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Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

BRUTALIST STYLE

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 

  • Use of industrial materials — tubular steel, concrete, glass, granite
  • Prioritizes functionalism, minimalism and utilization of negative space
  • Spare silhouettes, pronounced geometric shapes
  • Stripped-down, natural look; rugged textures, modular construction
  • Interiors featuring airy visual flow and reliance on neutral palettes

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.

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Style: Brutalist
Coat Rack in Cast Brass and Carbon Steel
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Minotauro II Contemporary coat rack, in cast brass and carbon steel finished with matte black electrostatic paint. Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This coat rack was meticulously ha...
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2010s Brazilian Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

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Steel, Brass

Brutalist Wrought Iron Coat Hangers, Denmark, 1970s, Set of 6
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hand-welded in Denmark during the 1970s this set of twisted iron and brass coat hangers stylistically displays midcentury Brutalism. The price is for the set of six.
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Wrought Iron

Folk Craft Brutalist Hall Stand / Floor Lamp, c.1980
Located in Surbiton, GB
A very unusual hall stand, handmade in France in the 1980's. Formed from painted sheet metal, the stand has coat hooks, an umbrella holder and is illuminated by two lamps to the rear...
Category

Late 20th Century French Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Metal

Rivadossi coat rack - 1970
Located in Paris, FR
Brutalist coat rack by Officina Rivadossi from the Brescia region of Italy. Carved from oak, circa 1970s. Meticulous cabinetmaking with various rosettes and hand-carved motifs. Regi...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Wood

Solid elm coat rack, Maison Regain, France, 1980's
Located in La Tour-de-Peilz, CH
This rare and sumptuous coat rack made by Maison Regain (signed under the foot) in the 80s is entirely in solid elm. Brutalist with its ultra geometric line and generous proportions...
Category

1980s French Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Elm

Vintage Brutalist wood standing coat rack
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage Brutalist wood standing coat rack Wear consistent with age and use : missing several hook - See Photos Wabi Sabi - Vintage - Decoration Measures ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Wood

Patère porte manteaux mural en bois et fer forgé, France, années 1950
Located in THONON-LES-BAINS, FR
Patère en bois et fer forgé, France, années 1950-1960. Crochets en fer forgé dans le gout des Artisans de Marolles reposant sur un support métallique et sur des pièces de bois de for...
Category

1950s French Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Coat Rack Hook, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Coat Rack Hook, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gold Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Centur...
Category

20th Century Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Metal

Brutalist Carved Oak Coat Rack By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and decorative brutalist coat rack is all made of carved oak. This isa French work by famous designer Charles Dudouyt. Circa 1950
Category

1950s French Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Oak

“They’re Hanging Me Tonight” Display, Iron, JAMES VINCENT MILANO, Italy, 2022
Located in Milano, IT
“They’re Hanging Me Tonight” Display, Iron, JAMES VINCENT MILANO, Italy, 2022 Monumental display stand for garment. Polished and brushed iron. Engr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Iron

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Mathieu Matégot Coat Rack in Brass and Ochre for GUBI
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Antique Arts & Crafts Mahogany Hall Tree Stand Entry Console w Marble & Mirror
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Kartell floor-standing coat rack, 1960s
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Kartell floor-standing coat rack, 1960s
Kartell floor-standing coat rack, 1960s
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Mirrored coat rack
Located in Vezzano Sul Crostolo, IT
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Mirrored coat rack
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CACTUS coat hanger 1970s
Located in Ljubljana, SI
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Metal

