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Brutalist Tableware

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
A set of 11 pewter napkin rings with sculpted shells, 1975
By Metzke
Located in View Park, CA
A set of 11 pewter napkin rings ft shells and sand-dollars, 1975. Pick up in central west Los Angeles or we ship worldwide. Each ring measures appr...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Pewter

Coasters C009 Design, C011 Medival , C048 Track, C052 Ring & A097 Tray x 1 each
Located in Benahavis, AN
The decorative Coasters and Tray were created by David Marshall , the items are made in Sand Cast solid brass and aluminium . Handmade mounted and finished in our foundry and worksh...
Category

2010s Spanish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

SLU Platter by Breslau Studio
Located in Wroclaw, PL
SLU platter. ▪Futuristic black and white opaline glass platter. ▪Plates body is made of hundreds of small black balls and white opaline irregular glass pieces, fused with one another...
Category

2010s Polish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Glass

Medieval Drink Mat Coaster Posavaso Medieval Cast Aluminium Brass Handmade Spain
Located in Benahavis, AN
The decorative Coaster was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast aluminum and sand cast brass. We can engrave this piece with your Initials or Logo, makes a beautiful We...
Category

2010s Spanish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Brutalist Zen Bowl A071 in Cast Brass and Aluminium Designed by David Marshall
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Bowl was created by David Marshall, from sand cast aluminium and brass. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop ...
Category

2010s Spanish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Serving Dish in Crystal by Walther Glas, Germany, 1960-1970
Located in Herentals, BE
This remarkable serving dish has handles on both sides and is made of crystal with a granular, transparent structure and an orange-brown motif. The bottom of the serving dish is smooth. The serving bowl fits in with the brutalist movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The Walther Glas...
Category

1960s German Vintage Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Crystal

Kai Blomqvist Brutalist Patinated Cast Bronze Bowl, Finland, 1970's
Located in Stockholm, SE
Scandinavian Modern and a brutalist cast bronze bowl on three legs with nice oxidized patina, stamped Kai Blomqvist and made in Finland.
Category

1970s Finnish Vintage Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Bronze

Drink Mat Track, Coaster, Solid Cast Brass and Aluminium C048 Posavaso Huella
Located in Benahavis, AN
The decorative Coaster was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast aluminum and sand cast brass. We can engrave this piece with your Initials or Logo, makes a beautiful We...
Category

2010s Spanish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Brutalist Maze Bowl Cast Aluminum & Brass Reference A080 by David Marshall
Located in Benahavis, AN
The abstract bowl was created by David Marshall, from sand cast aluminium. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop in Spain. It is certified authentic by the Artist David Marshall. He is insipired by nature and the landscaps making useful art with cast brass and alumium materials. We also make bespoke designs for clients, like signage for condominums, private homes, Hotels & Restaurants, awards for Charity...
Category

2010s Spanish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Bronze Sculpture Table Top Book "Eyas" Lectern or Book Stand, Batman Memorabilia
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by the clever fox and the fascinating bat, the cast bronze lectern sculpture is one of three such designs by designer/artist Dana Nicholson. Sculpturally it stands on its own but it also elegantly supports art books or small drawings and paintings. It is one of a kind. The wings fold out for larger works. Treated with a rich tobacco brown patina and buffed with wax for an authentic, and historical bronze finish. Silver leaf has been applied to the raised portion of the body plate to accentuate the Celtic like design pattern. A perfect understory for that rare collector batman comic...
Category

Early 2000s American Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Silver, Bronze

Rectangular Waffle Slab Cocktail Tray
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The rectangular waffle slab cocktail tray is made from cast, pigmented, food safe Eco-resin with solid brass handles. The translucent material ...
Category

2010s North American Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Brass

Sterling Silver and Glass Midcentury Brutalist Decanter by Mappin & Webb, 1956
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Sheffield in 1956 by Mappin & Webb, this handsome, Mid-Century Modern, glass and sterling silver decanter, has a lobed glass body and stopper...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of Six Mid Century French Sculptural Brutalist Nickel Place Holders
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated set of six Brutalist place holders were realized in France, circa 1970. They feature tapered rectangular bodies with dappled faceted ends that connect at a perpend...
Category

