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.
$4,477Sale Price|20% Off
Spanish Sunburst Leafed Ceiling Light Fixture / Pendant in Gilt Iron, Large Size
Located in Barcelona, ES
Monumental brutalist sunburst foliage gilt metal ceiling light fixture. Spain, 1950s This handcrafted Brutalist ceiling lamp features a triple layered leafed sunburst light fixture.T...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Pair of Brutalist Dutch Art Glass Wall Sconces by Studio Tetterode, 1960s
By Tetterode Studio, Poliarte
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant pair of Brutalist abstract sculptural Murano glass wall lights made of multi colored shattered glass pieces mounted on a metal base. Manufactured by the Dutch lighting compan...
Metal
Brutalist Brass Pendant Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Denmark, 1960s
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Karis, Nyland
Striking Danish brutalist pendant lamp designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen and produced by Holm Sørensen & Co in the 1960s. The lamp is crafted from brass with a sculptural, layered...
Brass
Brutalist Pendant Light by Nanny Still - McKinney for Raak Finland c 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist hanging pendant by noted artist Nanny Still - McKinney made in Finland for Raak. The cylindrical copper clad body features a serie...
Copper
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
Spanish Sunburst Foliage Chandelier / Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 8 Lights
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding XL spanish foliage sunburst flush mount ceiling light in gilt iron, Ferro Art, 1950s Extra large size (90 cm // 34,64 inches diameter). 8 Lights. This stunning 8 light c...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN BRUTALIST Lucite TABLE LAMP, by DALLUX, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
An important and rigorous rectangular table lamp with free decoration, Modernist, Post-Bauhaus, from Forme-Libre, geometric structure in 4 thick strips of amber plexiglass resin with...
Lucite
1 of the 2 Ceramic Table Lamps by Soholm, Silk Lampshade, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 beautiful ceramic table lamps by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made silk lampshade by R. Houben. The beautiful brown and seagreen lila ceramics make a stu...
Ceramic
1 of the 3 Ceramic Brown Blue Pendants, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of three round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored ceramics, manufactured around the 1960s in Denmark. The pendants have holes in the...
Ceramic
Natural Ceramic Lamp by Pelletier, Custom Made Emboidered Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier. Custom made emboidered lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics with the little holes and beautiful lampshade match gre...
Ceramic
Brutalist bronze large cocoon table lamp, Dutch 1990s
Located in Zaandam, NL
Lovely bronze brutalist large ( 80 cm ) table lamp by late Dutch designer Jan des Bouvrie for Qasar, 1990s. We currently have two of these in stock both fitted with brand new French ...
Bronze
$2,695Sale Price|20% Off
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
Adjustable wrought iron floor lamp, reading lamp
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Floor Lamp - Wrought iron Measures : Base Ø :38cm - Total H : 166cm - H : 152cm Lampshade : Lampshade included : width : 20cm The lampshade can be adjusted in height. Nice to illu...
Iron
Brutalist Floor Lamp in Iron and Art Glass by Biancardi & Jordan Italy 1970s
By Biancardi & Jordan, Longobard
Located in Rome, IT
Brutalist amazing floor lamp in green wrought iron, art glass and yellow lucite by Biancardi & Jordan the concurrent of Poliarte and Longobard at the 1960s / 1970s. Made in Italy in...
Metal, Iron
Tenfold Chandelier 5T 32inch, Waxed Aluminum, Brutalist Pendant, Customizable
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD 5 TIER in Polished Nickel by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking perforated sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the architectural styles and art mo...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Diminutive Brutalist Pendant Chandelier by Nanny Still - Mc Kinney for Raak
Located in New York, NY
Diminutive Brutalist pendant chandelier, by Nanny Still - McKinney for Raak, made in Finland circa 1960's. The cylindrical fixture features a copper exterior with an amber glass int...
Copper
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
Pair of Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps with Silk Shade Backhausen, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful pair of ceramic table lamps by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The green and brown ceramics an...
Ceramic
Ceramic Table Lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm Pottery, Denmark 1960s. The warm colors of the ceramic with the shade complement each other very well and illuminate beau...
Ceramic
$452Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
Pink Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the undulating forms of night‑blooming desert cacti, the Cereus Lamp balances minimalism with playful organic movement. Hand‑built from speckled stoneware using slab‑cons...
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 amber and clear hammered glass and wrought iron, gilding gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a Brutalist...
Wrought Iron
$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 Metal and Textured Amber Glass Pendant Lamp, Germany, 1970s
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Brutalist pendant lamp from Germany, 1970s, combining a heavy textured amber glass shade with a striking construction of dark patinated metal tubes. The metal elements are cut and pe...
Metal, Copper
$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
Vintage Brutalist Handmade Candle Chandelier in Wrought Iron from Boltze, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist Handmade Candle Chandelier in Wrought Iron from Boltze, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece has an attribution mark, Up to 250V (Europe...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Copper Pendant by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handmade Danish Mid Century Modern Brutalist copper pendants by the versatile and acclaimed Danish designer Svend Aage Holm Sorensen. Manufact...
Copper, Metal
$3,883 / item
Wrought iron lamp by artist Donna handcrafted
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Table lamp by French artist Pierre Donna. Patinated and oxidized steel base designed and handmade in the artist's studio. Understated, timeless design with a unique patina for each p...
