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.
Scandinavian Mid Century Sculptural Floor Lamp in Solid Pine, 1970s
By Roland Wilhelmsson, Sven Larsson
Located in Odense, DK
Large organic floor lamp in solid pine. Made by unknown cabinetmaker in 1970s - probably Swedish or Danish. This piece is in a great vintage condition. A warm colour and patina th...
Pine
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
Cereus Lamp by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
The Cereus Table Lamp is inspired by the organic, undulating forms of desert cacti, striking a balance between minimalist design and playful natural shapes. Each lamp is hand-built u...
Brass
1 of the 2 Holmegaard Lilac Ceramic Lamps, Custom Silk Lampshades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamps. Custom made neutral silk lampshades by René Houben. The lilac glazed ceramics with wooden base fit perfectly with the neutral custom made lamps...
Ceramic
Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
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...
Brass
Mexican brutalist Feders Pendant Light
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer these original pendant light designed by Felipe Delfinger. Made of brass and blue artglass. About Felipe Delfinger: In the year 1860, the German Derflinger fam...
Brass
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
$684Sale Price|23% Off
Brutalist Ceramic Pottery Table Lamp by Bernard Rooke , England, 1960s
Located in Glasgow, GB
An uncommon and quietly expressive example of Bernard Rooke’s studio pottery, this handcrafted ceramic table lamp dates to the 1960s and reflects a more organic, almost lyrical direc...
Ceramic
Large Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Metal with Milk Glass Globe, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist gilt metal sunburst ceiling flush mount with milk glass globe shade. Spain, 1960s. This gilt iron sunburst light fixture with opaline globe shade was manufactured in Spain...
Metal, 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
$6,690Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Sunburst Perforated Flush Mount Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s (36 in)
Located in Barcelona, ES
Monumental Brutalist Sunburst Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf XXL Sunburst light fixture with perforated holes at the central spherical plate and nail deta...
Wrought Iron, Iron, Gold Leaf
Italian Brutalist Iron And Glass Lamp By Longobard
Italian Brutalist Iron And Glass Lamp By Longobard. We present a rare and unusual Italian Brutalist table lamp with a hammered iron base and a multicolored chiseled glass shade. This...
Iron
Mid-Century Brutalist Purple Ceramic Pyramid Table Lamp, Original Shade
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking Brutalist ceramic table lamp features a sculptural triangular pyramid base in deep purple with heavily textured volcanic glazing. The geometric form showcases the raw, expre...
Ceramic
$33,570 / item
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...
Alabaster, Bronze
$2,368Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture in Gilt Iron with Flower Motif, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Sunburst Light Fixture, Gilt Iron Gold leaf gilt hand-hammered iron sunburst light fixture from the Brutalist period. Spain, 1950s. Richly decorated with the hammer marks a...
Wrought Iron, Iron, Gold Leaf
Pair of Hammered Glass Gilt Iron Sconces by Biancardi, Italy, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Mid-Century Modern wall lamps lights lighting sconces hammered glass, yellow glass and iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the italian design manufacture Biancardi Jordan Ar...
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
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
Green Ceramic Floor Table Lamp, Custom Matching Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/floor lamp. Custom made beige and green lampshade by René Houben. The green and beige ceramics with beautiful details fit perfectly with the custom made beig...
Ceramic
Grey Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the organic, undulating forms of desert cacti, the Cereus Lamp embodies a harmonious blend of minimalism and playful natural shapes. Each lamp is hand-built using traditi...
Brass
Brutalist Style Chandelier Lamp / Radius of 100 / Fom the 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist style chandelier lamp from the 1950s Discover the majesty and timeless charm of our brutalist style lamp from the 50s. With its circular design of 100 cm in diameter.This ...
Copper, Iron
Brutalist Brass Pendant by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
By Holm Sørensen & Pedersen Belysning, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass lamp fitted with one E27 socket. Designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960 in Denmark. 2 Pieces available, price per lamp.
Brass
Monumental Laurel Lamp Co. Brutalist Two Tier Torch Cut Brass Table Lamp
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American Mid Century Laurel Lamp Company Flora Inspired Stacked Torch Cut Brass Table Lamp. Featuring a tubular Brass column supporting, handcrafted, two tier, stacked, botanical ins...
Metal, Brass
$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
Pair of French Brutalist Table Lamps in Wrought Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Iron Brutalist Table Lamps, France, 1950s. Hand forged Iron table lamps with cross details on the top and squared bases. Sculptural design, solid structure and beautiful cons...
Iron, Wrought Iron
AVMazzega. Brutalist style chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari, Italy, 1970s
By AVMazzega, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist and Cubist style pendant lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for AV Mazzega, Italy, 1970s. Composed by 9 cubic diffusers of translucent Murano glass combined with white glass using th...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Brutalist Copper Pendant Lamp by Peill & Putzler, Germany, 1960s
Located in Balen, BE
Brutalist Copper Pendant Lamp by Peill & Putzler, Germany, 1960s This striking Brutalist copper pendant lamp, designed by Peill & Putzler/Philips in Germany during the 1960s. This l...
Copper
French Sunburst Leafed Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Terrific handcrafted gold gilt wrought iron sunburst leafed flush mount ceiling light. France, 1950s. This stunning ceiling light fixure has a foliate su...
Gold Leaf, Iron, Wrought Iron
Brutalist Round Chandelier by Felipe Derflingher "Feders"
Located in Montreal, QC
Brutalist round chandelier made with three tiers of black wrought iron and brass pieces filled with square molded rossette glass pieces in assorted lively colors, 54 pieces in all. I...
