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.
$360Sale Price / item|20% Off
Brutalist Pendant Lights, Circa 1960
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
I have 5 lamps available, the price is for each one, these lamps need to be rewired and the concept is like this, rust and wear. All five have their original chain to hang with a mea...
Sheet Metal
1 of 3 Ceramic Brown Beige Pendants, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 3 round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored ceramics, manufactured around the 1960s in Denmark. Two pendants have holes in the ceramic, c...
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
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
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
Brown Ceramic Lamp Bitossi, Custom Double Silk Rattan Lampshade by R. Houben
By Bitossi
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor. Custom made double rattan lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfectly with the custom made double shade w...
Ceramic
G. Pelletier Brown Gold Copper Ceramic Lamp, Silk Custom Lampshade by Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the shimmering gold/coppered colored details complement ...
Ceramic
1 of the 7 Georges Pelletier Ceramic Lamps, Custom Silk Shades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 7 beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamps by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made silk and rattan lampshades by René Houben. The brown and honey colored ceramics and the geome...
Ceramic
Sculptural Table Lamp Carved on in Olive Wood France 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This table lamp, is carved in the wood. The wood has this light brown color of this wood, with the old patina. This lamp was made in Spain, circa 1950, The wood is olive wood. Signed Falcon Spain...
Wood
Georges Pelletier Baluster Dark Ceramic Lamp, Custom Silk Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made silk lampshade by René Houben. The dark ceramics and the warm colored geometric details fit perfectly wit...
Ceramic
XL Pelletier Brown Warm Tones Ceramic Lamp, Custom Silk Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfectly with the custom m...
Ceramic
Georges Pelletier Brown Ceramic Lamp, Custom Double Silk Rattan Lampshade
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
Georges Pelletier Brown Gold Ceramic Lamp, Custom Silk 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 bronzed brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfe...
Ceramic
Vintage wall lamp Brutalist, Italy 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Mid-century wall lamp Brutalis made in Italy in the 1970s. The front panel is made of Murano glass, adding a touch of elegance to the lamp. The lamp is in very good vintage conditio...
Iron
Mid-Century Modern Stained Glass Wall Sconce by Jean-Simon Labret, 20th Century
By J. S. Labret
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Mid-Century Modern Stained Glass Wall Sconce by Jean-Simon Labret, 20th Century This stunning wall sconce by French designer Jean-Simon Labret features a vibrant composition of stai...
Metal
Isabelle Faure Rose Quartz Gold Table Lamp
Located in Hastings, GB
An exceptional table lamp by the renowned design partnership Isabelle and Richard Faure, fully signed and dating to the early 1980's. Hand crafted in burnished and solder brass vine ...
Brass
$717 / item
1 of the 5 Ceramic Lanterns, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful set of five ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored ceramics, manufactured by Axella in the 1960s in Denmark. Exquisite lanterns designed to ...
Ceramic
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
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
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
$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
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
Tenfold Chandelier 5T 32inch, Polished Nickel, Geometric Pendant, Customizable
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TENFOLD 5 TIER in Polished Nickel by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking mirror polished perforated sheetmetal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the architectural st...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Robert Sonneman "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Modernist sheet steel and brass fixture, by Robert Sonneman. Large and impressive.
$1,308Sale Price|20% Off
1950s Zoomorph Wrought Iron Table Lamp in a Style of Jean Royère
Located in London, GB
Minimalist wrought iron table lamp from the 1950s
Wrought Iron
Italian Brutalist Ceramic Table Lamp with Running Glaze, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Raw looking italian table light executed in a chamotte clay type with running drip glazes in light green, white and brown. Studio-made in Italy circa 1970-75. It comes mounted with a...
Ceramic
1920s French Brutalist Palm Form 2 Tier Plafonnier/ Flush Mount, Maison Jansen
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1920's French Brutalist Cut Bronze Palm Form Flush Mount Ceiling Fixture/ Plafonnier. Highly detailed and manufactured by Maison Jansen. 4 lights, 2 tiers.
Bronze
Brutalist Iron and Art Glass Floor Lamp, Longobard, Italy 1970s
By Longobard
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing Floor lamp in gold Iron and colorful art glass, from the Serie Daly by Longobard Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Metal, Iron
Jacques Duval Brasseur Illuminated Gold Butterfly Coffee Table
Located in Hastings, GB
A beautiful butterfly inspired hand crafted coffee table, designed and made by the world renowned artist and sculptor Jacques Duval Brasseur in the 1970's. The stunning brass body is...
Agate, Brass
MCM Floating Panel "Cityscape" Brutalist Copper Chandelier By Robert Sonneman
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Impeccably refurbished floating panel "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier by designer Robert Sonneman. An architectural rectangular chandelier consisting of a three-dimensional composit...
Copper
Linear Chandelier, Patinated Pewter, Ochre London Eucalyptus, England, 2011
By OCHRE
Located in Glasgow, GB
This linear chandelier, known as the Eucalyptus Chandelier by Ochre London and created in 2011, is a sculptural linear pendant that combines organic form with refined contemporary cr...
Brass, Pewter
Red Clay 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 night‑blooming desert cacti, the Night Blooming Cereus Lamp brings a quiet sculptural presence to any interior. Hand‑built from red stone...
Brass
Brutalist Style Copper Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful chandelier in the brutalist style made entirely out of copper. The chandelier has a beautiful shape with 3 light bulbs providing plenty of light, the shades have small hol...
Copper
c1960 Lee Rosen for Design Technics Ovoid Brutalist Pottery Ceramic Lamp
By Lee Rosen
Located in Southampton, NJ
A c1960 Lee Rosen for Design-Technics Brutalist Pottery Lamp featuring its original, oval string shade. This lamp appears in the Design-Technics catalog as Style: CL 385 (Ovoid) Tech...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Table Lamp, Brutalist, Abstract Root Driftwood Brown color France 20th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
We can notice the organic curves. The Driftwwod is a Root. We have a socket in plastic, with a plastic switch You can use any kind of bulb up to 100 watt, but choose by priority, bul...
Driftwood
A Sculptural Bronze BRUTALIST SHABBY-CHIC Neoclassical TABLE LAMP, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional table lamp (or rather a night light) to be considered as a true light sculpture, Art-Deco, Modernist, Shabby-Chic, Brutalist, conical base or base in thick solid bronz...
Bronze
Extraordinary Longobard Hammered Glass & Iron Ceiling Fixture 1970s
By Longobard
Located in New York, NY
Vintage, 1970s Longobard chandelier made with hammered glass and wrought iron framing. Typical of Longobard pieces, this chandelier features dark, hand-forged wrought-iron frames a...
Iron
Pair of Large Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
A pair of substantial brass wall lamps designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. Finding a pair is not an everyday experience. * A pair (2) of sconces with six square slate...
Metal, Brass
$4,500 / set
Pair Bronze Brutalist Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of bronze double-tube Brutalist sconces featuring pebbled texturing.
Bronze
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
$4,387Sale Price|25% Off
Felipe Delfinger for Feders Brutalist Metal & Stained Glass Pendant 1970s Mexico
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Midcentury Brutalist or forged metal and stained glass pendant light fixture by Felipe Delfinger for Feders, 1970s Latin American Modern. ...
Iron
Pair of Copper Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, 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
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
$3,800 / set
1980s Signed Brutalist Bronze Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of 1980s solid bronze Brutalist style table lamps with chrome shades. The lamps are well made and very heavy "signed and dated 1987".
Brass, Bronze, Chrome
$2,684Sale Price|20% Off
Spanish Revival Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture in Wrought Iron and Glass, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Sunburst Ceiling Fixture in Wrought Iron and Pressed Glass Spain, 1940-1950 Beautiful wrought iron sunburst flush mount with hand forged frame and pressed glass shade This st...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Set of Copper Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, 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
Flamecut Brass Pendant Lights by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Brutalist Brass Pendant Lights designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. An exquisite duo. * Set (2) of brass pendant lights with slates and chain supported cords * ...
Metal, Brass
$1,290Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Longobard Hanging Lantern Hammered Glass, Italy 1960s
By Longobard
Located in Hannover, DE
This brutalist pendant lamp made of hammered glass is something truly special. The glass was lovingly crafted by hand, and its beauty is reminiscent of a raw gemstone — it's a true w...
Copper, Metal
Brutalist table lamp , France 1960s
Located in Athens, Attiki
A Unique brutalist table lamp, France, 1960s-1970s. When lit, the lamp produces a warm, diffuse light. The stem of the lamp looks like a real abstract sculpture.
Iron, Wrought Iron
$1,629Sale Price / set|32% Off
Set of 4 Fat Lava Brutalist Swirl Wall Lights by PAN Germany 1960s
By PAN Keramik
Located in Hannover, DE
Exceptional wall light set by Pan in a particularly beautiful brutalist fat lava glaze. These exceptional wall lights can be freely combined in the room and there are no limits to yo...
Ceramic
$2,205Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist table or floor lamp "Drop" by Giotto Stoppino for Tronconi, Italy 1976
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Post-modern style Italian table or floor lamp "Drop", designed by Giotto Stoppino in 1976 and produced by Tronconi (Enrico Tronconi, editor). Frosted or sanded glass body in the shap...
Metal, Chrome
Original metal Brutalist wall lamp by Salvino Marsura, Italy 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Rare mid-century modern metal Brutalist wall lamp by Salvino Marsura, made in Italy in the 1970s. Salvino Marsura is an Italian artist born in Treviso in 1938. His career began in t...
Iron
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by , 2022. Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The green and brown ceramics and yellow colored details complem...
Ceramic
Brutalist Flower Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture / Pendant in Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Flower shaped sunburst flush mount, gilt iron, gold leaf, Spain, 1950s. This eye-catching light fixture is made of hand-cut iron featuring two layers of leaves gilded in two tones su...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
$5,392 / item
France Brown Beige Ceramic XL Floor Table Lamp
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic floor lamp in the style of Georges Pelletier, 2022. The beige ceramics and gold colored details complement each other very well and illuminates beautifully. Ready...
Ceramic
$12,500 / set
Pair of Richard Barr Brutalist Lamps for Laurel
By Richard Barr, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Richard Barr Sculptural Table Lamps for the STUDIO Collection by Laurel, United States, c.1965. Beautiful torch cut and welded brutalist form. Recently acquired a Matching F...
Metal
Paul Evans Cityscape Table Lamp PE-4006
By Paul Evans
Located in Hanover, MA
The most rare model of Paul Evans Cityscape lamp produced by Directional circa 1972 in polished stainless steel and brass mosaic tiles. See...
Brass, Stainless Steel
A Square Brass Wall Lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
A classic wall lamp by the Svend Aage Holm Sørensen adding an elegant touch to any modern interior. * A square, multilayered flame-cut brass wall lamp * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sø...
Metal, Brass
Large Brutalist Copper Pendant, Finland 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Very unusual and large Brutalist copper pendant from Finland, produced in the 1960s. Molten copper is shaped into an pear shaped body with green resin inlets. Two E27 sockets with ne...
Copper