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.
1980s Brutalist Clear Glass Cylinder Vase by Jan Gabrhel
Located in Aci Castello, IT
The item is a clear glass cylinder vase, characterized by a heavily textured "brutalist" surface. This textured effect resembles ice or rough-hewn stone, giving the vase a robust and...
Glass
Spanish Brutalist Aluminum + Brass Jug Handled Vase Attrib to Alfonso Marquez
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Spain, this brutalist style aluminum and brass jug style vase is attributed to Alfonso Marquez and dates from the 1970s. Vase is 10-1/2” tall and has a diameter just shy of ...
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage German Studio Pottery Brutalist Carafe Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1980
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Studio Pottery Brutalist Carafe Vase by Gerhard Liebenthron, 1980, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional infor...
Ceramic
$2,400 / item
Rick Owens Cast Bronze Coupe Nitrate Patina Vase
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
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
Brutalist Pair of Murano Art Glass Vases by Costantini, 1970s
By Constantini
Located in Valencia, VC
A Pair of Brutalist Murano Art Glass Vases Attributed to Costantini A striking pair of Brutalist Murano art glass vases distinguished by their sculptural organicist form and sophist...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Rare Brutalist Studio Pottery Stoneware Vase by Sally Hare Leibold
By Sally Hare Leibold 1
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare Brutalist studio pottery stoneware vase by Sally Hare Leibold, circa 1970s. An interesting, cool and different piece that is made of stoneware pottery, characterized by its eart...
Stoneware, Ceramic
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
Mid-Century Swedish Brutalist Bubble Glass Block Vase by Josef Schott, 1960s
By Josef Schott
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Swedish Brutalist Bubble Glass Block Vase by Josef Schott for Smalandshyttan, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 I have official proof of authenticity ...
Glass
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...
Rock Crystal, Crystal, Silver
Brutalist XL Ceramic Vase by Carstens Tönnieshof, West Germany Art Pottery
By Carstens Tönnieshof, Heinz Siery, West German Pottery
Located in Valencia, VC
A highly collectible Brutalist Mid-Century ceramic vase by Carstens Tönnieshof, featuring the rare “Brasilia” décor, one of the manufacturer’s most distinctive and sought-after surfa...
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware
Mid-Century East German Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century East German Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase by Kerstin & Ralf Unterstab for Kunsttöpferei Unterstab KTU, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This pi...
Ceramic
Brutalist Mid-Century Yellow & Green Streak Glazed Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish mid-century studio pottery vase in the brutalist style decorated with yellow and green streaked glazes. The heavily made stoneware vase stands on a narrow flat round b...
Stoneware
Monumental Textured Studio Pottery Amphora Vase with Sculptural Ring Handles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This striking, monumental studio pottery amphora vase is a sculptural statement piece that bridges ancient form and modern craftsmanship. Its commanding presence is enhanced by a rob...
Clay, Stoneware
$510Sale Price / set|35% Off
Brutalist 1970s Art Glass Pair of Vases by Kurt Wokan for Ingrid Glashütten
Located in Valencia, VC
Pair of Brutalist 1970s Art Glass Vases by Kurt Wokan for Ingrid Glashütten A unique pair of moulded art glass vases designed by Kurt Wokan, then Creative Director at Ingrid Glashüt...
Glass, Art Glass
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
Mid-Century Brutalist West German Pottery WGP Fat Lava Vase, 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
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
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
Brutalist Metal Cylinder Vase
By Bmf Nagel
Located in New York, NY
Produced by BMF (Bayerische Metallwarenfabrik) in Germany in the 1970s. Great contrasting finishes and patina.
Metal
$270Sale Price|40% Off
1970 Brutalist Postmodern Glass Block Table Vase w/ Acid Etched Hibiscus
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original 1970s Brutalist glass block table vase with an acid-etched hibiscus along the front. The vase features a 6" opening along the top for receiving a floral arrangement of choic...
Glass
Pair of Swedish Brutalist stoneware vases with glazed collar Curt Magnus Addin
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Pair of Scandinavian Vases with Brown Decor. Curt Magnus Addin (1931–2007) was a Swedish ceramicist known for his modernist stoneware works, created in his studio in Glumslöv between...
Stoneware
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, 1969
Pottery
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
$167Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist British Studio Pottery Vase, Tenmoku Glaze, circa 1970s
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
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
Brutalist Pottery Vase by California Artist Barry Parr Signed & Dated
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic pottery Vase by Californian ceramist Barry Parr, circa 2005 signed and dated 2K5 , San Diego artist , California Design.
Pottery
Mid-Cenutry Brutalist Studio Pottery Vase Signed 55
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Cenutry Brutalist Studio Pottery Vase Signed 55, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Color: Blue Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Ce...
Ceramic
$199Sale Price|42% Off
Danish Brutalist Copper Vase in Copper, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A sculptural cylindrical vase in hand embossed patinated copper. It displays all the right elements of Scandinavian Brutalism. The floral relief pattern resembles some of Axel Salto'...
Copper
$3,600Sale Price|35% Off
Very Large Brutalist Middle Eastern Ceramic Planter 1970s
Located in Melbourne, AU
This wonderful footed earthenware planter can be used as a vase or bowl. It presents as an impressive object in it's own right, or can be used as a plant pot holder. Based on ancient Middle Eastern hand-building and mineral glazing techniques, it has wonderful Organic Modern styling potential, but will also interest those who like ancient pottery and/or the Brutalist aesthetic of the 1970s. It was purchased in the late 1960s or early 1970s from Israel by a dedicated collector of ceramics for use as an Ikebana vessel, and shipped to Australia...
