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
Louvered Dark Green Pottery Lamp, UK 1950's
Located in New York, NY
An interesting louvered ceramic Studio lamp, a very unusual construction for this material, it recalls Guy Bareff’s style. Base size only 16x7
Ceramic
Pair of Leaf-Shaped Brass Wall Lamps by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage 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
Pair of Brutalist Gilded Bronze Textured Wall Sconces, in stock
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Brutalist Gilded Bronze Textured Wall Sconces with Frosted Glass Shades, In Stock Pair of sculptural Brutalist wall sconces, textured gilded bronze finish with organic forms...
Bronze
Brutalist "Fer Battu" Iron Double Arm "Ferronnerie" Table Lamp - France 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist wrought-iron lamp with two light arms. Originally a 1970s candlestick converted into a lamp. The sockets are mounted on swivel joints. US wiring. Fine ironwork craftsmanshi...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Brutalist Style Table Lamps by Visual Comfort from the Anneu Collection
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elevate your home decor with this stunning Pair of Brutalist Style Table Lamps designed and manufactured by Visual Comfort and part of the "Anneu" Collection. The pieces are made in ...
Iron
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 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
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps 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 ceramic base fits perfectly with the custom made silk shade by Re...
Ceramic
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 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
French Sunburst Leafed Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Terrific handcrafted gold gilt wrought iron sunburst leafed flush mount ceiling light. France, 1950s. This stunning ceiling light fixure has a foliate su...
Gold Leaf, Iron, Wrought Iron
$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
$995Sale Price|50% Off
Steam-Punk Rocket Desk Lamp
By Edison
Located in Berkeley, CA
"Frankensteined" steampunk rocket light fixture. Created from a collection of found, vintage parts. Lab glass funnel, motorcycle gear, custom cut brass, old lamp body, etc but all wiring is brand new, UL stamped parts and ready to plug in anywhere. two 60 watt candlelabra sockets. Bulbs will be included in the purchase. Buck Rogers...
Brass, Steel
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
Elegant Hourglass Form Verdigris Stewart James for Hansen Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist verdigris finish on bronze hourglass form table lamp base. Designed by Stewart James for Hansen Lighting Company, circa 1950s. Fine, untouched, original, ready to use condi...
Bronze
Pair of Blue Ceramic Table Lamps by Soholm, Silk Lampshade, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful ceramic table lamp by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made silk lampshade by R. Houben. With off white silk inner-shade. The beautiful blue ceramics ...
Ceramic
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
Grey Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Nani Goods, Steven Lancaster
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
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
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
1950s Minimalist Zoomorphic Wrought Iron Table Lamp by an Unknown Artist.
Located in London, GB
Minimalist wrought iron table lamp from the 1950s
Wrought Iron
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
$1,976 / item
1 of the 3 Ceramic Brown Pendants, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the three stunning round ceramic hanging lamp with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s in Denmar...
Ceramic
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
French Chain Link Floor Lamp, 1960s France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist iron chain link floor lamp, made in 1960s France. Just under 6 feet tall. Extremely heavy and substantial lamp with a thick chain link. Unique trident style base with rustic iron boat...
Iron
Vintage Brutalist with Sculpted Metallic Finish Pendant Light
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a striking brutalist pendant light, circa the 1980s. This piece features an intensely sculptural surface that mimics the look of hand-troweled metal or ...
Metal
Set of 2 Brutalist Ceramic Pendant Lamps, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of 2 Brutalist Ceramic Pendant Lamps, Italy, 1970s Unique set of two ceramic pendant lamps from Italy, crafted in the 1970s. The lamps feature a striking Brutalist design with a...
Brass
Whimsical and Unique Brutalist Fish Lantern Floor Lamp in Wrought Iron 1960s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Whimsical and Unique Brutalist Fish Lantern Floor Lamp in Wrought Iron, Europe, 1960s. And now for something completely different... This unique and highly exceptional fish floor lamp...
Wrought Iron
Paul Evans Unique welded Steel Brutalist Chandelier
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Unique welded Steel Brutalist Chandelier with Gold Starburst Design Underside This exceptional chandelier features a solid 28" stem and a distinctive gold starburst design...
Steel
Bernard Rooke Ceramic Table Lamp, England 1970's
Located in New York, NY
"Wheel" table lamp by Bernard Rooke in heavy ceramic in the brutalist style. The lamp is wired for the US, comes with no shade (one can be provided on request) size is of base only.
