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.
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
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 Brutalist Cast Brass Hanging Hall or Porch Lanterns
Located in Toledo, OH
Pair of heavy cast brass Brutalist style porch or hall lanterns. Hammered finish with amber granite back glass inserts. 10" x 4.5" x 4.5"
Brass
Tenfold 5T 18inch Chandelier, Polished Nickel Pendant Light, Customizable
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD CHANDELIER 5 TIER by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking polished and perforated sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the architectural styles and ar...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
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
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
"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
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
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
Large French Organic Table Lamp, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
Very large French organic table lamp from the 1970s. The base is made of a single piece of olive tree root with a large shade covered in strands of earthen-tone wool. Very nice origi...
Wool, Wood
Silver Leafed Murano Glass Brutalist Chandelier
Located in Austin, TX
Chandelier from Italy in the brutalist style. This piece is made of hand-blown glass elements with silver leaf on one side and a textured appearance on the other. We love the unique ...
Brass
A BRUTALIST Wild Wood RUSTIC MODERN TABLE LAMP, France 1960
By Alexandre Noll, Atelier Marolles, George Nakashima
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
1 of the 3 XL Ceramic Floor Table Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the three ceramic floor table lamps, 1970s. This set brings a rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shapes, it offers a unique presence. The bases with blue...
Ceramic
$5,163Sale Price|20% Off
Large Sunburst Crown Chandelier Flush Mount with Leaves Detail in Gilt Metal
Located in Barcelona, ES
Crown Chandelier Foliage Ceiling Light Fixture, Gilt Metal, Gold Leaf, Frosted Glass ____________________________________________________________ Stunning Gilt iron and bronze sunbur...
Iron, Metal, Gold Leaf
Pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural Brutalist Torch Cut Steel Table Lamps
By Paul Evans, Laurel Lamp Company
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
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
Mario J Pires Serip Bouquet Table Lamp
By Mário J. Pires
Located in Purkersdorf, AT
Sculptural Bouquet table lamp. Each lamp made by Serip is unique. High-quality craftsmanship: solid gold-plated bronze; all glass elements are custom-made in Murano specifically ju...
Bronze
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm Silk Shade, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm Pottery, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom silk lampshade made by Rene Houben. The warm colors of the ceramic with th...
Ceramic
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Wall Sculpture Light Sconce Tom Greene Brass Feldman Mid-Century
By Tom Greene, Feldman Lighting Co.
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
Danish Modern Sculptural Ceramic Table Lamp by Jeppe Hagedorn-Olsen, 1960s
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish mid-century ceramic table lamp by Danish ceramist Jeppe Hagedorn-Olsen (1929-2011). Made ca 1960´s. The lamp base has a slightly body shaped form with shoulders and waist. ...
Ceramic, Fabric
Large Brutalist Torch-Cut Chandelier by Tom Greene, 1960s
By Tom Greene
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive, monumental brutalist chandelier designed by Tom Greene for Feldman Co., circa 1960s. Made from seven tiers of hand-torched patinated brass, this is a striking statemen...
Brass
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
Danish Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Pendant by Holm Sørensen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Rare Danish Mid-Century Modern Brutalist pendant by Holm Sørensen.
Brass
A BRUTALIST Wrought Iron & Wood MARINE TABLE LAMP, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
A strong and powerful wrought iron table lamp, including a patinated massive wooden pulley, made by a French craftsman from the 60s. The lamp is based on a wrought iron tripod holdin...
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
Brutalist Hand-Crafted Iron and stained Glass Hanging Pendant Lamp, c. 1960's
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Brutalist hand-crafted Iron and stained glass hanging pendant lamp c. 1960's, hand forged cast iron, stained glass piece's, heavy, quality construction, thick chain, hand for...
Iron
Midcentury brutalist oak floor lamp with 4 spheres, 1970s by Temde Leuchten
Located in Zaandam, NL
Incredibly rare floor lamp by Swiss-German manufacturer Temde from the 1970s. We've only ever come across 1 other example of this wonderful model so rare is not an understatement. We...
Oak
A Supersized Sculptural BRUTALIST Stone FLOOR LAMP by ALBERT TORMOS, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare and sculptural floor lamp or rather a luminous sculpture in cast stone by Albert Tormos, France 1970. This massive and heavy piece in cast stone is made of two parts: a cubic ...
Cast Stone
Set of Leaf-Shaped Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, 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
Rare 1970s MCM János Lehoczky Artisan Brutalist Hand Wrought Steel Chandelier
By János Lehoczky, Paul Evans, Károly Bieber
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
Giant Italian Hanging Lantern from the 1960s Exquisite Hand-Forged Craftsmanship
By Longobard
Located in Hannover, DE
Italian Hanging Lantern from the 1960s – Exquisite Hand-Forged Craftsmanship This exceptional hanging lantern is a remarkable example of fine Italian craftsmanship from the 1960s....
Brass, Wrought Iron, Lead
XXL Sculptural Twisted Glass Floor Lamp on Wheels, Europe, 1970s
By Pia Manu
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
This impressive floor lamp is a true light sculpture, made from vertically stacked layers of ribbed safety glass, shaped into a striking twisted silhouette. The transparent panels cr...
Metal
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 very...
Brass
Pair Vintage Italian Brutalist Style Lamps with White Shades
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this pair of brutalist-style table lamps date from the 1970s. Base is black marble or granite with metal center shafts that support abstract, sculptural metal element...
