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.
Large Spanish Sunburst Light Fixture in Wrought Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Gilt Iron Foliage Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture, Spain 1950s. Large size. This piece was entirely made by hand in hammered iron. Richly decorated with leaves in two siz...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Original metal Brutalist wall lamp Octopus by Salvino Marsura, Italy 1980s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Rare mid-century modern metal Brutalist wall lamp Octopus by Salvino Marsura, made in Italy in the 1980s. Salvino Marsura is an Italian artist born in Treviso in 1938. His career be...
Metal
Large Brass Wall Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Brutalist Sun-Shaped Brass Wall Lamp designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large flame-cut sun-shaped brass sconce * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sorensen * Model: 5207...
Metal, Brass
$1,076Sale Price / set|40% Off
Mazzega murano glass Wall lighting Brutalist Pair , 1960s
By Mazzega
Located in La xara, VC
Original Period light Original lamp from the 50s/60s in the brutalist trend. a decorative piece that will give a unique atmosphere to your interior . There are several reasons to bu...
Metal, Iron
Midcentury Italian Brutalist Dragonfly Detailed Green Glass Body Sconce, c 1950
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Extremely rare Dragonfly sconce. Housing one light. Will be rewired with certified UL US socket for the USA and an appropriate socket for all other countries and ready to hang. Wrou...
Wrought Iron
$1,200 / set
Pair of Wall lights by Bruno Herbst Sweden 1970s
By Bruno Herbst
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of large, heavy 1970s Bruno Herbst metal and glass wall lamps. A rare model clean and simple design executed in its original lacquer metal. Heavy duty style, almost Brutalist ...
Metal
Albano Poli. Brutalist style Murano glass sconce by Poliarte, Italy, 1970s
By Albano Poli, La Murrina, Venini, AVMazzega, Poliarte
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Large Brutalist style Murano glass sconce designed by Albano Poli for Poliarte, Italy, 1970s. Composed of several rectangular and elongated pieces of whitish translucent Murano glass...
Metal, Steel
$3,930 / item
AVRA Wall Sconce - Piccolo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Buds of warm natural alabaster – glowing harbingers of Spring after a long Winter - nestle in textured, Brutalist – inspired cast bronze frames. Custom Sizes Available. Models in t...
Alabaster, Bronze
Series03 Wall Sconce, "Smoke" Patinated Sculpted Brass, Goatskin Parchment Shade
Located in Ozone Park, NY
Sculpted solid brass in a "smoke" acid patinated finish, machined and mechanically fastened. Goatskin parchment shade with accordion-folded face and hand stitched edges. Hand-dyed br...
Brass
$4,645 / item
AVRA Wall Sconce - Alto
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
$4,500 / set
Pair Bronze Brutalist Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of bronze double-tube Brutalist sconces featuring pebbled texturing.
Bronze
Sunburst Nail Design Light Fixture in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass, France 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching hand-hammered iron and opaline glass sunburst flush mount / wall light. France, 1940s-1950s. This sunburst light fixture features two layers of alternating short and lon...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
mid century brutalist style wrought iron and glass WALL LAMP sconce 1960s 1970s
Located in Mannheim, DE
Outstanding vintage brutalist style wall lamp made of black shiny lacquered wrought iron and thick clear and amber color ice glass. Around 1960s to 1970s. The lamp is in very good a...
Metal
Alice Flushmount or Sconce in Brass with Hand Blown Sandblasted Glass Cube
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. Available in satin brass or matte black...
Brass
Pair of Large Sculptural Iron and Glass Wall Flush Mounts Sconces, 1960s
By Poliarte
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful and large pair of sculptural iron and textured Murano glass wall lights/sconces, 1960s Lamp sockets: 1x E27 (US E26).
Iron
Elegant small pair of 1970's butterfly brass sconces, ( brutalist style )
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A cute small pair of 1970's butterfly brass sconces, in the brutalist style, they are thin and delicate
Brass
$2,661Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Sconce by Marc Weinstein, USA 1960’s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This brutalist sconce was designed and produced by Marc Weinstein in the USA during the 1960s. Crafted from iron, this striking sconce features hourglass-shaped metal pieces that hav...
Iron
Mid-Century Modern Sconces by Poliarte, Italy, circa 1960
By Poliarte
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Brutalist style sconces in clear and orange Murano glass by Albano Poli for Poliarte, Italy, circa 1960. There are one in "clear" glass and one...
Murano Glass
Brutalist Wall Sconce in Gilt Iron with Nails Design, France 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Wall Sconce in Wrought Gilt Iron with Nails Design, France, 1950s. Unusual wrought iron sunburst wall sconce with gold leaf finish and pointed spikes. It has a design with ...
Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Iron, Metal
Large Brass Sconces by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Substantial Brass Wall Lamps designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Set (2) of flame-cut sun-shaped brass sconces * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sorensen * Model:...
