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 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
Pair of Soholm Ceramic Table Lamps, Noomi Backhausen, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Noomi Backhausen for Soholm, model Erika. Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made embriodery lampshade by R. Houben, with bronze inner shade. The ...
Ceramic
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Double Decker Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Double Decker lamp is a tall, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp is composed of a...
Brass
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps, Soholm, Denmark 1960s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp, 2022. By Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom lampshade from R houben. The green and brown ceramics and green and brown colored lampshade with...
Ceramic
Harry Balmer Harold Weiss Laurel Ribbon Brutalist Table Lamp c. 1960/70's
By Laurel Lamp Company, Harry Balmer
Located in New York, NY
Classic Brutalist school table lamp designed by Harry Balmer and Harold Weiss, for the Laurel Lamp Co. circa 1960/70's. Known as the Ribbon Lamp, this piece features an exaggerated ...
Metal, Copper
Big murano table lamps in the style of F. Fabbian, Italy, 1970s, set of 2
By F. Fabbian
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of big table lamps from the 70s, in the style, design and manufacture of the Italian glass brand F. Fabbian. The shade is conical in two-tone Murano glass and the structure is p...
Brass
Mid-Century Brutalist Purple Ceramic Pyramid Table Lamp, Original Shade
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking Brutalist ceramic table lamp features a sculptural triangular pyramid base in deep purple with heavily textured volcanic glazing. The geometric form showcases the raw, expre...
Ceramic
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, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Paddle Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Paddle lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for bedside or accent lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp feat...
Brass
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
Dazor UL-P 2324-26 Industrial Floating Desk Lamp. 1950s.
By Dazor
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
This is a famous floating arm lamp by Dazor. Company was founded in 1938 and made itself the name on this design for it's durability, ease of adjustment and most importantly, for str...
Steel, Metal
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
Richard Barr for Laurel Monumental Wrought Iron Assemblage Table Lamp H-734
By Laurel, Richard Barr
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage torch-cut iron table lamp features abstract patinated metal sculptural body mounted on a cube base of enameled cast aluminum. The lamp was created by Richard Barr as a part ...
Enamel, Iron
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN BRUTALIST Lucite TABLE LAMP, by DALLUX, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
An important and rigorous rectangular table lamp with free decoration, Modernist, Post-Bauhaus, from Forme-Libre, geometric structure in 4 thick strips of amber plexiglass resin with...
Lucite
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
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
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
Cereus Lamp by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
Located in South Pasadena, CA
The Cereus Table Lamp is inspired by the organic, undulating forms of desert cacti, striking a balance between minimalist design and playful natural shapes. Each lamp is hand-built u...
Brass
Abstract Oak Lamp, France 1950’s
Located in New York, NY
Carved Oak table lamp in abstract forms.
Brass
A Pair of GIANT SCULPTURAL Wood TABLE LAMPS, NAKASHIMA NOLL Style, France, 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare pair of large brutalist table lamps sculpted in wood, probably ebony, a beautiful work of cabinet-making mounted on a light wooden s...
Wood, Ebony
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
Cereus Lamp (Small) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the elegant, undulating forms of desert cacti, the Cereus Lamp offers a striking blend of minimalist design and organic playfulness. Handcrafted using traditional slab-bu...
Brass
American Nautical Hand-Crafted Coral Brass Fish Sculptural Table Lamp Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Brutalist Style whimsical nautical Brass Fish on a natural white coral core and mounted on a rectangle Wood Base. The Stem is a copper piece of pipe and topped with the socket and ...
Coral, Brass
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
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
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
$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
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
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 shapes of desert cacti, this lamp strikes a balance between minimalism and playfulness. Each lamp is hand built with a speckled clay body using...
Brass
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
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
French Brutalist Brazed-Copper Table Lamp, Signed and Dated 1975
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
French brazed-copper table lamp with a strong sculptural presence, dated 1975 and bearing an indecipherable signature. The hand-worked copper reveals a deeply textured patina, typica...
Copper
$936Sale Price / set|43% Off
English Large Ceramic Table Lamps with Art Glaze and Hand Turned Wood Bases
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning huge pair of Brutalist English Ceramic table lamps with super thick hand applied Art Glaze reminiscent of volcanic lava erupting from a mountain top and running do...
Ceramic, Giltwood
Pair of Blue Green Ceramic Cone Table Lamps by Soholm, Denmark 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp by Soholm, Denmark 1960s. Combined with a custom made lampshade by R. Houben. The beautiful blue and green ceramics make a stunning combination with the...
