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.
Substantial Brass Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Substantial Brutalist brass pendant light designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slats * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sør...
Brass
Brutalist stained glass pendant lamp by Felipe Delfinger, Mexico, 1960s
By Felipe Delfinger, Tiffany Studios, Longobard, Poliarte
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist pendant lamp by Felipe Delfinger for Feders, Mexico, 1960s. Custom stained glass diffuser in blue, orange, caramel and white tones, combined with a brass structure. Crafted...
Metal, Brass
Spanish Sunburst Foliage Chandelier / Light Fixture in Black Iron, 10 Lights
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding XL spanish foliage sunburst flush mount ceiling light in black iron by Ferro Art, 1950s Extra large size ( 35,83 inches diameter). 10 Lights. This stunning 10-light ceili...
Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron
$681 / item
1 of the 5 Ceramic Lanterns, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful set of five ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored ceramics, manufactured by Axella in the 1960s in Denmark. Exquisite lanterns designed to ...
Ceramic
Flower-Shaped Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Flower-Shaped Brutalist Brass Pendant Light designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Substantial pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: Svend Aage ...
Brass
Brutalist Style Chandelier Lamp / Radius of 80 / Fom the 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist style chandelier lamp from the 1950s. Discover the majesty and timeless charm of our brutalist style lamp from the 50s. With it...
Copper, Iron
$3,814Sale Price|30% Off
Linear Chandelier, Patinated Pewter, Ochre London Eucalyptus, England, 2011
By OCHRE
Located in Glasgow, GB
This linear chandelier, known as the Eucalyptus Chandelier by Ochre London and created in 2011, is a sculptural linear pendant that combines organic form with refined contemporary cr...
Brass, Pewter
$11,462Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Tassel 3 Pendant Lights by Apparatus Studio, Oil-Rubbed Bronze
By APPARATUS
Located in Glasgow, GB
A pair of Tassel 3 pendant lights by the New York lighting studio Apparatus Studio, designed with the studio’s distinctive blend of modern minimalism and decorative influence. Inspi...
Bronze
$6,364Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Sunburst Perforated Flush Mount Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s (36 in)
Located in Barcelona, ES
Monumental Brutalist Sunburst Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf XXL Sunburst light fixture with perforated holes at the central spherical plate and nail deta...
Wrought Iron, Iron, Gold Leaf
Brutalist Sunburst Crown Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sunburst Crown Flush Mount with Foliage Details, Gilt Iron, Frosted Glass Hand-hammered iron sunburst crown ceiling light fixture with frosted glass panel difusser. Spain, 1950s. Th...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
Sunburst Foliage Ceiling Light Fixture in Gilt Iron with Flower Detail, 8 Lights
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Huge Foliage Sunburst Flush Mount Ceiling Light in Gilt Iron, Ferro Art, 1950s Extra large size ( 37 inches diameter ) 8 Lights. This stunning 8 light ceiling lamp features an intri...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Brutalist Style Chandelier Lamp / Radius of 120 / Fom the 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist style chandelier lamp from the 1950s Discover the majesty and timeless charm of our brutalist style lamp from the 50s. With its circular design of 130 cm in diameter. Thi...
Copper, Iron
$33,570 / item
AVRA Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Glowing buds of natural alabaster nestle in a Brutalist-inspired solid cast bronze frame. Models in the collection are individually hand-crafted by the skilled artisans in our studi...
Alabaster, Bronze
Brutalist Verdi Gris Copper Pendant Chandelier by Ron Rezek c. 1980's
By Ron Rezek
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist Conwe form pendant fixture, designed by Ron Rezek, circa 1980's. The chandelier features a rich Verdi Gris finish on the exterior copper metal surface, with an interior whi...
Metal, Copper
Set of 9 Ceramic Pendant lights, Vintage and Contemporary Curated
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of nine vintage and contemporary combined ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful glaze, made with rich colors. Some lights are made in the 1970s, some pendants are new ...
Ceramic
$2,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
1970s Felipe Delfinger for Feders Brutalist Metal & Stained-Glass Pendants
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a 1970s Felipe Delfinger for Feders Brutalist Metal & Stained-Glass Pendants. (pair) Large 15.5 x 10.5 chain 33.5 Small 10.5. ...
Metal
Peter Marsh Brutalist Hanging Colored Glass Chunk Fragment Globe Pendant Light
By Peter Marsh
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a fantastic brutalist style hanging globe made of large chunks of glass fragments in a multitude of colors soldered together. It is not signed but I have seen others like thi...
Lead
1 of the 5 Ceramic Green Brown Pendants, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of five round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green and brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s in ...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Danish Brutalist Ceramic Pendant from Judi Kunst
By Judi Kunst
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist studio ceramic pendant lamp by Judi Kunst from Denmark. A functional lamp and at the same time an imposing object. The design language seems organic. The shade shows a sim...
Ceramic
Tenfold Chandelier 32inch Brushed Bronze Perforated Metal Pendant Light
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD CHANDELIER 5 TIER 24inch in Brushed Bronze by Luft Tanaka Studio Brutalism meets glam. Inspired by Brutalist architecture and Op Art, the Tenfold Series features interlockin...