Earthenware
Vintage Boho Original Studio Pottery Small Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Discover the rugged beauty of organic design with this captivating vintage studio pottery vase. A striking example of the Brutalist aesthetic, this small vessel features a heavily te...
Pottery
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
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
'Argos' Model Sculptural Blue Glass Vase by César Baldaccini, Daum, France
By César Baldaccini, Daum
Located in London, GB
This fabulous deep blue coloured glass vase was made by Daum in Nancy, France in the 1970s. It looks very much like a piece of sculpture - no surprise given it's designer was César ...
Glass
Scandinavian Brutalist Glazed 3-neck Stoneware Vase, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual stoneware vase executed in white, brown and maroon drip glazes . It features 3 necks and can be viewed as The Scandinavian Equivalent of Japanese Ikebana. It was made anonymo...
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
Bengt Berggren Brutalist Scandinavian Modern Pewter Vase w. Female Faces, 1990s
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Bengt Berggren Brutalist Scandinavian Modern Pewter Vase w. Female Faces, 1990s Handcrafted pewter vase by Swedish artist Bengt Berggren, created in the 1990s. The sculptural form f...
Pewter
1970s Mdina Glass by Michael Harris Tall Vase, Signed Brutalist
By Michael Harris, Mdina
Located in Torquay, GB
1970s Mdina glass tall vase. Design by Michael Harris for Mdina glass, circa 1970s. Fire orange color with greenish appliqué stripes around the stem. Substantially sized at over 30cm...
Glass
$338Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Art Pottery Studio Fat Lava Horn Spout Vase, Belgium 1960's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Brutalist in Design Art Pottery Studio Horn Spout model Fat Lava Vase. Made in Belgium, 1960's period. Turquoise blue fat lava glaze over black mat glaze. No marki...
Ceramic
$1,735
Vase by David Marshall
Located in London, GB
A large Brutalist brass and aluminium vase with twin handles by David Marshall Spain, 1970s
Aluminum, Brass
$2,620Sale Price|20% Off
1970 Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase by Inge
Located in New Windsor, 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...
Stoneware
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Copper Vase with Enamel Overlay by Rita Brierton
Located in San Diego, CA
Brutalist copper vase with enamel overlay by Rita Brierton, circa 1993. The vase is very heavy and finely crafted in brown, tan and gold overlays; the piece measures: 4.5" W x 3.625"...
Enamel, Copper
Paul Evans styled Brutalist Metal Sculptural Vase by Jim Heneveld
By Paul Evans
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A welded steel box vase sculpture with flamed metal decoration to the body and applied designs to each side . Made in the manner of Paul Evans with highlighted edges to the design in...
Metal
Set of Linear Brushed Metal Brutalist Objects, Germany, 1970’s
Located in New York, NY
Interesting set of objects.
Metal
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Monumental Brutalist Floor Vase, Signed Inge
Located in New Windsor, NY
Monumental 1960s Brutalist slab built floor vase. This is another amazing piece of architectural pottery offered here signed by Inge. Incised decor. Good condition with no visible ha...
Clay, Stoneware
Ceramic Vase 2 by Richard Uhlemeyer (1900 - 1954), c.1950
Located in Surbiton, GB
Richard Uhlemeyer was born in Göttingen, Germany, and attended the Hanover arts and crafts school in the 1920s. In the 1930s he founded his pottery studio the 'Kunsthandwerk Richard...
Ceramic
Rick Owens Cast Bronze Coupe Vase Black Patina
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
$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
Vintage Boho Original Studio Pottery Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Discover the tactile allure and expressive form of this petite vintage studio pottery vessel. A unique example of Brutalist ceramic art, this piece features a reticulated body with o...
Pottery
Rustic Enameled Stoneware Vase, Mid-20th Century, Ceramic Decor, 11 cm
Located in London, England
Ce vase en grès céramique signé offre un design distinctif avec des motifs rustiques et une finition émaillée brune et blanche. Parfait pour apporter une touche d'authenticité et de ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Large Slab Built Volcanic Glaze Architectural Pottery Vase, 1959
Located in New Windsor, NY
Large slab built architectural pottery vase. Purchased from a White Plains, NY estate that had multiple pieces by this particular artist. Little biographica...
Ceramic, Earthenware, Pottery
Emerald Green Faceted Murano Glass Vase
Located in North Miami, FL
This is a super-cool deep green faceted Murano glass oversized vase with lovely details throughout. The intentional rough finish to exterior adds ...
Murano Glass
$290Sale Price|20% Off
1960s 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
Vintage Boho Metallic Studio Pottery Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a truly unique Vintage Boho Metallic Studio Pottery Vase, an arresting piece that embodies the raw beauty and expressive freedom of mid-century artisan ceramics. This vase...
Pottery
Richard Bitterman Brutalist Bud Vase or Sculpture
Located in Buffalo, NY
Handcrafted Brutalist bud vase or sculpture, 1960s, brass, stee. Plastic test tube, signed R. Bitterman.
Brass, Steel
Mid-Century Space Age Brutalist Block Bubble Glass Vase by Horst Tüselmann 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Space Age Brutalist Block Bubble Glass Vase by Horst Tüselmann for Ichendorf Glashütte, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authentici...
Glass
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
Pottery
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
Bronze
Hand Built Brutalist Japanese Ceramic Vase by Takao Tomono
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Horizontal ceramic vase by Japanese American artist, Takao Tomono, c.1973, USA. The vase features a long body with circular center opening at the top and ...
Ceramic
Vintage Terracotta Pottery Jugs With Twisted Handles- Set of 2
Located in Duxbury, MA
Pair of vintage unglazed terracotta jugs. Dimensions: Smaller: 7.75" H x 4.25" W Larger: 8.25" tall x 4.63" W
Pottery, Terracotta