1970s French Vintage Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Nickel

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Coasters Set of Four in Blue Azul Macaubas Marble Handmade Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
Set of 4 coasters in Azul Macaubas. Thanks to their shape and size they can be used as exclusive presentation plates for finger food. Dimensions: D 10, ...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brutalist Tableware

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Coaster or Christmas Tree Decoration White Marble Handmade Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
This 'Winter wonderland Snowflake' coaster in White Marble, inspired by ice crystals, are the perfect tasteful gift for the winter and Christmas period. Coaster in polished absolute crystalline white marble from Italy. Thanks to their shape and size they can be used as coasters, bottle coasters, paperweight or even Christmas tree decoration...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brutalist Tableware

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Carrara Marble

Coasters Square Barware Tableware Black Marquina Marble Brass Inlay Ants Italy
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Set of 4 coasters in Marquina marble with brushed brass inlay. Thanks to their shape and size they can be used as exclusive presentation plates for finger food. Dimensions: L 10 W 1...
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Coasters Set of 4 Cocktail Green Quartzite Marble Handmade Italy Collectible
Located in Ancona, Marche
Set of 4 coasters in Green Quartzite. Thanks to their shape and size they can be used as exclusive presentation plates for finger food. Dimensions: D ...
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“Marblelous Ring Tray” White Carrara Marble Minimalist Tray by Aparentment
Located in Terrassa, Catalonia
The Marblelous Ring Tray is a minimalist style round shaped centerpiece made of treated Carrara marble, manufactured according to traditional methods. Josep Vila Capdevila, head des...
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21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Brutalist Tableware

Materials

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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...
Category

1960s German Vintage Brutalist Tableware

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"Oak Ring Tray” Oak Minimalist Tray by Aparentment
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The oak ring tray is a minimalist style round shaped centerpiece made of treated Oak, manufactured according to traditional methods.
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Set of 6 Swirl Bambous Baccarat Napkin Rings
Located in Mérida, YU
Set of 6 napkin rings made by famous French Crystal Manufacturer Baccarat. Perfect condition. Stamped.
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1980s French Vintage Brutalist Tableware

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Crystal

Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Set of ten "Argenta" coasters/bottle trays
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden. A set of ten "Argenta" coasters/bottle trays. Model 924. From the 1940s. In good condition with minor signs of use. Ma...
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1940s Swedish Vintage Brutalist Tableware

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Ceramic

Silver plated Antique Napkin Rings, Set of Twelve, Germany 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of twelve silver plated napkin rings, circa 1910-1930s, attributed to WMF. A nice set of round rings, from the Art Nouveau era. All of them with a nice patina. Can be cleaned f...
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20th Century German Brutalist Tableware

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Silver Plate

Scandinavian Modern Napkin Ring Holders in Brass, Set of 8
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A well-made set of napkin rings cast in brass and featuring motifs of a knife, a fork and a spoon. Made in Scandinavia during the 1960s and originally sold through Illums Bolighus in...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Brass

Rectangular Tray, Mediterranean Design by Robert Kuo, Handmade Cloisonne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rectangular tray Mediterranean design Shades of blue Glass enamel Gold plated copper Cloisonné Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. The cloison...
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2010s Brutalist Tableware

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Copper, Enamel

Previously Available Items
Pair of Sterling Silver Brutalist Wine Coasters Made in 1972 by Leslie Durbin
By Leslie Gordon Durbin
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1972 by Leslie Durbin, this very stylish, pair of sterling silver Brutalist wine coasters are wonderful quality, featuring pierced sides and wooden bases. Eac...
Category

1970s British Vintage Brutalist Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

David Marshall Aluminumand Brass Serving Tray with Fork and Knife, Spain, 1970s
Located in Valladolid, ES
Awesome David Marshall serving tray with fork and knife, signed. Aluminum and brass melted to the sand like traditional casting systems. Wood on the top. David Marshall (Marbella (M...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Brutalist Tableware

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Aluminum, Brass

Brutalist tableware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Brutalist tableware 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 tableware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist tableware made in a specific country, there are Europe, Spain, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original tableware, popular names associated with this style include David Marshall, Dana Nicholson, Talbot & Yoon, and Walther Glass. 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 tableware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $67 and tops out at $15,750 while the average work can sell for $573.

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