Aluminum, Steel, Brass
1 of the 2 Axella Ceramic Cone Brown Beige Pendant Lights, Denmark, 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning round hanging lamp, made with rich colored beige and brown ceramics, manufactured in the 1970s in Denmark. Made by Axella, in excellent condition. Axella was found in the 7...
Ceramic
$3,841Sale Price|25% Off
Charles Dudouyt Brutalist Six Arm Chandelier C1940s France
Located in Trensacq, FR
A rare and spectacular six-light Charles Dudouyt chandelier, circa 1940. Masterfully crafted in warm, dark wood, the six horizontal arms and the substantial central stem are adorned...
Wood
Set of 4 Ceramic Pendant lights, Vintage and Contemporary Curated
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of four vintage and contemporary combined ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful glaze, made with rich colors. Some lights are made in the 1970s, some pendants are new ...
Ceramic
Brutalist Metal & Stained Glass Midcentury Pendant by Artist Felipe Delfinger
Located in Lisse, NL
Organic design, metal and glass light fixture from the mid-century era. This great workmanship pendant from mid-20th century is another one of our recent great finds. With 20th ce...
Metal, Brass
Substantial Brass Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Substantial Brutalist brass pendant light designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large onion-shaped pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slats * Designer: Svend ...
Brass
A Rustic Modern CEILING LIGHT FIXTURE in ATELIER MAROLLES Style, France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
An impressive and sculptural circular rooster pendant light, Art-Popular, Brutalist, Rustic-Modern, circular structure in solid hammered wrought iron, surrounded by 6 candle-style l...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Swag Pendant Light Lamp Tom Greene Brass Feldman Co Mid-Century Modern
By Feldman Lighting Co., Tom Greene
Located in Wayne, NJ
Brutalist Swag Pendant Light Lamp Tom Greene Brass Feldman Co. This plugs into a wall outlet. It has approx 13' Cord/chain.
Brass
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Golden Brass Brutalist Pendant by Moe Lighting
By Moe Lighting
Located in Denton, TX
Golden brass brutal design pendant light for Moe lighting. Very intricate six sided chandelier with six light bulbs perfect for entry way or bathroom fixture. The chain is 22" in len...
Brass
Maurice Chalvignac Ceramic Pendant, circa 1960s–1970s
Located in Montréal, CA
Striking 1960’s vintage ceramic pendant attributed to Maurice Chalvignac, featuring an organic, sculptural form with a richly textured brown glaze and numerous perforations throughou...
Ceramic
$4,734Sale Price|20% Off
Spanish Foliage Sunburst Light Fixture / Chandelier in Gilt Iron, 5 Lights
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding spanish foliage sunburst flush mount ceiling light in gilt iron, Ferro Art, 1950s Large size (70 cm / 27,55 inches diameter). Five Lights. ...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Robert Sonneman "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Modernist sheet steel and brass fixture, by Robert Sonneman. Large and impressive.
Brutalist Ceramic Pendant Lamps, Italy, 1970s, Priced Individually
Located in Antwerp, BE
Two distinctive Italian Brutalist ceramic pendant lamps dating from the 1970s, available individually. The listed price is per lamp. Each pendant is handmade in heavily textured cer...
Brass
Brutalist Patinated Brass Hanging Chandelier by Tom Greene, 1960s
By Tom Greene
Located in Oceanside, US
A stunning mid-century Brutalist chandelier by renowned designer Tom Greene for Feldman Lighting Co., circa 1960s–1970s. This sculptural fixture showcases Greene’s signature torch-cu...
Brass
1970s Brutalist Modernist Wrought Iron Chandelier with Geometric Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking Brutalist Modernist chandelier handcrafted in wrought iron, dating from the 1970s. This sculptural fixture features bold geometric panels and sweeping curves that embody t...
Wrought Iron
$4,461Sale Price|20% Off
Spanish Sunburst Leafed Ceiling Light Fixture / Pendant in Gilt Iron, Large Size
Located in Barcelona, ES
Monumental brutalist sunburst foliage gilt metal ceiling light fixture. Spain, 1950s This handcrafted Brutalist ceiling lamp features a triple layered leafed sunburst light fixture.T...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Diminutive Brutalist Pendant Chandelier by Nanny Still - Mc Kinney for Raak
Located in New York, NY
Diminutive Brutalist pendant chandelier, by Nanny Still - McKinney for Raak, made in Finland circa 1960's. The cylindrical fixture features a copper exterior with an amber glass int...
Copper
1 of the 3 Ceramic Brown Blue Pendants, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of three round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored ceramics, manufactured around the 1960s in Denmark. The pendants have holes in the...
Ceramic
1 of the 10 Ceramic Green Blue Brown Pendants, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Several round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green, blue and brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s in Denmark...
Ceramic
Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Substantial Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Set (2) of onion-shaped pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slates and s...
Brass
Modernist Brutalist Gold Chandelier Tom Green for Feldman
By Tom Greene
Located in Hastings, GB
LA based designer and sculptor Tom Greene hand crafted this brutalist chandelier for 'Feldman Lighting Company' in the late 1960s/1970s The design features staggered tiers of torch c...