CACTUS coat hanger 1970s
CACTUS coat hanger 1970s
$1,620
H 55.12 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
1970s Italian Coat Hanger
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use - Sturdy and stable - W: 40 D: 40 H: 185 cm
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ANTiQUE 1900 ARTS & CRAFTS SHAPLAND AND PETTER HALL COAT GLOVE UMBRELLA STAND
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Arts & Crafts Shapland & Petter Hall stand with hand hammered Copper panels over a Walnut frame with inset sheild mirror Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price A very good looking well made and decorative hat glove coat and scarf rack, this one is rare as it has the central mirror and its an earlier than usual example circa 1900 Made by Shapland & Petter, a full blub on their life and works can be found below In terms of the condition it is straight and solid, the piece sits well in any setting and looks decorative and very English country house, we have cleaned waxed and polished the timber, there is one hook slightly bent, otherwise its in fine order Dimensions Height:- 205cm Width:- 113cm Depth:- 40cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask Shapland and Petter of Barnstaple Introduction This Barnstaple based company manufactured some of the finest pieces of furniture in Arts and Crafts style but very little has been written about the company or the pieces they produced. It a great shame that whilst Shapland and Petter pieces have been illustrated in books and auction catalogues they are invariably attributed to other makers such as Liberty and Co in London or Wylie and Lochhead in Glasgow. With this feature, we intend to inspire a more thorough appreciation of the work of the company; readers are invited to help with the task by sending photographs and information. Collectors and auction houses are now showing significantly more interest in Shapland and Petter pieces. The company, based in Barnstaple, England produced a very wide range of furniture in several different styles including many pieces in period reproduction and municipal style for town halls and commercial premises alongside their superb Arts and Crafts range Distinctive features of their superb Arts and Crafts style are the use of heart shaped piercing, geometric shapes with angled arches and the application of repousse copper panels. Decoration with marquetry, metal inlay, mounting of ceramic and enamel cabochons were techniques which they mastered with a combination of state of the art technology and traditional craftsmanship. Most distinctively, the pieces were extremely well made, with care and very best quality materials The growing interest in Shapland and Petter has raised many questions about the origins of the firm, and the sources of influence on their designs, some of which resemble designs by Ashbee, Ballie Scott, Voysey and Talwin Morris. Links have been assumed with Liberty and Co with the supposition Shapland and Petter worked on commissions for Liberty. There appears to be little evidence to support many of the assumptions which have developed around the company and this article is intended to help to start the discussion and to stimulate research The History of Shapland and Petter The Museum of North Devon in Barnstaple have an archive of Shapland and Petter which includes some company records and a small display of furniture and related items. The following text gives history of the company and is reproduced from the display boards in the museum with kind permission of North Devon Museums For over 100 years the Shapland and Petter factory has stood at the end of Barnstaple Long Bridge. Manufacturers of doors, door sets, and custom wood interiors, NT Shapland and Petter Ltd are still one of the towns largest employers. The company was established by Henry Shapland (b. 1823), a cabinet maker by trade. He embarked on a voyage to America in 1848, where he was inspired by an invention for a wave-moulding machine. He was only allowed to see it if he left the country immediately. Returning home with only rough notes, he reproduced the machine and in 1854 began a cabinet making business in one room at the Raleigh woolen mill in Pilton. Later the firm moved to Bear Street in Barnstaple. Henry Petter was an accountant who entered into partnership with Mr Shapland. The business progressed and in 1864 they bought the Raleigh Factory where Shapland first began his work. Success was rapid, but in 1888 the building burnt down. Immediately work began on a bigger and better factory - their present site by the Long Bridge - which included many modern inventions The two Henrys died within two years of each other - Petter in 1907 and Shapland in 1909. In 1924 Shapland and Petter merged with the Barnstaple Cabinet Company, producing North Devon's biggest industry. During the First World War Shapland and Petter's skilled craftsmen turned their hands to wooden propellers for the aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps. After the war, public tastes changed, and hand carved furniture was too expensive for many. Shapland and Petter's output now included elegant veneered pieces with smooth Art Deco lines. The company fitted out Pullman carriages and ocean liners and made hand-carved church furniture. The famous England Rugby Captain W. W. Wakefield was appointed Company Director in 1927. Throughout the depression of the late 1920's and early 1930's the company still managed to produce high quality work Furniture manufacturing continued until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Many workers left to fight, while the factory worked on Air Ministry contracts for ammunition boxes. After the war came radio cabinets and laboratory and contract furniture, until eventually large quantities of doors were being produced for hospitals, hotels, schools, offices and other buildings. Examples of Shapland and Petter's work can be seen all over North Devon. In Barnstaple, the shop front at 109 