Brass
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
Mid Century Brutalist Spanish Sunburst Flush Mount Gilded Iron
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Hand hammered Spanish gilded iron flush mount, made around the 1950s. This brutalist styled light is in great vintage condition, beautiful patina. The lamp takes one e14 fitting size...
Iron, Gold Leaf
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
$1,637Sale 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
Brass and Copper Plated Brutalist Pendant Light
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chic brass and copper plated brutalist pendant light. Signed, stamped and dated 1984. Casts a delightful warm glow through it's inner cylindrical diffuser. Dimensions listed (21 in. ...
Brass, Copper, Steel
$2,325Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist iron chain and fiberglass floor lamp, Netherlands 1960s
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in ECHT, NL
Large handcrafted Brutalist floor lamp. The base is made from an antique wrought iron chain. The shade is made from fiberglass coated in ground quartz. It has a lunar appearance espe...
Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century Pair of Brutalist Bronze Wall Lamps by Cierre Lampadari, Milan
Located in New York, NY
This pair of wall lamps by Italian manufacturer Cierre Lampadari from Milan dates back to the 1960s/70s. The semicircular bodies are crafted from bronze with a textured surface remin...
Onyx, Bronze
Tom Greene Torch Cut Brutalist Brass Pendant Light for Feldman
By Feldman Lighting Co., Tom Greene
Located in Chicago, IL
Tom Greene Torch Cut Brass Flush Mount , Pendant Light for Feldman Partial labels un underside of canopy This fixture is suppose to take a simple glass / or plastic disc on the bot...
Brass
Pair of Svend Aage for Holm Sorensen Brutalist Acid Treated Brass Pendant Lamps
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of Svend Aage for Holm Sorensen Brutalist acid treated brass pendant lamps. Manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s. Original and well kept. Each Brutalist pendant ceiling ligh...
Brass
Contemporary Cerulean Blue Murano Glass Sconces with Brass Baguette Details
With a nod to the Brutalist style lighting of Longobard of Verona, this pair of cerulean blue hammered Murano glass wall sconces are elegantl...
Brass
$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
$3,500 / 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
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
Multicolor Striped Ceramic Floor Table Lamp, Custom Green Lampshade by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/floor lamp. Custom made matching lampshade by René Houben. The striped ceramics with colorful details fit perfectly with the custom made green lampshade, ill...
Ceramic
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
Dutch Organic Form Ceramic Wall Sconce, 1960s
Located in Rīga, LV
Mid-century Brutalist stoneware wall sconce made in the Netherlands. The sculptural form features deeply carved, organic curves with two recessed bulb holders that create dramatic li...
Ceramic
$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
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
1 of the 4 Ceramic Green Brown Pendants, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of four round ceramic hanging lamps with a beautiful pattern, made with rich colored green and brown ceramics, manufactured by Jette Hellerøe for Axella in the 1960s in ...
Ceramic
$2,720Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Brutalist Table Lamp Attributed to Biancardi and Jordan Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalisam is a architectural style known for the use in the bold geometric design. This lamp is in the original condition and build by hand and it is 35 lb .
Metal, Brass
1 of the 3 Ceramic Brown Beige Terracotta 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. Each pendant has holes in the ...
Ceramic
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
Brutalist Ceramic Table Lamp by Bodil Marie Nielsen, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
The ceramic base of this Bodil Marie Nielsen lamp exemplifies the Danish Brutalist style of the 1960s, characterized by its raw, tactile forms and organic textures. Crafted from ston...
Ceramic
Danish Modern Brutalist Ceramic Table Lamp by Judi Kunst, Brown and Blue, 1970s
By Bodil Marie Nielsen, Judi Kunst
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish Modern brutalist ceramic table lamp by Judi Kunst. Made ca. 1970s. Judi Kunst was run by Judith and Iver Christensen and located at Kelstrup Strand close to Haderslev in Jutl...
Ceramic, Fabric
$696 / 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
$1,600Sale Price / item|20% Off
Colorful Mid Century Mexican Pendant Chandelier by Felipe Delfinger "Feders"
Located in Mexico, DF
Beautiful pendant chandelier with a wrought iron structure painted black with 24 hand-made glass pieces in assorted colors, for one bulb, hangs by a chain. Extremely bright, decorati...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Elm Table Lamp, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Carved Elm block with abstract patterns. Base size only 12x3x3
Elm
$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
Sconces by J. T. Kalmar for Kalmar Franken Kg, 1970s Set of 2
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in KUTNO, PL
A rare set of wall lamps from the “PAN 3 WA” series, designed by J.T. Kalmar in the 1970s, is a unique combination of applied art and sculptural elegance. Each lamp consists of three...
Metal