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.
French Sunburst Light Fixture with Nail Design in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Nail Design small sunburst flush mount light fixture, gilt wrought iron, milk glass, France, 1940s-1950s. Hand-hammered iron and opaline glass sunburst flush mount with nails decorat...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
$912Sale Price / set|26% 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
Spanish Revival Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sunburst Ceiling Light with Scrollwork Design, Gilt Wrought Iron, Pressed Glass Spain, 1940-1950 Impressive wrought iron sunburst flush mount / wall light with scrolled frame and pre...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
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
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
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
$3,390Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Large Sculptural Iron and Glass Wall Flush Mounts Sconces, 1960s
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
1970s Brutalist Metal Copper & Brass Sconce
By Tom Greene, Feldman Lighting Co.
Located in Stamford, CT
1970s brutalist two tone metal sconce. Burnished copper/brass metal finish. Newly rewired with new sockets and new brass backplate. Takes two chandelier bulbs (not included).
Metal
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
$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
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
Brutalist Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
*Matched Trio of Brutalist Wall Lamps designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Trio of three (3) flame-cut brass sconces * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sørensen * Manufactu...
Metal, Brass
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
$1,518 / 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
Pair of Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconces by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Mid-Century Modern wall lamps light sconces in red, yellow and amber hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a ...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Handmade Ceramic Wall Sconce, Envelope Sconce by Streicher Goods
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Envelope Sconce is a brutalist-inspired wall sconce, perfect for down-lighting a bedside, accent lighting in larger living spaces, or lighting a ha...
Ceramic, Acrylic
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
Large Brass Sconces by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage 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
Albano Poli style. Brutalist Murano Glass Sconce, Italy, 1970s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Large Brutalist and Mid-Century Modern Murano glass sconce in the style of Albano Poli's creations for Poliarte, Italy, 1970s. Composed of several rectangular and elongated pieces of...
Metal, Steel
$1,450 / item
Mid-Century Modern Sconces, Italy, circa 1960
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Brutalist style sconces in clear and orange Murano glass There are one in "clear" glass and one in orange-clear galss combination available at ...
Murano Glass
Brutalist cement and glass wall lamp, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Poliarte style wall lamp made from cement and inlaid glass. The brutalist design looks great and the light is diffused. Italy - 1960s Good conditionand in working order Dimensio...
Cement
Brutalist Bronze Wall and Murano Glass Sconce by Felix Agostini, 1990s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Brutalist Cast Bronze Wall Lamp, Maison Arlus Style, in the style of Felix Agostini. This wall lamp is made of gilded bronze. It is inspired by the bark of trees and their branches t...
Bronze
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
Series03 Wall Sconce, Dark Patinated Brass, Goatskin Parchment Shade
Located in Ozone Park, NY
Sculpted solid brass in a dark patinated finish, machined and mechanically fastened. Goatskin parchment shade with accordion-folded face and h...
Brass
$635Sale Price|40% Off
1960s, Brass Brutalist Wall Light by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful brutalist wall light designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen for Holm Sørensen & Co., Denmark. This lamp is flame cut of brass with a ...
Brass
$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
$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
Henri Fernandez Gold and Blue Longhorn Beetle Lamp
Located in Hastings, GB
Extremely rare sculpture in brass and agate, by Henri Fernandez for atelier Duval Brasseur, modelled as a Longhorn Beetle and dating to the 1970’s. The beautiful blue agate wings ar...
Agate, Brass
"Bollo 870" wall lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Tobia Scarpa, Flos
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
"Bollo" is a wall lamp by architect-designer Tobia Scarpa in the year 1978 and produced by Flos. It features a cream and black painted metal body and stand and a transparent prismati...
Metal
Italian Brutalist Wall Lamp, Italy 60s
Located in Lucija, SI
Rare Brutalist Wall lamp Designed by Albano Poli for Poliarte Italy 60s
Metal, Iron
Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Murano Glass Sconce by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern wall lamp light sconce hammered glass and wrought iron, murano glass cup, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a Brutalist style, ...
Wrought Iron
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
Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Murano Glass Sconce by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern wall lamp light sconce hammered glass and wrought iron, murano glass cup, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a Brutalist style, ...