Granite, Metal, Brass
$2,103Sale Price|20% Off
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
Brutalist Sunburst Light Fixture with Nails Details, Gilt Iron and Milk Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mini sized sunburst light fixture / flush mount, gilt iron, milk glass, gold leaf. Spain, 1950s Brutalist spanish gilt iron sunburst ceiling light with nails ornamentation topped by ...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
"Sino Meio" Max Version Contemporary Outdoor Wall Light in Cast Brass
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 difficult, if not impossible to make identical items. The brass casting is produced by formation of a mold from a mixture of sand and the liquid alloy of copper and zinc. The projects are based on a contemporary appropriation of traditional methods from Brazilian artisans and reinterpreted through the integration of new forms and noble materials. An aesthetic infused with “beauty of imperfection" is obtained by the expressive potential of each material, generating works that recall nature and rationality. Estúdio Orth...
Brass
$717Sale Price|37% Off
Brutalist chandelier stainless steel original, france 1970s
Located in La xara, VC
Unique model of brutalist chandelier in stainless steel, French work from the 70s. it is careful work and a true brutalist model. special order from a French artist for a residence ...
Stainless Steel
Set of 2 Mid-Century Modern Danish Brutalist Studio Pottery Pendant Lamps, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist studio ceramic pendant lights from Denmark with a striking lighting effect. Simple ceramic lights that primarily attract attention with their atmospheric light. The lamp b...
Ceramic
Sunburst Brutalist Light Fixture in Gilt Iron with Nail Design
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Gilt Iron Sunburst Nail Design Ceiling Light Fixture France, 1940s. Wrought sunburst flush mount with spikes design in gilt iron. This stunning sunburst ceiling light sh...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
1960 Brutalist Art Design Iron Sculpture Wall Lamp Applique
Located in Brescia, IT
Brutalist wall lamp 1960s Wrought iron Three lights Excellent condition. Perfect working order
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
Brutalist Ceramic Wall Sconce, Netherlands, 1960s
Located in Rīga, LV
Mid-century Brutalist ceramic wall sconce made in the Netherlands. The sculptural form features deeply carved, organic curves with two recessed bulb holders that create dramatic ligh...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Studio Pottery Brutalist Table Lamp, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Studio Pottery Table Lamp. A brutalist design of imposing size. The lamp body is made of heavy ceramic and has a rou...
Metal
Pair of Stained Glass Lamps in Quadrangular Prism Form, Midcentury Modern
Located in Bochum, NRW
Pair of Stained Glass Lamps in Regular Quadrangular Prism Form, Midcentury Modern Style A vibrant pair of stained glass accent lamps, each crafted in the form of a regular quadrangul...
Metal
Brutalist Metal & Stained Glass Midcentury Pendant by Artist Felipe Delfinger
Located in Lisse, NL
Organic design, metal and glass light fixture from the mid-century era. This great workmanship pendant from mid-20th century is another one of our recent great finds. With 20th ce...
Metal, Brass
A BRUTALIST Iron Belt TABLE LAMP in the style of Jacques ADNET France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
An astonishing and elegant table lamp in metal belt, Modernist, Shabby-Chic, Popular Art, in folded wrought iron decorated with a belt buckle, the whole supporting a socket, to be at...
Wrought Iron
1 of the 3 Ceramic Floor Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Set of three industrial ceramic floor table lamps, 1970s. This set brings an industrial and rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shapes, it offers a unique presenc...
Ceramic
Pair of Large Grey Ceramic Table Lamps for Soholm with Silk Shade, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful ceramic table lamps from Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a silk custom lampshade with creme silk innerschade designed door R. Houben. The off-white and dark g...
Ceramic
Pair of Grey and Brown Ceramic Table Lamp for 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
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
A Free-Form NEOCLASSICAL MARINE TABLE LAMP by OLIVIER VILLATTE, France 1990
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant Free-Form table lamp, sensual massive wood body with a unique graphic white and green stripes decor, by Olivier Villatte, France 1990-2000. Dimensions with shade : H 61.5...
Wood
Wrought Iron Chandelier, France
Located in Antwerp, BE
French wrought iron chandelier has six candelabra arms. This chandeliers would work beautiful over a pool table, kitchen island, dining table, bar, or entrance hall. Diameter 33.4...
Brass, Copper, Wrought Iron
1970s Brutalist Wall Glass Light by Kamenicky Senov, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- Rewired - 1x bulbs E26 - E27 - US wiring compatible - minor signs of use
Glass
Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Pendant Lamp, Steel, Vintage Design, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Heavy steel chandelier in brutalist design. The chandelier consists of steel tubes of different heights, arranged radially around a central core. The tubes are provided with large o...
Metal
1 of the 2 Holmegaard Lilac Ceramic Lamps, Custom White 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 white custom made lampsha...
Ceramic
$2,007Sale Price / item|20% Off
Kazuo Motozawa for Staff Leuchten. Space Age pendant lamp, Germany, 1970s
By Staff Leuchten, Kazuo Motozawa
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
"Saturn" lamp designed by Kazuo Motozawa for Staff Leuchten, Germany, 1970s. Golden chromed steel body formed by 10 discs joined together, through which the light is projected and di...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Pair of Leaf-Shaped Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Pair of flame-cut brass sconces designed by renowned Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. Captivating interplay of light and shadow for any beautiful space. * A pair (2) of leaf-s...
Metal, Brass
Brutalist Hexagonal Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm-Sørensen, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Cork, IE
Made from torch-cut and acid treated brass, this pendant light clearly showcases the influence the brutalist movement had on Sorensen's work, with a strong emphasis on materials, tex...
Brass