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.
1970s Brutalist Metal Copper & Brass Sconce
By Feldman Lighting Co., Tom Greene
Located in Stamford, CT
1970s brutalist two tone metal sconce. Burnished copper/brass metal finish. Newly rewired with new sockets and new brass backplate. Takes two chandelier bulbs (not included).
Metal
Bronzed Brutalist Sconce in the Manner of Marcello Fantoni, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unique Brutalist sconce designed anonymously in Denmark during the 1960s. Heavy stock architecturally shaped and bronzed steel panels torch cut to get the right details in design and...
Bronze, Steel
French Chain Tripod Floor Lamp, 1960s France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist iron chain link floor lamp, made in 1960s France. Just over 5 feet tall. Extremely heavy and substantial lamp. Tripod base with rustic iron boat ch...
Iron
$836Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
Pair of Hammered Glass Silver Iron Sconces by Biancardi, Italy, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Mid-Century Modern wall lamps lights lighting sconces hammered glass, amber, blue, clear hammered glass and iron, silver silvered patina, by the italian design manufacture Bi...
Iron
"Bollo 870" wall lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Tobia Scarpa, Flos
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
Pair of monumental brutalist lamps by Richard Barr
By Richard Barr
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of rare, monumental brutalist style table lamps by Richard Barr for Laurel. Patinated and torch-cut metal.
Metal
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
$1,615Sale Price|57% Off
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ 70's French 'exploded bronze' lamp
Located in Sherborne, GB
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ Sculptural golden gilt-plated exploded bronze lamp with rock crystal inclusions. The natural rock quartz crystal wands are set into t...
Agate, Rock Crystal, Brass, Bronze
$1,360Sale Price|20% Off
Giacommetti Style Brutalist Bronze Floor Lamp
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a beautiful brutalist Style Floor Lamp done in the manner of Diego Giacommetti. It's made of hammered bronze and has a beautiful verdigris patina. It doesn't come with a lam...
Metal, Bronze
$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
Starburst Sunburst Light Fixture in Gilt Metal with Jagged Details, 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rare handcrafted gilt iron sunburst / starburst shaped flush mount light fixture. Spain, 1940s-1950s. This Brutalist mirror has two layers of rays in different sizes with jagged poin...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Albert Tormos Pierre du Gard Table Lamp, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Carved solid sand stone lamp by A Tormos. Base only 9x6
Sandstone
Brutalist Ceiling lamp, Nanny Still, RAAK, Amsterdam, 1970's
By Nanny Still
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stylistic ceiling lamp by Nanny Still for RAAK, Amsterdam. Made in the 1970's. Very muck like a sculpture it hangs, made from copper and glass. Would look great above any table table...
Copper
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
Vintage Brutalist Chandelier by Tom Greene, Brass Floral Design, 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage six arm Brutalist Chandelier by Tom Greene. Each arm ends with a tulip shaped flower encasing the light bulb. The central stem is wrapped in leaves. A very unique and unusual...
Brass
Monumental Bijan of California for Laurel Lamp Co. Setterah Table Lamp
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Substantial Bijan of California for Laurel Lamp Company “Setarrah” H-927 Table Lamp. Featuring a tubular (.5D) Brass column, "original Brass sculpture" with four handcrafted torch c...
Metal, Brass
Ceramic Table Lamp for Soholm with Unique New Handmade Felt Shade, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Haico Nietzsche for Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom handmade felt lampshade. The beige ceramic base has a subtle concave shape. The sha...
Ceramic
The Wall by Kalou Dubus, Milk White, Chamotte Stoneware, Ceramic Sconses
By Kalou Dubus
Located in PANTIN, -
This wall sconce is hand-built in my Paris studio from raw, unglazed stoneware, fired to reveal a matte, milk-white surface with the quiet texture of bare clay. Its architecture is d...
Ceramic, Stoneware
B. M. Nielsen Brutalist Organic Ceramic Art Table Lamp, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Unique Danish Expressionist stoneware table lamp handmade by experimental ceramic artist Bodil Marie Nielsen in the 1960s. Latte colored glaze mix...
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
$3,200 / item
James de Wulf Triton Pendant Lighting
Located in Paia, HI
Foundry cast, solid brass pendant light. Comes with 10' of steel chain, 60 Watt Edison style bulb, and canopy. UL listed. Designed and manufactured in Los Angeles. Additional chain a...
Brass
Alessandro Mazzucotelli Italian Brutalist Wrought Iron Rare Butterfly Sconce
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light. Will be rewired with certified US UL sockets for USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Wrought iron body that has been oiled to st...
Metal, Wrought Iron
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
Murano Tronchi chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
An iconic design by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, crafted from hand-blown Murano glass. The characteristic "Tronchi" chalices are blown individually into a wooden mold, giving the glass ...
Glass
"Sino Meio" Contemporary Outdoor Wall Light in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
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 di...
Brass
Rare 1970s MCM János Lehoczky Artisan Brutalist Hand Wrought Steel Chandelier
By Paul Evans, János Lehoczky, 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
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
$2,450 / set
Vintage Polished Chrome Lamps After Curtis Jere
By Curtis Jeré
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking pair of vintage table lamps represents the height of 1970s Brutalist design, masterfully crafted in the spirit of the iconic Curtis Jeré studio. The lamps feature a mon...