Brass
$450Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Copper Pendant Lamp by Peill & Putzler, Germany, 1960s
Located in Balen, BE
Brutalist Copper Pendant Lamp by Peill & Putzler, Germany, 1960s This striking Brutalist copper pendant lamp, designed by Peill & Putzler/Philips in Germany during the 1960s. This l...
Copper
Tenfold Chandelier 5T 32inch, Waxed Aluminum, Brutalist Pendant, Customizable
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD 5 TIER in Polished Nickel by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking perforated sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the architectural styles and art mo...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Large Sunburst Light Fixture with Leaves Design in Gilt Iron, 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Sunburst Flush Mount, Gilt Iron, Spain, 1950s. _________________________________________________________________________ Stunning Brutalist Foliage Sunburst Light Fixture / C...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Brutalist Metal and Textured Amber Glass Pendant Lamp, Germany, 1970s
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Brutalist pendant lamp from Germany, 1970s, combining a heavy textured amber glass shade with a striking construction of dark patinated metal tubes. The metal elements are cut and pe...
Metal, Copper
Spanish Sunburst Foliage Chandelier / Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 8 Lights
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding XL spanish foliage sunburst flush mount ceiling light in gilt iron, Ferro Art, 1950s Extra large size (90 cm // 34,64 inches diameter). 8 Lights. This stunning 8 light c...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Brutalist Pendant Light by Nanny Still - McKinney for Raak Finland c 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist hanging pendant by noted artist Nanny Still - McKinney made in Finland for Raak. The cylindrical copper clad body features a serie...
Copper
Brutalist Brass Pendant Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Denmark, 1960s
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Karis, Nyland
Striking Danish brutalist pendant lamp designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen and produced by Holm Sørensen & Co in the 1960s. The lamp is crafted from brass with a sculptural, layered...
Brass
Vintage Brutalist Handmade Candle Chandelier in Wrought Iron from Boltze, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist Handmade Candle Chandelier in Wrought Iron from Boltze, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece has an attribution mark, Up to 250V (Europe...
Wrought Iron
20th Century Brutalist Dutch Hammered Iron Pendant Lamp
Located in High Point, NC
This 20th Century Dutch Brutalist hammered iron pendant lamp embodies the expressive, sculptural qualities that define the movement. The fixture features a spherical glass shade with...
Iron
Brutalist Copper Pendant by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handmade Danish Mid Century Modern Brutalist copper pendants by the versatile and acclaimed Danish designer Svend Aage Holm Sorensen. Manufact...
Copper, Metal
$1,365Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set Brutalist Copper Lamps by Koch & Söhne Germany 1970s
Located in Hannover, DE
Rare set of three brutalist pendant lights. These three master-crafted copper lights are something special. The lampshade is made in the shape of a funnel, decorations were burned in...
Brass, Copper
Substantial Brass Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Substantial Brutalist Brass Pendant Light designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large onion-shaped pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: Svend ...
Brass
1 of the 3 Ceramic Green Pendants, Axella Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the three stunning round ceramic hanging lamp with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green and brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s...
Ceramic
Brutalist Style Chandelier Lamp / Radius of 100 / Fom the 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist style chandelier lamp from the 1950s Discover the majesty and timeless charm of our brutalist style lamp from the 50s. With its circular design of 100 cm in diameter.This ...
Copper, Iron
$4,916Sale Price|20% Off
AVMazzega. Brutalist style chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari, Italy, 1970s
By AVMazzega, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist and Cubist style pendant lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for AV Mazzega, Italy, 1970s. Composed by 9 cubic diffusers of translucent Murano glass combined with white glass using th...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Mexican brutalist Feders Pendant Light
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer these original pendant light designed by Felipe Delfinger. Made of brass and blue artglass. About Felipe Delfinger: In the year 1860, the German Derflinger fam...
Brass
Large Mid Century Italian Brutalist bronze chandelier 8-light Italy 1960s
Located in Nienstädt, DE
Large bronze chandelier Brutalist design Made in Italy, 1960s An absolutely exceptional, high-quality piece Diameter 67 cm, height 95 cm 8 x E12 / E14 sockets with adapters Very good...
Bronze
$1,251Sale Price|63% Off
1990s Italian chandelier, Longobard
By Longobard
Located in La xara, VC
Superbe Chandelier multicolore glass Murano with brutalisat iron structure . The Design and the quality of the glass make this piece the best of the italian Design . This unique Chan...
Iron
$1,984Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Murano glass ice tube chandelier by Doria Leuchten Germany 1960s
Located in Hannover, DE
Arguably one of the most exciting and beautiful ice glass tube chandeliers from the Dutch manufacturer Doria Leuchten. 69 Murano glass tubes with a matte finish make this chandelier ...
Brass
Chandelier Pendant Light, Austrolux, Nickel Chrome Glass, Austria, 1970s, 1 of 3
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
One of three Austrian light fixtures by Austrolux, Vienna, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1970 (late 1960s or early 1970s). The lights are made of a silver painted metal frame wh...
Chrome, Nickel, Metal