Metal, Brass
$1,740Sale Price / set|40% Off
Pair of Brutalist Wall Scones by Marcello Fantoni, 1960s
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A pair of brutalist wall lamp designed by renowned designer and artist Marcello Fantoni and produced in Italy. Beautiful sculptured torch cut steel with orange tinted glass which giv...
Iron
Brutalist Handmade Ceramic Sconce, Pita Sconce by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pita Sconce is a medium-sized brutalist-inspired table wall down-lit sconce, perfect for bedside, hallways, or accent lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods...
Ceramic, Acrylic
Brutalist Sconce by Felipe Delfinger (Derflingher) for Feders, Mexico, 1960s
Located in San Antonio, TX
Brutalist hand-blown thick glass sconce, México, c. 1960s, by Felipe Delfinger (Derflingher) for Feders. This Mexican mid-century modernist sconce is high-quality in construction wit...
Metal
$2,850 / item
OMERO Oval Wall Sconce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An architecturally-inspired duet of dramatic veined alabaster with a textured cast bronze – a trio of simply striking silhouettes. Models in the collection are individually hand-cra...
Alabaster, Bronze
French Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass, Nail Design, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Double Layered Nail Design sunburst light fixture, milk glass, gilt iron, France, 1940s-1950s. This sunburst light fixture features a gilt iron ring with two layers of iron nails su...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Set of Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Brass Wall Lamps designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. An eye-catching set for an exquisite place. * Set (2) of sunflower-shaped brass wall sconces * Designer: S...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Large Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
A pair of substantial brass wall lamps designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. Finding a pair is not an everyday experience. * A pair (2) of sconces with six square slate...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconces by Biancardi, Italy, 1970s
By Poliarte
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare Pair of Mid-Century Modern wall lamps lights lighting sconces hammered glass, yellow amber, clear glass and wrought iron, silver gold silvered gilded patina, by the italian desi...
Iron
Mid-Century Modern Stained Glass Wall Sconce by Jean-Simon Labret, 20th Century
By J. S. Labret
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Mid-Century Modern Stained Glass Wall Sconce by Jean-Simon Labret, 20th Century This stunning wall sconce by French designer Jean-Simon Labret features a vibrant composition of stai...
Metal
Pair of Brutalist Sconces in the Manner of Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of interesting brutalist sconces in the manner of Paul Evans, 20th Century. Created from metal and resin, the sconces are perfect in many interiors, including arts & crafts, mi...
Metal
Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconce by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern wall lamp light sconce amber and clear hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a Brutalist style, th...
Wrought Iron
Isabelle Faure Signed Illuminated Gold Butterfly Sculpture Light Brass and Agate
Located in Hastings, GB
An incredibly rare sculpture by world renowned sculptor Isabelle Faure, in hand worked brass and agate. The enormous butterfly spans over 80cm in diameter and the stunning agate wing...
Agate, Brass
$3,678Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Multicolored Hammered Glass and Wrought Iron Sconces by Longobard, Italy
By Longobard
Located in Benalmadena, ES
An extraordinary pair of wall sconces from the renowned Italian manufacturer Longobard, iconic of the Brutalist style of the 1970s. Each sconce features a crescent shape made of wrou...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Sconce designed by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Large Brutalist Brass Sconce designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Wall lamp with six square slates in flame-cut brass * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sorensen * Model: ...
Metal, Brass
$1,560 / item
1 of the 3 Brass Wall Sconces by Holm Sorensen, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 3 beautiful brass wall sconces by Holm Sorensen, manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s. Please note that the price is for one piece, three pieces available. Cleaned and...
Brass
Set of Leaf-Shaped Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Leaf-Shaped Brass Sconces designed by the Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. Eyecatching Brutalist Wall Art for beautiful place. * Set (2) of flame-cut brass sconces with...
Metal, Brass
$2,400 / set
Pair of Vintage Brutalist Sconces
Located in Pasadena, CA
Striking pair of vintage brutalist three-lite sconces embodies the raw, architectural aesthetic of the brutalist movement. Crafted from robust, weathered metal, the wall sconces fea...
Metal
"Giaco" Contemporary Golden Sconce in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
By Estúdio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
The "Giaco" sconce is meticulously handmade by master artisans one piece at a time. It is therefore quite difficult, if not impossible to make identical items. The brass casting is p...
Brass
Pair of Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconces by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Mid-Century Modern wall lamp light sconces model Pagode in amber and clear hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Handmade Ceramic Wall Sconce, U-Sconce by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The U-Sconce is a small, brutalist-inspired wall sconce, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, or accent lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. Th...
Ceramic, Acrylic
Vintage wall lamp Brutalist, Italy 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Mid-century wall lamp Brutalis made in Italy in the 1970s. The front panel is made of Murano glass, adding a touch of elegance to the lamp. The lamp is in very good vintage conditio...