Brass, 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
Spanish Sunburst Foliage Chandelier / Light Fixture in Black Iron, 10 Lights
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding XL spanish foliage sunburst flush mount ceiling light in black iron by Ferro Art, 1950s Extra large size ( 35,83 inches diameter). 10 Lights. This stunning 10-light ceili...
Metal, Wrought Iron, 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
$2,679Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Oval Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, Spain 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sunburst oval light fixture in wrought gilt iron with triangle accents, 1950s. Sculptural gold leaf gilt hand hammered iron oval shaped sunburst flu...
Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Metal, Iron
$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
$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
1 of the 3 Rooke Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 3 ceramic table lamps, from Bernard Rooke, UK, 1970s. This set brings a rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shapes, it offers a unique presence. The bas...
Ceramic
$1,600 / set
Pair of Brutalist Copper Patinated Lamps
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair 1960's Mid Century Floor (or tall table) Lamps in the manner of Stewart Ross James for Hansen or Paul Evans. Probably by Laurel Lamp Co. This interesting pair of lamps is each...
Copper
Pair of Blue Tiered Silhouette Ceramic Table Lamps by Soholm, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben with off white innershade. The beautiful blue ceramics and the tiered silho...
Ceramic
American Nautical Hand-Crafted Coral Brass Fish Sculptural Table Lamp Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Brutalist Style whimsical nautical Brass Fish on a natural white coral core and mounted on a rectangle Wood Base. The Stem is a copper piece of pipe and topped with the socket and ...
Coral, Brass
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
Pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural Brutalist Torch Cut Steel Table Lamps
By Laurel Lamp Company, Paul Evans
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large, 45 inches to the top of the shade. Torch cut and welded steel panels in a random rectilinear form. Sprayed black and in excellent vintage condition with minimal w...
Steel
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Winglet Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Winglet lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for accent lighting in living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The Winglet lamp features a wi...
Brass
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
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
A BRUTALIST Wild Wood RUSTIC MODERN TABLE LAMP, France 1960
By George Nakashima, Atelier Marolles, Alexandre Noll
Located in PARIS, FR
A strong and very dramatic, organic and almost zoomorphic, massive wood table lamp, made by an anonymous French artist from the 60s, using a natural...
Wood
$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
Brutalist Swag Pendant Light Lamp Tom Greene Brass Feldman Co Mid-Century Modern
By Tom Greene, Feldman Lighting Co.
Located in Wayne, NJ
Brutalist Swag Pendant Light Lamp Tom Greene Brass Feldman Co. This plugs into a wall outlet. It has approx 13' Cord/chain.
Brass
Dazor, Edge mounted model 2134 Floating Desk Lamp. 1960s
By Dazor
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
This is a famous floating arm lamp by Dazor. Company was founded in 1938 and made itself the name on this design for it's durability, ease of adjustment and most importantly, for str...
Steel
$5,800 / set
1930's Forge Iron Tripod Italian Floor Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Amazing pair of large forge iron tripod Italian floor lamps, newly rewired and ready to use with some wear and patina due to age and use. One of the lamps is 1' shorter.
Iron
Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Substantial Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Set (2) of large pendant lights with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: S...
Brass
Monumental Charles Dudouty Brutalist Six Arm Chandelier C1940s France
Located in Trensacq, FR
A rare and spectacular six-light Charles Dudouyt chandelier, circa 1940. Masterfully crafted in warm, dark wood, the six horizontal arms and the substantial central stem are adorned...
Wood
Rare 1970s MCM János Lehoczky Artisan Brutalist Hand Wrought Steel Chandelier
By Károly Bieber, János Lehoczky, Paul Evans
Located in St. Louis, MO
Very Rare 1970s Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Iron and glass chandelier, hand forged by the hands of Hungarian blacksmith János Lehoczky. Great scale, perfect for dining room, hallway...
Iron, Wrought Iron
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
French Brutalist Wrought Iron Chandelier, Hand-Crafted, 1930-1950
Located in Antwerp, BE
French red wrought iron chandelier with crown has six candelabra arms with gilt on each arm. This wonderful chandelier is suspended by original chain. This chandelier would work beau...
Wrought Iron
Peter Marsh Brutalist Hanging Colored Glass Chunk Fragment Globe Pendant Light
By Peter Marsh
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a fantastic brutalist style hanging globe made of large chunks of glass fragments in a multitude of colors soldered together. It is not signed but I have seen others like thi...
Lead
Beige Textured Ceramic Floor Table Lamp, Custom Matching Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/floor lamp. Custom made matching lampshade by René Houben. The dark and beige ceramics with beautiful details fit perfectly with the custom made lampshade, i...
Ceramic
Large Sunburst Light Fixture with Leaves Design in Gilt Iron, 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Sunburst Flush Mount, Gilt Iron, Spain, 1950s. _________________________________________________________________________ Stunning Brutalist Foliage Sunburst Light Fixture / C...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Natural Ceramic Lamp in the style of Pelletier, Custom Made Emboidered Lampshade
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp in the style of Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made emboidered lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics with the little holes and beautiful ...
Ceramic
Brutalist pendant lamp by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist pendant lamp by Longobard, Italy, 1970s. Wrought iron and welded structure, in a worn gold finish, and multicolored crystals hammered in the shape of a honeycomb. Clearly B...
Wrought Iron, Iron
Pair of Grey and Brown Ceramic Table Lamps, Soholm Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 beautiful ceramic table lamps by Haico from Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The brown and dark grey ceramic base has a beautiful shape with geom...
Ceramic