High Street is a good example, and the interior of the old Lloyd's Bank, now Chamber's Brasserie, was also Shapland's work. Examples of carving by Shapland's men can be seen in two chairs and a reading desk in Barnstaple Parish Church As cabinet makers, Shapland and Petter employed up to 350 people at a time. There were designers, carvers, cabinet makers, machinists, polishers, and labourers. The company was one of the first to install American labour-saving devices and was keen to adopt the most up-to-date machinery The fire of 1888 at the Raleigh Cabinet Works was a huge loss for the company. However, it resulted in a new factory which was altogether more modern and better equipped. The new building by the river was arranged into blocks. The production line began with the saw mills and ended with the finishing rooms. There was modern machinery in every department - one of their saws was the first of its kind in Britain. Water sprinklers and electric lights were a necessity - this factory would not burn down As well as the furniture production, Shapland and Petter imported timber by sea and rail. The new factory 's facilities were exceptional Shapland and Petter were renowned for excellent design and workmanship. The carvers were highly skilled, serving seven year apprenticeships and attending classes at the Barnstaple School of Art. Ornately carved furniture required up to a hundred tools The factory produced made to order woodwork for banks, hotels, and shops; mantelpieces, paneling and staircases. They fitted out Pullman railway carriages, the London Guildhall, and Edgar Wallace 's dining room as well as houses like Tapeley Park in North Devon Much of the work involved intricate leaded glass panels, or inlaid fruitwood designs, like the white bedroom suite shown in the exhibition here. This type of work is typical of Art Nouveau 1895 to 1910, inspired by the fluid shapes of plants and flowers Many pieces were made from standard designs. There were hundreds to choose from, and a selection could be seen in local and London showrooms and in catalogues. Although mass-produced, this furniture was well-made by skilled technicians and modern machinery Arts and Crafts designs of Shapland and Petter The development of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the South West of England has not been written up in any detail though we do know of the Art Potters of Barnstaple from the excellent book of this name by Audrey Edgeler. Less is known of the Barnstaple Guild of Metal Workers. We know of the Bath Cabinet Makers and the Newlyn School of Industrial Art in Cornwall but very little has been written about the furniture makers of Barnstaple in Devon The establishment of a large cabinet making firm in Barnstaple is not remarkable in itself; there were several cabinet makers in the area. What is interesting is that this particular Barnstaple firm should become a leading maker of Arts and Crafts furniture, copying the styles of the leading Architect designers and creating their own unique style Critics may point out that as their work was commercially driven and reliant upon machines it therefore does not really qualify as Arts and Crafts. Whilst the company was highly innovative in machine technology, they also employed many craftsmen who worked with their hands in woodcarving, marquetry work, design and application of decorative copperwork and other artistic embellishment in the true Arts and Crafts tradition. Anyone who has experience of Shapland and Petter workmanship knows the level of craftsmanship invested in each piece Sources of inspiration There appears to be no evidence to link any known architect, artist or designer to the Shapland and Petter company. Their designs appear to have been created solely by their own internal design staff none of whom appear to have published or registered their work in any other context C. R. Ashbee who established the Guild of Handicrafts visited Barnstaple in 1893 and provided a twelve week course on the design and decoration of furniture. It is presumed that this visit was hosted by Shapland and Petter, and that their own staff and those from other local furniture makers attended the course. Ashbee appears to have been unimpressed by the commercial attitudes he encountered and apparently disappointed at the lack of interest in his (high minded) lectures. What is interesting however is the similarity between some of his designs and those used by Shapland and Petter, particularly in respect to inlaid floral design. Perhaps he left a lasting influence which has not yet been verified There has been some speculation on the influence of Scottish designers, particularly because of the use of Glasgow rose designs which are typical of the Glasgow School, and particularly of Talwin Morris. There are also several designs which use similar motifs to those used by Baillie Scott, the use of two doves in flight for example. More research is needed to trace possible links here. One thing that is clear is that there was a great deal of copying and selling designs in the furniture industry at the time and a nineteenth century survey on the furniture trade recorded that '' Barnstaple pays the best prices for designs ..'' Collaboration with other companies There is evidence that Shapland and Petter organised a wide network of companies to retail their products and hence many pieces have the labels of retail furnishers added. Little is known of their marketing in Europe and America but it may be that many Arts and Crafts pieces were sold abroad. Shapland and Petter had excellent access to rail and shipping lines for importing timber and presumably for exporting their finished products The extent of their collaboration with other companies is yet to be ascertained but there is evidence that their suppliers included the Della Robbia Pottery, Pilkingtons Tile...
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Early 1900s English Antique Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Copper

