanna Price c.1980’s. Triple stem sculpture with Freeform biomorphic shape, open center and various holes around the body, done in a sea...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery
Asymmetrical Brutalist Bronze Flower Vase by Heinz Goll, 1960s
By Heinz Goll
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Asymmetrical Brutalist Bronze Flower Vase by Heinz Goll, 1960s Sculptural decoration - Mid-Century Measures : Ø 8,5cm H:20,5cm Material : Bronze Sculptural asymmetrical Brutalist va...
Bronze
$172Sale Price|43% Off
Mdina Art Glass Vase, Bark Texture, Tortoiseshell Effect, Malta, 1970s
By Mdina
Located in Glasgow, GB
This Mdina art glass vase, handcrafted in Malta in the 1970s, features a bark-textured surface with a distinctive tortoiseshell effect, reflecting the studio’s experimental approach ...
Art Glass
Brutalist Wabi Sabi Modernist Large Ceramic Vase 1970s
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Large Brutalist Ceramic Vessel with Volcanic / Crater Glaze. Large 15 inch Vessel with incredible texture and Scale, purchased in Sardegna Italy, artist unknown but Mid Century wit...
Ceramic
$628Sale Price|20% Off
Midcentury Bronze Avian Sculpture 'Japan'
Located in San Diego, CA
Serene, elegant, and handsome bronze sculpture. Simple lines that are undeniably midcentury. Finely hand casted (evokes Brutalist), it boasts a handsome verdigris patina. This avian ...
Bronze
V-Vessel, White gloss Ceramic Vase by Alexey Krupinin
Located in Topanga, CA
V-Vessel is a handcrafted ceramic piece by Alexey Krupinin, blending sharp angular geometry with a white gloss finish and subtle surface variation. The artist is drawn to straight li...
Ceramic
Brutalist Hand-Built Glazed Coil Teracotta Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Miami, FL
Brutalist Hand-Built Glazed Coil Terracotta Studio Pottery Vase Offered for sale is a handsome brutalist vase made of ceramic coils adhered to an underlying terracotta form. At 13”...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Brutalist Style Vintage Bowl in Brass Aluminium by David Marshall, Circa 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brutalist Style Vintage Bowl in Brass Aluminium by David Marshall, Circa 1970s. Double brass handles by the Scottish artist David Marshall. The bottom has the trademark leather base...
Aluminum, Brass
Brutalist Earthenware Vase in Yellow, and Orange by Hans Hedberg, Biot France
By Hans Hedberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brutalist Vase in Yellow, and Orange by Hans Hedberg, Biot France. Asymmetric form in high-fired earthenware with mottled glaze in red, orange, and brown-black tones. Monogram signe...
Earthenware
Hand-Finished Ceramic Jar, Belgium, 1970s, 7.1\" Diameter
Located in High Point, NC
Hand-thrown in stoneware, this jug dates to the 1970s and originates from Belgium. Its tapered, cylindrical form rises to a pinched spout, a functional detail suited to pouring liqui...
Ceramic
Vintage Glazed Ceramic Scored Vases - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exceptional pair of vintage studio pottery vases captures the raw, expressive spirit of the Brutalist and Mid-Century Modern movements through their striking textural contrast. ...
Ceramic
$212Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Umanoff Grenada Style Brutalist Black Iron Bowl
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage iron bowl in the style of Umanoff. The piece is designed in the Salterini Grenada pattern, making it unique. The bowl projects a st...
Iron
Large Brutalist Japanese Ceramic Vase by Takao Tomono
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ceramic glazed vase by Japanese American artist, Takao Tomono. The vase features a wheel thrown form with a hand built mouth and 'wing' detailing around t...
Ceramic