Ceramic
$3,375Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of French Brutalist Table Lamps in Wrought Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Iron Brutalist Table Lamps, France, 1950s. Hand forged Iron table lamps with cross details on the top and squared bases. Sculptural design, solid structure and beautiful cons...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Winglet Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
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
$3,857 / item
Wrought iron lamp by artist Donna handcrafted
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Table lamp by French artist Pierre Donna. Patinated and oxidized steel base designed and handmade in the artist's studio. Understated, timeless design with a unique patina for each p...
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
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, T-Top Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The T-Top lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for bedside or accent lighting in larger living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The T-top lamp...
Brass
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
A BRUTALIST Wild Wood RUSTIC MODERN TABLE LAMP, France 1960
By Alexandre Noll, George Nakashima, Atelier Marolles
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
Rare Brutalist Italian Glass Paste and Wrought Iron Table Lamp by Longobard, 70s
By Longobard
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Rare Murano glass table lamp designed and made by Longobard in 1970. The structure is in hand-crafted gilded wrought iron with the insertion of colored glass paste. Original logo, fi...
Wrought Iron
$4,600 / item
Torch Cut Brutalist Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of torch cut Brutalist metal lamps with gilded accents. Lamps have been professionally rewired with black twist cord.
Metal
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
Pair of Stewart Ross James Verdigris Bronze Table Lamps for Hansen
By Hansen Lighting Co., Stewart Ross James
Located in North Miami, FL
These lovely verdigris bronze patinated lamps are designed by Stewart Ross James for Hansen. In working condition with original wiring and single standard bulb. The elegant double p...
Bronze
1 of the 4 Rooke Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 4 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 ba...
Ceramic
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
Brutalist, Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp, Disc Lamp by Streicher Goods
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Disc lamp is a small, brutalist-inspired table lamp, perfect for lighting living spaces, created by Streicher Goods in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp features a cylindrical base that p...
Brass
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
Harry Balmer, Brutalist Mid Century Modern, Blackened Steel, Table Lamp, 1970s
By Laurel Lamp Company, Harry Balmer
Located in Manhasset, NY
Harry Balmer, Brutalist Mid Century Modern, Blackened Steel, Table Lamp, 1970s Single brutalist modern table lamp designed by Harry Balmer for Laurel Lamp Co. in the United States c...
Steel
$944Sale Price|20% Off
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
Pair of Mid Century Modern Curvy Brutalist White Ceramic Table Lamps
Located in Leicester, GB
Gorgeous pair of mid century modern ceramic table lamps. These lamps were made in England by Doulton, circa 1960's. A bold, curvy brutalist design, very heavy for their size, glazed ...
Ceramic
David Palumbo Brutalist Sculptural Iron Lamp
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Brutalist style iron table lamp by David Palumbo, American, circa 1960s. The lamp shade is not included.
Metal, Iron
1970s Brass Brutalist Style Petite Table Lamp
Located in Stamford, CT
1970s burnished brass petite table lamp. All over carved geometric design. Newly rewired with new brass socket. Lamp takes one standard bulb (not included). Custom white Phillip Jeffries grasscloth...
Brass
$1,928Sale Price|20% Off
Luxury sculpture tree lamp by Richard Faure for Maison Honore Paris
Located in Hannover, DE
Discover a vintage tree lamp sculpture from Richard Faure for La Maison Honore. This lamp is made of brass and purple gypsum stones. It is a very unique and decorative hand made pie...
Stone, Quartz, Brass
Brutalist wood turned and cast iron large table lamp, 1960s
Located in Zaandam, NL
An intriguing example of brutalism at its finest. This unusual lamp came to us through a dealer in France so we've left the attribution there. There is some debate if the wooden base...
Iron
Handcrafted brutalist table lamp, Germany 1960s
By RAAK
Located in ECHT, NL
Colorful handcrafted table lamp. Made from pieces of colored glass cast in resin. The pieces of glass disperse the light in a unique way. Colorful and unique piece that will light u...
Glass, Epoxy Resin
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
$2,000 / set
Pair of Brutalist Table Lamps made in Iron
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this Pair of Brutalist Table Lamps made in Iron. For a better cheaper and fast transportation not include lamp shades.
Iron
$493Sale Price|45% Off
Brutalist Ceramic Pottery Table Lamp by Bernard Rooke , England, 1960s
Located in Glasgow, GB
An uncommon and quietly expressive example of Bernard Rooke’s studio pottery, this handcrafted ceramic table lamp dates to the 1960s and reflects a more organic, almost lyrical direc...
Ceramic