Iron
Midcentury Italian Brutalist Spider Yellow Glass Body Sconce
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light. Will be newly rewired with certified US UL socket for the Usa and appropriate socket for all other countries and ready to hang. Wrought iron body with yellow Mura...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconces by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern pair of wall lamps lights sconces hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a Brutalist style, the con...
Wrought Iron
Series03 Wall Sconce, Polished Unlacquered Brass, Goatskin Parchment Shade
Located in Ozone Park, NY
Sculpted solid brass in a polished unlacquered finish, machined and mechanically fastened. Goatskin parchment shade with accordion-folded face...
Brass
Set of Copper Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Pair of impressive of Copper wall lamps with Diamond-shaped leafs by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen. An eye-catching set for a beautiful place. * A pair (2) sconces with five flame-cut c...
Metal, Copper
Brutalist Wall Lamp Designed by Adriano Poli for Poliarte, Italy 60s
By Poliarte, Albano Poli
Located in Lucija, SI
Rare Brutalist Wall lamp Designed by Albano Poli for Poliarte Italy 60s
Metal, Iron
A Large BRUTALIST "Torchere" WALL APPLIQUE SCONCE, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A large, spectacular and sculptural "Torchère" wall light, Brutalist, Shabby-Chic, Neo-Classical, circular base, large inclined lantern-style arm, cylindrical lampshade with melted p...
Brass
$3,400 / set
Pair of Brutalist Sconces
Located in Atlanta, GA
Beautiful pair of burnished brass torch cut brutalist sconces. Good condition, vintage from the mid sixties. Has original patina and these are hardwired.
Brass
Brutalist Wall Sculpture/Light, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare brutalist wall sculpture/light from the 1960s. Made of lacquered multi-layer torch-cut sheet metal this has a wonderful abstract organic structure...
Sheet Metal
Large brutalist Murano glass wall lamp by Toni Zuccheri, Italy, 60s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Large piece of multicolored Murano glass with an organic shape in brutalist style, attached to a silver chrome metal base. The diffuser is rough inside, creating an unique lighting e...
Metal, Chrome
$384Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Candle Sconce by Syroco - vintage, mid-century modern
By Syroco
Located in Warrenton, OR
Brutalist Candle Sconce by Syroco - vintage, mid-century modern. Mid-Century Modern Syroco Wall Hanging/Wall Sculpture. This piece is made to ...
Other
Pair of Copper Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
A pair of eye-catching Copper wall lamps with diamond-shaped leafs designed by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen in the 1960s. A true masterpiece from the design lightning designer. * A pair...
Metal, Copper
Willem van Oyen Brutalist wall light for RAAK the Netherlands, 1960's.
By RAAK
Located in CASTENRAY, NL
The 'Chartres' lamp is a design from the 1960's by Stained glass artist Willem van Oyen (1921-2004). It is made of different shards of glass in multiple colours. This rare and uni...
Cut Glass
Tom Ahlström & Hans Ehrlich Brutalist Torch Amber Murano Glass Sconces 1950
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Pair of brutalist sconces with thick amber Murano glass covering bulbs. Will be rewired with certified UL US socket for the USA and an appropriate socket for all other countries and...
Wrought Iron
Zero Quattro, Milano. Huge brutalist Murano glass sconce, Italy, 1970s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Huge Brutalist and Space Age style Italian wall light by Zero Quattro 04, Milano, 1970s. Formed by 6 pieces of Murano glass in the shape of an "S" or intertwined waves. All the piece...
Metal, Steel
Large Raak Amsterdam Brutalist / Hollywood Regency Glass Wall Light, 1970s
By RAAK
Located in Antwerp, BE
Striking sculptural wall light by Raak Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1970s. This large rectangular fixture is composed of irregular chunks of clear textured glass mounted in a resin frame...
Glass
1970s Brutalist Sconce or Ceiling Lamp, Metal Twirl & Ruby Red Glass, Germany
Located in Andernach, DE
Fabulous impressive, as much as expressive brutalist sconce or ceiling lamp, custom made in the 1970s for the Philips exhibition in Hannover at the time, Germany. The silvery cast m...
Metal
Original metal Brutalist wall lamp by Salvino Marsura, Italy 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Rare mid-century modern metal Brutalist wall lamp by Salvino Marsura, made in Italy in the 1970s. Salvino Marsura is an Italian artist born in Treviso in 1938. His career began in t...
Iron
A Square Brass Wall Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
A classic wall lamp by the Svend Aage Holm Sørensen adding an elegant touch to any modern interior. * A square, multilayered flame-cut brass wall lamp * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sø...
Metal, Brass
"Sino Meio" Contemporary Outdoor Wall Light in Cast Aluminum by Estudio Orth
By Estúdio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This outdoor wall light was meticulously handmade by master artisans one piece at a time. It is therefore quite di...
Aluminum