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 Metal Vase – Nature-Formed Abstract Vessel, Brutalist Style
Located in Hannover, DE
This exceptional sculptural vase is a true masterpiece shaped not by human hands, but by the raw forces of nature itself. Formed over time through natural processes, this organic met...
Iron
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
$2,900 / 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
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
Mid-Century Brutalist Carafe Vases from Hartwig Heyne Pottery, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Carafe Vases from Hartwig Heyne Pottery, Germany, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional informat...
Ceramic
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
A Very Large "Kantharos" Vase in "Fat Lava", by Marius Giuge Vallauris, 1960s
By Marius Giuge
Located in MOUGINS, FR
A very large "kantharos" vase featuring scroll hands, constructed in a "water foam" design, by Marius Giuge. The piece is extremely decorative and the enamel has kept all of its sh...
Enamel
1970 Salvino Marsura style Brutalist Sculpture Irone Bowl
Located in Brescia, IT
Sculpture Iron Bowl Salvino Marsura attr. Italy, 1970 Striking hand-forged metal bowl in the Brutalist style, dating from the mid-20th century. This sculptural piece is composed of...
Iron
$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
Set of Linear Brushed Metal Brutalist Objects, Germany, 1970’s
Located in New York, NY
Interesting set of objects.
Metal
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
'Argos' Model Sculptural Blue Glass Vase by César Baldaccini, Daum, France
By Daum, César Baldaccini
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
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
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
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
$194Sale 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
$557Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Italian Steel Vase in the Style of Luciano Frigerio, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Sculptural vase from the 70s in a brutalist style. The structure of the vase develops on two levels. The first level is a parallelepiped with a quadrangular section; It has a smoo...
Steel
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
Mid-Century Scandianvian Heavy Bubble Glass Block Vase, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Scandianvian Heavy Bubble Glass Block Vase, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Material: Glass Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Century...
Glass
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
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
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
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
Eastern European Ceramic Vase, Textured Glaze with Acid Green Motif, 1970s
Located in Alap, HU
Vintage Short Ceramic Vase with Abstract Motif A vintage ceramic vase featuring a classic rounded silhouette and a textured beige-brown glaze accented with an acid green abstract mo...
Ceramic
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
Vintage Original Studio Pottery Lunar Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exceptional vintage studio pottery vase is a masterclass in Brutalist form and Wabi-Sabi philosophy. Crafted with a sculptural, spherical "lunar" silhouette, the piece features ...
Pottery
Kasper Mobach studio pottery Crown Sculptural Ceramic Vessel, Netherlands, 1990s
By Mobach
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Unique Kasper Mobach Crown Sculptural Ceramic Vessel, Netherlands, 1990s A striking studio ceramic by Kasper Mobach, eighth-generation heir to the celebrated Utrecht-based Mobach pot...
Ceramic
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
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
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
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
Danish Brutalist Stoneware Vase by Conny Walther, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A unique chanterelle shaped pottery vase/bowl in earthy polychrome glazes by the danish female ceramist Conny Walther. Organic brutalism' in style. Nice intact vintage condition. Sig...
Stoneware
Pair of Brutalist Nickel Candle Holders by Thomas Roy Markusen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of sculpted pounded nickel plated Candle holder/ vases by Thomas Roy Markusen Brutalist. Large-15" high 6" diameter Small-10" high 6" diameter
Metal, Nickel
Brutalist Cast Stainless Steel Vase by Olav Joa, Norway 1970s
A sculptural Norwegian Brutalist vase designed by Olav Joa, circa 1970s. Executed in cast stainless steel (18-8 quality), this cylindrical vessel embodies Joa’s distinctive architec...
Stainless Steel
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
Brutalist Lava Glazed Ceramic Vases, Germany 60s, Set of 3
Located in Lucija, SI
Set of three brutalist lava glazed vases All thre in perfect condition
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
Bod ceramic VASE with mint green textured glaze "Classic shaped Bod ceramic vase
Located in Alap, HU
Hungarian Studio Ceramic Vase by Éva Bod A classic-shaped ceramic vase by Hungarian ceramic artist Éva Bod, finished with a distinctive mint green textured glaze. The compact propor...
Ceramic
Monumental Textured Studio Pottery Amphora Vase with Sculptural Ring Handles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Make a bold and timeless statement with this monumental handcrafted studio pottery amphora vase, a piece that beautifully bridges ancient ceramic traditions with modern artistic expr...
Clay, Stoneware
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
$283Sale 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
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
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
Contemporary Sculptural Stoneware Vase with Volcanic Surface Texture
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
$530Sale Price|20% Off
1970s German Heinrich Ceramics Op Art Porcelain Matt-White Bisque Vase No 2014
Located in London, England
A large op art "Tetris" bisque matt-white porcelain vase which was manufactured by Heinrich Ceramics in Germany during the 1970s. A stunning brutalist 3...
Porcelain
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
$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
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