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Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

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
Number in Set: Set of 6
Alice Vertical Pendant Hanging Fixture Glass Cubes in Solid Brass
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Alice collection is inspired by Brutalist modular architecture. The textured hand blown glass cubes are sandblasted to create a soft glow and stacked together to diffuse light in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

Tenfold Pendant Light 5 Tier, Polished Nickel, Geometric Ceiling Lamp, brutalist
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD PENDANT 5 TIER by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking mirror polished sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the aesthetics, architectural styles, and ...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Brass

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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

Cereus Lamp by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the organic, undulating shapes of desert cacti, this lamp strikes a balance between minimalism and playfulness. Each lamp is hand built with a speckled clay body using...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

Pétales d'or
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
A pendant composed of 3 flower leafs. Joined together in wabisabi brass. the mesh inlay filters the light downwards to the surface, all welds are visible in a natural brutalist way....
Category

2010s Belgian Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

Tenfold Pendant Light, Waxed Aluminum, Silver, Brutalist Ceiling Lamp, 70s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD PENDANT 3 TIER by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the aesthetics, architectural styles, and art movements of the 1970s. The light fixture works well as a single fixture over a dining table setting or in multiples as a linear configuration over a bar counter or kitchen island. Made to order. Assembled and shipped from Brooklyn, NY. Typical lead time is 7-8 weeks from order. Quick Ship available depending on component inventory. Please inquire. Available in Waxed Aluminum...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Brass

Luna Piena Drum in Studio Glass, Brutalist Style
Located in London, GB
Inspired by the Brutalist era of the 20th century, the largest of our pendants is made of the curved pieces of handcrafted studio glass, held in place by patinated brass fixings. A l...
Category

2010s British Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

Glass Globe
Located in Lisbon, PT
Glass Globe made to order. Utu Lamps is part of the Mambo Unlimited Ideas design group from Portugal. Utu’s contemporary aesthetic results in original top-quality luminaries with i...
Category

2010s Portuguese Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Travertine, Metal, Brass

Contemporary Brutalist Pendant Pyppe Single III Brass, Taupe, Travertine by UTU
Located in Lisbon, PT
Pairing smooth and rough surfaces that contrast with one another, Art Deco inspired Pyppe lamp collection gives way to a new approach in shape and balance. Emphasizing the tension be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Travertine, Metal, Brass

James de Wulf Supernova Chandelier Lighting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The latest piece in James de Wulf's lighting series. The last stages of a star finds itself exploding into a supernova; boundless energy erupted into a moment of beauty. In this inte...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Steel

Brutalist Pendant Pyppe 70 in Brass Lilac Natural Stone Travertine by UTU Lamps
Located in Lisbon, PT
Pairing smooth and rough surfaces that contrast with one another, Art Deco inspired Pyppe lamp collection gives way to a new approach in shape and balance. Emphasizing the tension between mass and shape, it provides soft points of interaction that connect sinuous and delicate forms with poised proportions. A collection that is raw and expressive yet sophisticated, where each lamp complements each other but can ultimately exist on its own. Tubular shapes finished in a smooth homogeneous Powder-coating finish and a delicate Polished Brass structure and a carefully sculpted Travertine stone give shape to this elegant Pendant. Frosted Glass Globes diffuse...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Travertine, Metal, Brass

James de Wulf Poseidon's Halo Chandelier, Residential
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Grand industrial chandelier created of forge-burnt black steel. Each 10" pendant is inspired by underwater mines. Chandelier consists of three concentric circles decorated with metal...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Steel

Eclipse Pendant Drum Crafted in Studio Glass and Patinated Brass
Located in London, GB
Inspired by the Brutalist era of the 20th century, the Eclipse drum has three curved "moon glass" panels surrounding the central pole. Attached to the outside are panels of silver le...
Category

2010s Italian Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

Mezza Luna Pendant Drum in Studio Glass, Brutalist Style
Located in London, GB
Inspired by the Brutalist era of the 20th century, the Mezza Luna pendant is asymmetric to give an interesting alternative to a traditional pendant. As well...
Category

2010s Italian Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

James de Wulf Ball Pendant Lighting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Industrial style pendant with steel that is burnt black in a forge. These pendants were designed with underwater mines in mind. Comes with 10 feet of burnt black chain, matching cano...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Steel

Large Custom Iron "Huron" Kitchen Island or Billiard Light Fixture with 9 Lights
Located in Houston, TX
Our exclusive, custom design, the Huron hand-wrought, nine-light chandelier comes with custom chain and canopy. A clean and timeless design. The diameter of each of the three lights...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Iron

James de Wulf Triton Pendant Lighting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Foundry cast, solid brass pendant light. Comes with 10' of steel chain, 60 Watt Edison style bulb, and canopy. UL listed. Designed and manufactured in Los Angeles. Additional chain a...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

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Wrought Iron Chandelier, France
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Wrought Iron Chandelier, France
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Robert Sonneman "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier
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Modernist sheet steel and brass fixture, by Robert Sonneman. Large and impressive.
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1970s American Vintage Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

Signed Brutalist Paul Evans Style Chandelier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Awesome handcrafted lamp made of extremely heavy torch cut metal. Reminiscent of a stalactite formation, single medium socket, intentional rough cut industrial look. One of a kind st...
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Felipe Derflinger Caged Glass Chandelier Light
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Pair of Moroccan Vintage Moorish Hanging Glass Light Fixtures
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Moroccan Moorish Vintage Hanging Light Fixture
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Spectacular Murano Glass Petal Chandelier or Flush Mount
Located in Rome, IT
Spectacular chandelier 126 petals blown glass by Murano. Available two item.
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Previously Available Items
Mid Century Brass Pendant Lights by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Circa 1960s
Located in Gloucester, GB
Mid century brass pendant lights by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen Circa 1960s - Price is per light (10 available) - Solid brass - Comes with original brass chain and ceiling rose -...
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1960s Danish Vintage Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendants

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Brutalist chandeliers and pendants for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Brutalist chandeliers and pendants 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 chandeliers and pendants created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, building and garden elements, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist chandeliers and pendants made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original chandeliers and pendants, popular names associated with this style include Holm Sørensen, Tom Greene, James de Wulf, and Feldman Lighting Co.. 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 chandeliers and pendants 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 $78,000 while the average work can sell for $2,208.

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