Chrome
$12,500 / set
Pair of Richard Barr Brutalist Lamps for Laurel
By Laurel Lamp Company, Richard Barr
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
$5,750 / set
Pair of 1970s Italian Chiseled Glass Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 1970s Italian chiseled glass sconces. This stunning pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern, Hollywood Regency or Brutalist geometric wall sc...
Glass
A Sculptural SHABBY-CHIC BRONZE BRUTALIST 3 Lights CEILING FIXTURE, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional suspension, pendant or even a luminous sculpture made of three arms of light, Art-Déco, Modernist, Brutalist, with pieces and joints in aluminum, cylindric massive axi...
Aluminum, 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
1970s vintage WALL LAMP wrought iron and parchment koch & sons brutalist rustic
Located in Mannheim, DE
A striking wall lamp in a brutalist, rustic style. The frame is made of anthracite grey wrought iron, the shade is made of parchment with leather cord stitching. It's designed for di...
Wrought Iron
Sunburst Scrollwork Crown Flush Mount Light Fixtures, Wrought Iron & Glass, Pair
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Brutalist Hand Forged Iron Sunburst Light Fixtures with Pressed Glass Shades, Spain, 1950s This pair of handcrafted sunburst crown light fixtures feature scrolled wrought ir...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$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
Large Mid Century Brutalist Style Textured Ceramic Table Lamp c 1950/60's
By Aldo Londi, The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century, Brutalist ceramic table lamp having an architectural geometric body, with opposing conical form, surrounded by a flanged geometric zipper center of alternat...
Ceramic
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
$10,762 / set
Henri Fernandez Signed Agate and Brass Wall Lights
Located in Hastings, GB
An incredible pair of extremely rare wall lights, hand crafted and signed by the artist and sculptor Henri Fernandez. Drawing inspiration from the natural world and re-imagining them...
Agate, Brass
Ceramic Table Lamp by Bruno H’Rdy, La Borne, 1970s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Rare stoneware table lamp by Bruno H’Rdy, a ceramist from La Borne, France, dating from the 1970s. The ovoid body features an abstract glazed decoration in shades of black, grey and...
Ceramic
Danish Vintage Brutalist Copper Pendant in Friis & Moltke Style 1970s
By Jo Hammerborg, Fog & Mørup, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish brutalist or mid-century ceiling lamp/pendant in the style of designers as Jo Hammerborg, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, or FRIIS & MOLTKE. It's made of copper with light brown patina and has a breaker at the top cover. The inside is covered with orange and white lacquer which reflect a warm cosy light. Friis and Moltke...
Metal, Copper
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
"Cruz" Max Version Contemporary Indoor/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...
Brass
Superb! Brutalist Electric Wall Sconce Pair After Tom Greene Torch Cut MCM 1960s
By Tom Greene
Located in Peoria, AZ
SUPERB! PAIR! TORCH CUT BRUTALIST METAL WALL SCONCES AFTER TOME GREENE A gorgeous pair of brutalist, torch cut electric sconces after Tom Greene. Very rare, these were made in th...
Metal
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
$3,930 / item
OMERO Large 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
Pyramid Ceramic Lamp by Kalou Dubus, 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 raw geometry and powerful presence of brutalist architecture. Handcra...
Ceramic
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
Tom Aslström & Hans Ehrlich Brutalist Mid Century Swedish Chandelier Murano
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Swedish designers wrought iron brutalist chandelier. Housing one light. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries. Orig...
Wrought Iron
$353Sale Price|20% Off
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
Large Brutalist Glazed Terracotta Lamp with Original Textured Shade
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large brutalist glazed terracotta lamp with original textured shade. Dimensions listed are the overall dimensions of the lamp plus the shade...
Terracotta, Fabric
Mid Century Modern Brutalist Sculptural Table Lamp w Architectural Glass C1960
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Rare & unusual brutalist table lamp with thick mainly round stained glass pieces in conjunction with triangles of colored glass and lead creating a large ball of mixed colors of stai...
Metal, Lead
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
Sculptural Brutalist Table Lamps Cast Aluminum Attr to Paul Evans
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Brutalist table lamp pair attributed to Paul Evans. Cast aluminum shades patinated in a brown tone sit on wood bases. Hardwired with direct plugin. Condition of the pair is good sh...
Aluminum
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, Gold Leaf, Wrought Iron, Iron
$1,472Sale Price|20% Off
Pair 1950s French Mid Century ModernBrutalist Metalwork Flower Form Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair 1950's French Brutalist Flower Form Wall Sconces. Unique sconces with original rust detail.
Metal
Midcentury Italian Brutalist Spider Yellow Glass Body Sconce
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light. Will be newly rewired with certified US UL socket for the Usa and appropriate socket for all other countries and ready to hang. Wrought iron body with yellow Mura...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Bold and Handsome Oversized Brutalist Laurel Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
As found, this pair of handsome brutalist lamps designed by Richard Barr for the Laurel Lamp Company are guaranteed to make a bold, handsome, dramatic statement in any room.
Bronze, Copper
"Sino Meio" Contemporary Outdoor Wall Light in Cast Aluminum by Estudio Orth
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 di...
Aluminum
Brutalist Blackened Metal Table Lamp, France, 1970s, Sculptural Design
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Striking Brutalist table lamp from the 1970s, featuring a sculptural base in blackened metal composed of stacked cylindrical elements. The raw, architectural form and textured finish...
Metal