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.
Brutalist Longobard Hanging Lantern Hammered Glass, Italy 1960s
By Longobard
Located in Hannover, DE
This brutalist pendant lamp made of hammered glass is something truly special. The glass was lovingly crafted by hand, and its beauty is reminiscent of a raw gemstone — it's a true w...
Copper, Metal
$950Sale Price|40% Off
Green Red Blue Plastic Chunk Brutalist Hanging Pendant Lamp
Located in Ferndale, MI
Brutalist hanging lamp of multicolored plastic chunks set in gold tone resin.
Resin, Plastic, Acrylic
Brutalist Hand-Crafted Iron and stained Glass Hanging Pendant Lamp, c. 1960's
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Brutalist hand-crafted Iron and stained glass hanging pendant lamp c. 1960's, hand forged cast iron, stained glass piece's, heavy, quality construction, thick chain, hand for...
Iron
Brass and Copper Plated Brutalist Pendant Light
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chic brass and copper plated brutalist pendant light. Signed, stamped and dated 1984. Casts a delightful warm glow through it's inner cylindrical diffuser. Dimensions listed (21 in. ...
Brass, Copper, Steel
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
Brutalist Concrete Candle Lantern, White
Located in Camp Meeker, CA
Cast concrete with semigloss finish. Fits a 3" diameter candle up to 6" tall. Candle not included. Small batches, with limited quantities available. Chris has recently shifte...
Concrete
Pair of Brutalist Cast Brass Hanging Hall or Porch Lanterns
Located in Toledo, OH
Pair of heavy cast brass Brutalist style porch or hall lanterns. Hammered finish with amber granite back glass inserts.
Brass
Brutalist Concrete Candle Lanterns, Set of 3, White
Located in Camp Meeker, CA
Cast concrete with semigloss finish. Large: 8" dia x 8" tall, fits a 3" diameter candle up to 6" tall. Medium: 5" dia x 5" tall, fits a 2" diameter candle up to 4" tall, votive, t...
Concrete
Unique Arts & Crafts Copper & Amber Glass Entry Hall Pendant Light / Lantern
Located in Lisse, NL
All-handcrafted Dutch Arts & Crafts entry hall pendant light / lantern, early 20th Century. Bring a warm, atmospheric glow to any space with this stunning Arts & Crafts period lante...
Brass, Wire, Copper
Moorish Glass Lantern, Handcrafted Metal & Glass, Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Moroccan Mamounia glass lantern with Moorish design. Elegant Impressive intricate pierced metal and glass Moroccan lantern. Large 29 inches tall with clear, blue, green, red an...
Metal
$195 / item
H 16.5 in W 5.5 in D 5.5 in
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish Metal Candle Lantern, Hammered Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Moorish metal candle lantern with open metal work Moorish design. Hurricane candle lamp handcrafted in Morocco by artisans, metal hand-cut and...
Metal
$1,468 / item
H 11.82 in W 27.56 in D 11.82 in
1970s Industrial Aluminium and Brass Flame Proof Strip Light, Copper Verdigris
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Vintage industrial Edison flameproof striplight with verdigris finish manufactured by Daeyang c1970. Reclaimed and professionally restored by han...
Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Iron
German Art Deco Glass and Brass Ceiling pendant Light 1900
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful Art Deco matte glass and brass pendant light. Germany, 1910 Lamp sockets: 1 E27 (US E26). Height of body: 35 cm
Brass
$2,608
H 27 in Dm 12 in
Fine Arts & Crafts Wrought Iron & Opalescent Glass Entry Hallway Lantern Pendant
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique hand crafted, antique hall lantern with striking cylindrical glass. If you are looking for a rare, elegant, truly stylish and all-handcrafted pendant to grace your hallway, s...
Wrought Iron, Brass, Wire
$4,504
H 57 in Dm 15.6 in
Wonderful Late Victorian Bronze and Stain Leaded Glass Pendant Light / Lantern
Located in Lisse, NL
Kindly note that we arrange the shipping ourselves to ensure a smooth, secure, and reliable delivery. This allows us to provide the best possible service and care for your purchase. Stunning design and amazing colors Victorian pendant light...
Bronze
Moroccan Moorish Square Tole and Clear Glass Candle Lantern
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
large Handcrafted Moroccan clear glass lantern adorned with open tole metal work Moorish filigree design. Hurricane candle lamp with open metal work design and clear glass. There is ...
Metal
Crystal Tea Light Hurricane Lantern by Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Deborah Ehrlich's crystal tea light hurricane lantern is made up of four nested pieces of handblown, hand-cut Swedish crystal. Used with a clear tea light candle, the flame moves ...
Crystal
Iron and Glass Lantern Pendant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Simple and elegant iron and glass pendants. Glass globe shaped as an octagon with inlaid iron with in clear glass. Oil rub bronze hardware. Newly re-wired. One available.