Shapland & Petter. An Arts & Crafts walnut hall stand with a copper panel
Located in London, GB
An Arts and Crafts walnut Hall stand by Shapland and Petter with a copper panel depicting a mythical creature to the top, leaf cut-outs to the centre with circular ball uprights to e...
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1980's IKEA 'Frän' Coat Rack, Sweden
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
1980's IKEA 'Frän' Coat Rack. Tubular metal construction with five coat hooks and storage / hat rack in a vibrant Pillar-box Red. Sweden. In original condition.Modern 1980's design c...
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1980s Swedish Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

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1980's IKEA 'Frän' Coat Rack, Sweden
1980's IKEA 'Frän' Coat Rack, Sweden
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H 6.7 in W 23.63 in D 11.82 in
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Pair of Brutalist Bronze Sculptural Hooks by David Marshall, 1970s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Pair of Brutalist sculptural hooks made of bronze from the 1970s, signed by David Marshall.
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Brutalist wall coat rack with 12 hooks made of metal, 1970
Located in Oirlo, LI
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1970s German Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

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Wall coat rack by David Marshall, 1980s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Wall coat rack signed by the artist David Marshall made entirely of aluminum. An authentic, super decorative sculptural work.
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Wall coat rack by David Marshall, 1980s
Wall coat rack by David Marshall, 1980s
H 2.76 in W 15.56 in D 2.17 in
Charles Dudouyt Art Deco Wall-Entrance Wardrobe / Coat Rack
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Brutalist oak hall hat and coat stand by Charles Dudouyt, 1940. Features a shaped top cornice with handcarved details, four brass coats hooks, a central mirror, a tablet with a sing...
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Lot of Five Brutalist Mid-Century Modern Wall Coat Hooks, Germany, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Lot of five 1970s wall coat or clothes hooks. Nice addition to your room, entry hall or just for your collection of design items. Made of metal. They are ...
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1970s German Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

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Metal

Brutalist Coat Rack with Shelve in Forged Steel Atelier Français
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brutalism, fer forgé, mirror with two lights, Atelier Français, 1970s Hand forged coat rack From the same maker we can also offer two sconces, ...
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1970s French Vintage Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

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Iron

Hammered Iron Brutalist Style Coat Hat Rack
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handcrafted iron coat or hat rack featuring a Brutalist style hammered finish constructed from iron rods that taper before returning to their original shape on the ends, like a candl...
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20th Century American Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

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French Art Deco Iron Hat and Coat Shelf Brutalist Mirror, Pullman Style
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Art Deco iron hat and coat shelf brutalist mirror, Pullman style. This Art Deco period piece the rack includes its original bevelled swivel mir...
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Early 20th Century French Brutalist Coat Racks and Stands

Brutalist coat racks and stands for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Brutalist coat racks and stands for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage coat racks and stands created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, iron and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist coat racks and stands made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Brazil pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original coat racks and stands, popular names associated with this style include Charles Dudouyt, Estúdio Orth, JAMES VINCENT MILANO, and Pallucco. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for coat racks and stands differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $170 and tops out at $6,103 while the average work can sell for $3,600.

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