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.
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...
Metal
Important Brutalist Sculptural Dragon Lamp in Wrought Iron, France, 1970's
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
We are thrilled to present this exceptional floor lamp, a unique and genuine masterpiece of Brutalist design, made of wrought iron and originating from France. This imposing piece ...
Metal, Wrought Iron
$4,675Sale Price|20% Off
Lampadaire "Coquilles Saint-Jacques" de Willy Daro, 1970
By Willy Daro
Located in PARIS, FR
Le lampadaire "Coquilles Saint-Jacques" de Willy Daro est une pièce exceptionnelle qui incarne le luxe et la sophistication des années 1970, période durant laquelle le designer belge...
Brass
Tom Ahlström & Hans Ehrlich Brutalist Cast Iron and Murano Glass Wall Sconce
Located in Mortsel, BE
Brutalist wall sconce designed by Tom Ahlström and Hans Ehrlich for A&E Leuchte. Produced in Sweden during the 1960-70s, this fixture exemplifies the raw, expressive design langu...
Iron
Brutalist Candle Holder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique torch cut metal candle holder on stone base. Gives great light and has a super look, with patina and color. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Metal
$2,850 / set
Vintage Boho Brutalist Floor Lamps - Set of 2
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make a powerful statement with this dramatic pair of vintage Brutalist floor lamps. Expertly hand-forged from textured iron, each lamp features a striking openwork tower design. The ...
Iron
Gold Spanish Sunburst Light with Perforate Decorative Plate
Located in Hastings, GB
A splendid 1950's Spanish forged gilt metal large sunburst flush mount or wall light (there are fittings that allow both options), the two lamp holders are enclosed behind the remova...
Iron
Contemporary Ceramic Lamp Labyrinth, Italy
By Roberto Razeni
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Huge labyrinth sculpture ceramic or terracotta lamps by the artist Roberto Razeni. Each lamp is different, unique piece. Demo shade not included. M...
Ceramic, Terracotta
Big Adjustable 2-Flamming Wall Lamp by Napako, 1970s, Restored
By Napako
Located in Praha, CZ
Big wall lamp with two adjustable shades made of polished brass. Made in Czechoslovakia by Napako in 1970s in Brutalist style. Carefully restored: brass polished, new black paint on...
Metal, Brass
Glashütte Limburg Deckenleuchte Brutalistisch Lampe Glas Strahler
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschöne Decken Pendellampe mit drei Strahlern des deutschen Traditionsherstellers Glashütte Limburg aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Die Wandleuchten verfü...
Metal
$841Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century Brutalist 60s Pendant with 3 Lights in Opaline Glass Metal and Brass
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
This striking Brutalist chandelier from 1960s Europe embodies the raw, sculptural aesthetic typical of mid-century European design. Featuring three staggered pendants arranged at di...
Metal, Brass
Shade Two by Kalou Dubus, Sanded Chamotte Stoneware Floor & Table Lamp
By Kalou Dubus
Located in PANTIN, -
SHADE TWO is the smaller sibling of SHADE ONE — same DNA, more compact presence. Entirely handbuilt from raw chamotte stoneware, its faceted geometric base recalls a cut crystal, a m...
Cast Stone
Vintage Lamp in Metal, 1980s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Large Brutalist console lamp. Spiral body, metal core coated with resin then lacquered. Beautiful and exemplary finish: the bronze-coloured lacquer of the body fades to dark grey tow...
Metal
Metal and Murano Glass Wall Scone in Brutalist Style, 1970s
Located in Baambrugge, NL
This wall lamp was made in the 1970s. The wall applique in brutalist style has a patinated and handmade metal frame. The two light points are located behind the two squares of emboss...
Metal
Thoscene Tetrahedron Star Chandelier
By John Brevard
Located in Coral Gables, FL
This sacred geometry inspired hex fractal chandelier creates an elegant but sophisticated addition to any space. There is a meaning for this design using the pattern of 6; (as a num...
Cut Steel
Brutalist Inspired Wall Sconce Pyppe Salmon Pink, Polished Brass 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 be...
Travertine, Metal, Brass
$1,800Sale Price|25% Off
Fantastic Brutalist Fantoni Table Lamp For Raymor
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A really great Brutalist table lamp by Marcello Fantoni for Raymor. This lamp is very well done and has an incredibly sculptural look and presence. Hand brazed metal with applied met...
Teak
Pair of 1960s Wrought Iron and Glass Brutalist Wall Lamps
Located in Izegem, VWV
A pair of patinated wrought iron sconces with honey amber colored glass diffusers. Each sconce had two E27 sockets.
Wrought Iron
Large and Unusual Brutalist Copper Floor Lamp
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
A fun and lovely floor lamp representing a large flower crafted out of copper and brass. The flower head is made out of a large red copper disc and a number of brass and copper petal...
Vintage Abstract Brutalist Mixed Metal Signed Marcello Fantoni Table Lamp
Located in Buffalo, NY
Available for purchase is a rare #347 lamp from Marcello Fantoni, which is signed and originally from Firenze, Italy. This lamp is an early example of Fantoni's work, characterized b...
Metal, Iron
$6,531 / item
Pineapple Table Lights
Located in London, England
A sophisticated table lamp featuring a sleek, black lacquered solid metal stem and base, exuding a sense of modern elegance and durability. The lamp is crowned with exquisitely pierc...
Metal, Copper
Unique Brutalist Copper "Teardrop" Floor Lamp, 1980s
Located in Renens, CH
A truly unique piece, this copper brutalist floor lamp was custom-made for a well-known actress during the 1980s and placed in her home in Geneva. The round circles have been refe...
Metal, Copper
Sculptural Mid-Century Glass Floor Lamp
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Stunning brutalist floor lamp of hammered iron with an oxydized, verdigris patina and bronze finish. Thick slabs of bautifully coloured rough-cut glass in the stem which can be light...
Art Glass
French Brutalist Chain-Link Floor Lamp in Manner of Jean-Pierre Ryckaert, 1950s
Located in Chicago, IL
A mid-century French floor lamp, circa 1950s, in the manner of Jean-Pierre Ryckaert. Forged in darkened metal, the brutalist silhouette stacks oversized chain links on a horseshoe ba...
Metal
Vintage Boho Cast Leaves Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This highly textural vintage table lamp is a striking example of Brutalist or Abstract Modern sculpture, utilizing rough surfaces and organic motifs. The lamp body is composed of thr...
Metal, Silver Leaf
$1,650
Dome Lamp by Mike Serra
Located in Stamford, US
This lamp base form was hand sculpted by Mike Ruiz Serra in his NYC studio and then sand cast in iron. This piece is finished with a black oxide solution and wax. Serra Hardware pro...
Iron
Price Upon Request
Bespoke Rectangular Sculptural Ceramic White Glazed Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Bespoke Rectangular Sculptural Ceramic White Glazed Table Lamp by Shizue Imai. The overall Height to tip of final is 33.6". Height of the ceramic itself is 20". Lampshade is not incl...
Brass
Price Upon Request
Bespoke Rectangular Sculptural Ceramic Dark Glazed Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Bespoke Rectangular Sculptural Ceramic Dark Glazed Table Lamp by Shizue Imai. The overall Height to tip of final is 33.6". Height of the ceramic itself is 19.5". Lampshade is not inc...
Brass