Iron
1 of the 10 Ceramic Green Blue Brown Pendants, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Several round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green, blue and brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s in Denmark...
Ceramic
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
Brutalist Cast and Wrought Iron Table Lamp - France 1970's
By Franz West
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist cast and wrought iron table lamp in the style of Franz West. Made of welded and assembled solid iron pieces. European socket and wiring. This lamp will ship from France an...
Wrought Iron
$1,370Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set Brutalist Copper Lamps by Koch & Söhne Germany 1970s
Located in Hannover, DE
Rare set of three brutalist pendant lights. These three master-crafted copper lights are something special. The lampshade is made in the shape of a funnel, decorations were burned in...
Brass, Copper
Vintage mid century Brutalist pottery lamps by Vanguard USA, 1970s TWO AVAILABLE
Located in Hastings, GB
Brutalist pottery lamps by Vanguard, USA, 1970s. They have a very Bernard Rooke look. Pair available, but selling separately. Original textured wide conical shades. Newly rewired wit...
Pottery
Substantial Brass Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Substantial Brutalist Brass Pendant Light designed Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large onion-shaped pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slates * Designer: Svend ...
Brass
Pair of Sculptural Plaster Table Lamps by Casual Lamps of California
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A monumental pair of sculptural plaster table lamps by Casual Lamps of California. These vintage brutalist style lamps are bold and unique, ye...
Brass
Pelletier Baluster Dark Ceramic Lamp, Custom Made Silk Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made beige silk lampshade by René Houben. The dark ceramics and the warm colored geometric details fit perfect...
Ceramic
Tom Greene for Feldman Pair of Brutalist Torch Cut Brass Sconces with Downlights
By Feldman Lighting Co., Tom Greene
Located in Hanover, MA
Large scale wall sconces by Tom Greene for Feldman Lighting, circa 1965. Brutalist design fabricated in Los Angeles by cutting brass and applying patination with an oxyacetylene torch. Three long candelabra each takes up to 60 watt bulbs, so 180 watts per sconce. In addition, these sconces each have a downward directed patinated cone light concealed behind the sconce between the 6" round backplate which each take a single standard Edison screw bulb. Feldman label inside backplate as well as UL label. Thomas A. Greene started his career making dental prosthetics and jewelry and then moved onto larger sculptural pieces...
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
Sculptural Table Lamp Carved in an Olive Wood Block France 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This table lamp, is carved in the Olive wood. The wood has this light brown color of this wood, with the old patina. This lamp was made in France, circa 1950, US PLUG ADAPTATOR W...
Wood
$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
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 lighting sconces amber and blue hammered glass and wrought iron with gilt gold copper patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona in a ...
Wrought Iron
1 of the 3 Ceramic Green Pendants, Axella Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the three stunning round ceramic hanging lamp with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green and brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s...
Ceramic
Bunker Ceramic Lamp by Kalou Dubus, Black Stoneware, Sculptural Design
By Kalou Dubus
Located in PANTIN, -
This sculptural lamp by French artist Kalou Dubus is part of the Bunkers series, a body of work inspired by the powerful geometry and raw presence of brutalist architecture. Handcra...
Ceramic
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
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
Georges Pelletier Ceramic Lamp, Custom Double Silk Rattan Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made double rattan lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfectly wit...
Ceramic
Chandelier Pendant Light, Austrolux, Nickel Chrome Glass, Austria, 1970s, 1 of 3
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
One of three Austrian light fixtures by Austrolux, Vienna, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1970 (late 1960s or early 1970s). The lights are made of a silver painted metal frame wh...
Chrome, Nickel, Metal
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
Large Mid Century Italian Brutalist bronze chandelier 8-light Italy 1960s
Located in Nienstädt, DE
Large bronze chandelier Brutalist design Made in Italy, 1960s An absolutely exceptional, high-quality piece Diameter 67 cm, height 95 cm 8 x E12 / E14 sockets with adapters Very good...
Bronze
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
Pair of Lamps Gilt Metal by Pierre Casenove for Fondica, France, 1990s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare pair of table or bedside lamps in gilt gilding metal, bronze style by Pierre Casenove for Fondica. Famous artist who have worked for the manufacture like Mathias, Stéphane Galer...
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
Blue-Glazed Stoneware Table Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1950s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Elegant stoneware Table Lamp with a warm blue-coloured glaze designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen and made by Bitossi in Italy in the 1950s. * Stoneware table lamp with a warm blue-...
Ceramic, Stoneware
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
Pair of Large Ceramic Table Lamps for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Haico Nietzsche for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The beige ceramic base has a subtle concave shape, which is mirrored in ...
Ceramic
Pair of Hand Painted Sculptural Table Lamps for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful ceramic table lamps from Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The vibrant ceramic base has a beautiful shape with hand painted waves. The light...
Ceramic
$1,256Sale Price|63% Off
1990s Italian chandelier, Longobard
By Longobard
Located in La xara, VC
Superbe Chandelier multicolore glass Murano with brutalisat iron structure . The Design and the quality of the glass make this piece the best of the italian Design . This unique Chan...
Iron
Exemplary Mazzega Murano Textured Clear & Amber Glass Disc Flush Mount 1970s
By Mazzega
Located in New York, NY
Known for it's unique blending of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, Mazzega offers a brutalist interpretation of the classic Murano glass disc flush mount. The resul...
Metal, Steel
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