$2,904
H 28 in Dm 15.4 in
Rare Arts & Crafts Pendant Lantern, Handcrafted Wrought Iron & Cathedral Glass
Located in Lisse, NL
Note. We are pleased to inform you that all shipments to the United States are free from import duties and tariffs. Rare early 20th Century handcrafted Arts & Crafts pendant lantern...
Metal, Wrought Iron
Classic Solid Copper & Brass Hanging Pendant / Lantern Light
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Capture the timeless elegance of this authentic vintage lantern. Originally crafted as a classic outdoor wall-mounted sconce, this piece has been converted into a stunning ceiling ...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 10.63 in W 7.49 in D 10.24 in
Vintage Brutalist Wall Mounted Lantern Light By Peter Marsh, Lead, Glass & Iron
By Peter Marsh
Located in Bristol, GB
MID-CENTURY WALL LIGHT/LANTERN A pyramid-shaped shade with multicoloured ‘dalle de verre’ or ‘slag’ glass fragments in heavy lead solder. Decorative scrolling wrought iron frame an...
Wrought Iron, Lead
Brutalist Mid-Century Modern Lantern by Poliarte Italy, 1970s
By Poliarte
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Brutalist Mid-Century Modern lantern. Design by Poliarte Italy. Striking Italian design from the 1970s. Patinated bronze with original glass shades. Rewired with...
Bronze
Sold
H 9.85 in W 17.33 in D 3.94 in
Mid Century Sculptural Danish Ceramic Wall Sconce, Made by Axella - 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
Danish ceramic wall lamp from the 1970s, produced by the Danish company Axella. The decorative wall lamp is made of 3 glazed ceramic disks in various shades of brown. The ceramic dis...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Sold
H 9.06 in W 21.66 in D 4.34 in
Mid Century Sculptural Danish Ceramic Wall Sconce, Handmade, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
Danish ceramic wall lamp from the 1970s, handmade by an unkown Danish Artist. The decorative wall lamp is made of 3 glazed ceramic disks in various shades of earthern colors. The la...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Brutalist hanging pendants by Albano Poli for Poliarte.
By Albano Poli
Located in London, England
Brutalist bronze hanging pendants by master stained glass artist Albano Poli for Poliarte, 1970s, Italy. Individual mosaic-like tile panels in hand-blown Murano glass tiles surround an intricately hand decorated bronze pendant, supported by over a metre of original loop chain. Albano Poli was born in Verona on August 2, 1935. He attended the Napoleone Nani art school in Verona, directed by the master Pino Casarini. In a small art shop in the centre of Verona Albano Poli began his long career. At first he restores and reproduces stained glass windows for churches. Then over time, Albano Poli begins combining manual ability with creative genius to design stained glass windows with unique distinctive style. Each piece of artistic works is always new, different, and meets the approval of those who admire the artwork for the preciousness of the materials, the precision of the execution and often for the unique abstraction composition. Albano has experience with all kinds of art including oil paintings, fresco and bas-relief. The "Renaissance" workshop where he and his fellow artists now create works ranging from stained glass windows, mosaics, frescoes, bronzes and wooden sculptures to stone or metal monuments...
Bronze, Steel
Sold
H 9.85 in W 17.33 in D 3.94 in
Mid Century Sculptural Danish Ceramic Wall Sconce, Made by Axella - 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
Danish ceramic wall lamp from the 1970s, produced by the Danish company Axella. The decorative wall lamp is made of 3 glazed ceramic disks in various shades of brown. The ceramic dis...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Brutalist Concrete Candle Lantern, White
Located in Camp Meeker, CA
Cast concrete with semigloss finish. Fits a 3" diameter candle up to 6" tall. Candle not included. Small batches, with limited quantities available. Chris has recently shifted fr...
Concrete
Brutalist Pandent Lantern Sweden, circa 1960s
Located in Verviers, BE
A Brutalist pandent Lantern Sweden circa 1960s 3 units available Price per unit As service: We can adjust the lamp height for you in advance if needed Beautiful when lit. And safe...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Copper Ceiling Light, circa 1970
Located in Vienna, AT
Unique Brutalist ceiling light from the 1960-1970s. Entirely made of solid copper with torch-cut perforations and a lovely age-related patina. ...
Copper
Set of Three Brutalist Copper Lanterns, circa 1970
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare primitive or Brutalist copper lanterns/pendants, circa 1970. Very rough and coarse surface with a rich patina. Each light has a new E27 socket with new wiring. Priced and sold a...
Copper, Steel
Sold
H 19 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
Brutalist Organic Chandelier/ Lantern by Tom Greene for Feldman Lighting
By Tom Greene
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Brutalist organic chandelier/ lantern by Tom Greene for Feldman Lighting Tom Greene for Feldman Lighting of Los Angeles Fitted with four interior lights Beautiful organic form.
Brass
Vintage Brutalist Artemide Örni Halloween Macumba Pendant Light Fixture 1970s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monumental metal Macumba pendant by Örni Halloween manufactured in Italy by Artemide in the 1970s. The elegant metal cup at the reflector bounces light up and through the over-lying ...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel