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.
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
Vintage MCM Tom Greene for Feldman Brutalist Wall Sconces- a Pair
By Tom Greene
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic pair of vintage MCM wall scones. Made by the iconic Tom Greene for Feldman. Chic torch cut design with smoked glass panels. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Metal
XL Brown and Beige Ceramic Floor Table Lamp, Denmark
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful XL ceramic table/floor lamp, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade. The base with brown tones and a dripping pattern fits perfectly with the custom made ocher s...
Ceramic
1 of the 2 XXL Brass Wall Sconces by Holm Sorensen, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 Beautiful Brass Wall Sconces by Holm Sorensen, manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s. Please note that the price is for one piece, two pieces available. Dimensions: H...
Brass
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 ceramic table lamps by, Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. The warm beige tones of the base and the beige lampshade (with lovely trimming) complement each other...
Ceramic
1 of the 6 Bitossi Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
By Bitossi
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 6 ceramic table lamps, most lamps are made by Bitossi, other ones are in the style of Bitossi. This set brings a rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shap...
Ceramic
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
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
$740Sale Price / item|20% Off
1 of 34 Brutalist iced wall lights in the style of Kalmar, Spain, 1970s
By Toni Zuccheri, J.T. Kalmar, AVMazzega, Kalmar Lighting
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Compatible with US/EU standards. LED compatible. Brutalist frosted ice wall lights in the style of Kalmar, Spain, 1970s. Each sconce is composed of 5 pieces of translucent acrylic a...
Metal, Chrome
1 of the 2 Ceramic Table Lamps, Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The green and brown ceramics and the beige lampshade ...
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
French Brutalist Limestone Table Lamp, Stacked Block Base, 1970s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
French Brutalist Limestone Table Lamp, Stacked Block Base, 1970s. This table lamp is built from carved limestone and plaster, formed into stacked geometric blocks that give the base...
Ceramic, Fabric
$4,934Sale Price|20% Off
AVMazzega. Brutalist style chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari, Italy, 1970s
By Gaetano Sciolari, AVMazzega
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
$913Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Wall Sculpture/Light, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare brutalist wall sculpture/light from the 1960s. Made of lacquered multi-layer torch-cut sheet metal this has a wonderful abstract organic structure...
Sheet Metal
1960´s Set of Three Brutalist Style Pendants by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen
Located in Knebel, DK
1960´s Set of Three Brutalist style pendants by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen The acid treated and torch-cut pendants in brass manufactured by Holm Sørensen in Denmark. The well keept ...
Brass
$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
$2,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
1 ‚of 3’ Pair Large Brutalist Wall Sconces, Tom Ahlström & Hans Ehrlich, Sweden
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant pair of extra large Brutalist wall sconces with clear and amber Murano glass on a black metal frame. Designed by Tom Ahlström &...
Iron
LV426 BALANCED Bronze and porcelain sculptural pendant by William Guillon, 2022
Located in TOULOUSE, FR
Fascinated by space and science fiction, William Guillon gives us an interpretation of another world via his extraordinary organic light sculptures with this bronze chandelier adorne...
Bronze
Pair of Grey and Brown Ceramic Table Lamp for Soholm, Denmark 1960s (Copy)
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
Pair of Wrought Iron and Glass Sconces by Marcello Fantoni. Italy, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist pair of set of 2 wall lights lightings lamps sconces sculpture in wrought iron and yellow textured glass by the italian design artist Marcello Fantoni. ...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Paul Evans Style Brutalist Gilt Iron Floor Lamp, 1950s
By Paul Evans
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Floor Lamp in Gilt Wrought Iron, 1950s Rare find Outstanding hand forged floor lamp with geometric decorative construction and brutalist design. Inspired in Paul Evans desi...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
One of Three Chandeliers Pendant Lights by Austrolux, Chrome Glass, Austria 1960
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 ...
Chrome, Metal
Mid-Century Brutalist Welded Steel Table Lamp in the Manner of Paul Evans 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Striking American Brutalist table lamp executed in welded and torch-cut steel, circa 1970s. The sculptural base is composed of four vertically oriented steel panels arranged in a cru...
Steel
A Sculptural RUSTIC MODERN BRUTALIST Ceramic TABLE LAMP, VALLAURIS, France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
A very large, spectacular and sculptural, table or floor lamp with 2 lights and 2 handles, Modernist, Free Form, Popular Art, Shabby-Chic, unique piece in thick ceramic with brown an...
Ceramic
Georges Pelletier Cylindric Brown Ceramic Lamp, Custom Silk Shade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made silk lampshade by René Houben. The brown and honey colored ceramics and the geometric details fit perfect...
Ceramic
Georges Pelletier Bulbous Brown Ceramic Lamp, Custom Silk Shade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamp by Georges Pelletier, 2022. Custom made silk lampshade by René Houben. The brown and honey colored ceramics and the geometric details fit perfect...
Ceramic
Vintage Gold Spanish Brutalist Nail Sunburst Light
Located in Hastings, GB
Stunning Gold 1950's Vintage Spanish Sunburst Light, brutalist design, hand hammered gilt iron with nail decoration Frosted convex glass Width 20 cm, Height 20 cm, Depth 8 cm
Iron
Pair of Ceramic Brown Tapered Cone Pendants, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful set of round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern in the style of Axella, manufactured in the 1960s in Denmark. This gorgeous set brings refined elegance and ric...
Ceramic
$171Sale Price|49% Off
Danish Brutalist Wall Lamp in Glazed Stoneware, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual vase shaped wall sconce with deconstructed brutalist styling and hares-fur glaze. Studio made at Stentøj Denmark circa 1970 in a style reminiscent of Søholm and Kingo. Measur...
Stoneware
Brutalist organic mushroom table lamp, Dutch 1960s
Located in Zaandam, NL
Gorgeous brutalist table lamp from The Netherlands with mushroom shade 1960s. The lamp has been completely rewired and refitted with brass fitting. the lamp is fitted for a general E...
Oak
1 of the 2 Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps with Custom Lampshades, Noomi Backhausen
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade with beautiful pattern. The green and brown ceramics a...
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
Set of 2 Multicolor Ceramic Lamps, Custom Made Silk Lampshades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamps. Custom made multicolor silk lampshades by René Houben. Ready to use. This set requires one E27 light bulb per lamp. Also LED compatible. Pleas...
Ceramic
Rare Brutalist Ruby Red Cut Glass Wall Light by Raak Amsterdam
By RAAK
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rare and highly sculptural Brutalist wall light by Raak Amsterdam, distinguished by its dramatic composition of deep ruby-red cut glass fragments. When illuminated, the fixture tr...
Metal
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
1 of the 4 Ceramic Green Brown Blue Pendants, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of four round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green, blue and brown ceramics, manufactured in the 1960s in Denmark. Size is based...
Ceramic
$1,462Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Stained Glass Wall Light by Jean-Simon Labret, France, 1960s
By J. S. Labret
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Mid-Century Modern Stained Glass Wall Light by Jean-Simon Labret, France, 1960s 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
Ceramic Table Lamp with Custom Silk Lampshade by Rene Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp, combined with a custom silk lampshade made by Rene Houben. The warm colors of the ceramic with the custom made shade complement each other very well an...
Ceramic
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 Bedside Lamps by Luciano Frigerio, Italy, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Pair of table lamps raised on cubic bases with irregular Brutalist surface texture and cylindrical fabric shades. Please note: We assume no liability or warranty for the electrical c...
Brass
24 x Sleek Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights in Chromed Steel – Germany, 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Sleek Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights in Chromed Steel – Germany, 1970s (24 Available, Priced Per Light) Embodying the essence of Mid-Century Modern design, these sculptural wall sco...
Steel, Chrome
Cast Bronze Pair of Brutalist Patinated Sconces, France 1970's
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Studio Bronze sconces with 2 sockets each. They have a very textured finish with an amazing patina. *Lampshade isn’t included but available on request
Bronze
Sleek Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights in Chromed Steel – Germany, 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Sleek Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights in Chromed Steel – Germany, 1970s (24 Available, Priced Per Light) Embodying the essence of Mid-Century Modern design, these sculptural wall sco...
Steel, Chrome
Ceramic Brown Beige Pendant in style of Axella, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful round ceramic hanging lamp with a beautiful pattern in the style of Axella, manufactured in the 1960s in Denmark. This gorgeous lamp brings refined elegance and rich visua...
Ceramic
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
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
Brutalist Torch Cut Iron Floor Lamp by Richard Barr for the Laurel Lamp Company
By Laurel Lamp Company, Richard Barr
Located in Southampton, NJ
A highly uncommon Richard Barr "Assemblage," torch cut iron floor lamp for the Laurel Lamp Company. This lamp design dates from 1964 and is only the third of its type I have seen in ...
Steel, Iron
Brutalist Ceramic Baluster Urn Table Lamp, Red & Black 1940s-1950s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Striking vintage ceramic table lamp features the urn or baluster shaped base, decorated with bands of textured abstract graphic elements, accentuated with gray and black color on ma...
Ceramic, Pottery
Brutalist Carved Limestone table lamp - Circa 1980s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Brutalist Carved Limestone table lamp - Circa 1980s Arsène Galisson Style - France Measures : 17x9 cm H: 30,5cm Weight : ~ 7 kg Material : Stone
Stone
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
Light Blue Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
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
1980s Cast Plaster Table Lamp on a Lucite Base by Casual Lamps of California
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1980s Cast Plaster Table Lamp on a Lucite Base by Casual Lamps of California Brutalist architectural relief deign Needs Rewiring
Lucite, Plaster
1960s Flora-Inspired Brass Table Lamp by Laurel Lamp Co
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
$4,070 / item
OMERO Oval 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
1 of the 8 Willy Daro Style Brass Flowers Wall Lights
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 8 brass flowers wall lights in the style of designer Willy Daro manufactured by 'Massive Lighting', circa 1970s, Belgian. This decorative and beautiful large sculptural ligh...
Brass
Brutalist Murano Glass Chandelier by Longobard Italy, 1970
By Longobard
Located in Palermo, PA
This striking Murano glass chandelier features a bold and expressive composition of multicolored glass elements, set against a contrasting brutalist iron structure. The interplay bet...
Iron
Rare Pair of Italian Brutalist Wall Lamps, Italy 60s
Located in Lucija, SI
Large pair of Brutalist wall lamps Made in Italy in the 60s very heavy
Metal
Pair of Longobard Blue & Amethyst Hammered Murano Glass and Wrought Iron Sconces
By Longobard
Located in New York, NY
Known for it's unique design vision and distinctive style combining artistic expression with functionality, Longobard is in a class by itself. Greatly influenced by the culture of Germanic inhabitants who populated the Verona region around 600-700 A.D., their creations are something out of the middle ages with their heavy wrought iron frames, hammered glass and occassional mythological motifs. Yet it's this historical craftsmanship and its use of raw materials that makes these modern and exemplary of the emerging Brutalist movement of the early 70's. This pair of Blue and Amethyst...
Wrought Iron
"Bollo 870" wall lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
"Bollo" is a wall lamp by architect-designer Tobia Scarpa in the year 1978 and produced by Flos. It features a cream and black painted metal body and stand and a transparent prismati...
Metal