Wrought Iron
$762Sale Price / item|20% Off
1 of 34 Brutalist iced wall lights in the style of Kalmar, Spain, 1970s
By Toni Zuccheri, AVMazzega, J.T. Kalmar, Kalmar Lighting
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Compatible with US/EU standards. LED compatible. Brutalist frosted ice wall lights in the style of Kalmar, Spain, 1970s. Each sconce is composed of 5 pieces of translucent acrylic a...
Metal, Chrome
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Wall Sculpture Light Sconce Tom Greene Brass Feldman Mid-Century
By Feldman Lighting Co., Tom Greene
Located in Wayne, NJ
Brutalist Mid-Century Modern Tom Greene brass huge wall sconce by Feldman. It doubles as a wall sculpture, when not not turned on. This plugs into an electrical outlet...
Brass
Pair of Large Brutalist Wall Sconces by Tom Ahlström & Hans Ehrlich, Sweden
Located in Rijssen, NL
A large pair of Brutalist wall sconces by Tom Ahlström & Hans Ehrlich, Sweden, 1960s, each with a E27 bulb. A absolute strong and sculptural design! The hand wrought iron surround h...
Wrought Iron
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 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
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
Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconce by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern wall lamp light sconce hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the italian design manufacture Longobard in a Brutalist style, the concurren...
Wrought Iron
Marz Designs "Polaris Wall Light", Small, Tumbled Brass
By Marz Designs
Located in BYRON BAY, NSW
Drawing from Brutalist architecture and the symbolism of the North Star, Polaris is a collection that embodies both origins, by fusing geometric form and celestial illumination to cr...
Aluminum, Brass
Midcentury Italian Brutalist Spider Detailed Rare Green Glass Body Sconce
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Wrought iron body with detailed rare gr...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Amber Glass Hammered Wrought Iron Sconces by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Mid-Century Modern wall lamps light sconces in amber and clear glass and hammered wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a Bruta...
Wrought Iron
Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconce by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern wall lamp light sconce hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the italian design manufacture Longobard in a Brutalist style, the concurren...
Wrought Iron
French Sunburst Light Fixture with Nail Design in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Ceiling Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Iron and Milk Glass __________________________________________________________________________ Nail Design sunburst flush mount, gilt...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
$4,500 / set
Pair Bronze Brutalist Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of bronze double-tube Brutalist sconces featuring pebbled texturing.
Bronze
Sleek Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights in Chromed Steel – Germany, 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Sleek Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights in Chromed Steel – Germany, 1970s (24 Available, Priced Per Light) Embodying the essence of Mid-Century Modern design, these sculptural wall sco...
Steel, Chrome
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
$3,500 / item
OMERO Small 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
Svend Aage Holm-Sørensen Torch Cut Brutalist Brass Sconces in Brass, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Acid-treated and torch-cut Diamond-shaped Wall sconces in solid brass. Designed by danish Svend Aage Holm Sorensen in the early 1960s. Measurements: H: 21.5 cm, W: 18 cm, Dept: 10 cm...
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
A pair of Brutalist Wall Sconces by Tom Ahlström & Hans Ehrlich, Sweden
Located in Rijssen, NL
A pair of beautiful brutalist wall sconces by Tom Ahlström &; Hans Ehrlich, Sweden, 1960s, each with 2 E27 bulbs. The light is two orange cups surrounded by dark blue panflute-like r...
Wrought Iron
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
Pair of large 1960s Brutalist bronze wall sconces
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of Italian wall sconces from the 1960s, in the Brutalist Gothic style. Solid brass frame with a patina finish; custom-made shades. Highly original and sculptural design. Very ni...
Brass
Vintage MCM Tom Greene for Feldman Brutalist Wall Sconces- a Pair
By Tom Greene
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic pair of vintage MCM wall scones. Made by the iconic Tom Greene for Feldman. Chic torch cut design with smoked glass panels. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Metal
$1,582Sale Price|20% Off
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
$176Sale Price|49% Off
Danish Brutalist Wall Lamp in Glazed Stoneware, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual vase shaped wall sconce with deconstructed brutalist styling and hares-fur glaze. Studio made at Stentøj Denmark circa 1970 in a style reminiscent of Søholm and Kingo. Measur...
Stoneware
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
$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
Leaf-Shaped Brass Wall Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Leaf-Shaped Brutalist Brass Sconce designed by the Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Flame-cut brass sconce with three leafs * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sorensen * Model: 51...
Metal, Brass