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.
$8,167 / item
Oak Stools, Brutalist Style
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Stools made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Measures: 45 x 41 x 36 cm. SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authentic st...
Oak
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of low straw chairs by Charles Dudouyt, France, circa 1940
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Pair of low chairs by Charles Dudouyt. Dudouyt began his career as a cabinetmaker and worked for important cabinetmakers, such as Dominique, and for private clients. He quickly deve...
Straw, Wood, Beech
$2,205 / set
Set of 6, Highback Solid Oak Chairs
Located in Waasmunster, BE
Set of 6, Highback Solid Oak Chairs
Straw, Oak
Pierre Chapo Leather & Elm Model S22R Three-Seater Sofa, France 1960's
By Pierre Chapo
Located in New York, NY
The largest of the S22 series with three-seat. This sofa is all original with down filled leather cushions and original elm frame.
Brass
Set of Four "King" Dining Chairs by Olavi Hänninen for Mikko Nupponen, Solid Elm
Located in Waasmunster, BE
An exceptional and highly collectible set of four "King" dining chairs designed by Finnish architect and designer Olavi Hänninen and manufactured by Mikko Nupponen, Finland, during t...
Elm
Sculptural Armhair, Carved, Solid Wood, Oak, Charred, Black, Organic, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved armchair. Carved from a single piece of burnt oak wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handmade design w...
Wood, Oak
Set four Belgian Constructivist dining/side chairs De Coene Frères Teniers No904
Located in New York City, NY
An original set of four Belgian Art Deco quarter sawn cerused oak dining chairs featuring a rectangular splayed shield back rest and shaped tapered legs ending in narrowing wood sabo...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Style Massive Bench in Solid Oak and Linseed Oil
By Denis Milovanov, Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Massive bench made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Measures: 300 x 70 x 35 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design a...
Oak
18th Century Brutalist Wooden Chair Carved with Fabulous Creature
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
18th century Brutalist wooden chair carved with fabulous creature totally 5 available see other announces.
Wood
Pair of solid wood stools by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, Italy
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare pair of solid wood stools by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, Italy, 1970s. These are sculptural works, created by one of the most sophisticated Italian manufacturers...
Wood
$2,675 / set
Pair of Ilana Goor Brutalist Chairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
These striking chairs are high-quality Brutalist-style dining chairs attributed to the renowned Israeli designer Ilana Goor (b. 1936). A multidisciplinary artist, sculptor, and desig...
Iron
Set of 6 Brutalist Saddle Chairs in Stained Beech with Patina, France, 1950s
Located in Almelo, NL
Set of 6 Brutalist Saddle Chairs in Stained Beech with Patina, France, 1950s This exceptional set of six Brutalist saddle chairs hails from France, dating to the 1950s. Crafted from solid stained beechwood, each chair presents a bold, sculptural presence softened by elegant folkloric details and an extraordinary natural patina developed over decades. The design is grounded in regional Alpine traditions, most notably seen in the heart-shaped cut-out in the backrest—a charming, romantic gesture often associated with rural Savoie or Tyrolean furniture...
Beech
Set of Six Brutalist Dining Chairs in Oak, Low Countries, 1960s
Located in London, London
Set of Six Brutalist Dining Chairs in Oak, Low Countries, 1960s A striking set of six Brutalist oak dining chairs, likely produced in Belgium or the Netherlands during the 1960s. W...
Oak
Swedish Tripod Stool in Pine & Cowhide, Wabi Sabi, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
Decorative tripod stool in solid pine and cowhide. Hand carved by a Scandinavian cabinetmaker in 1950s. This wabi sabi stool will fit in many types of home decors. Modern, Scandinav...
Cowhide, Pine
Iconic Geometric Steltman Chair in solid Ash designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1963
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a striking, blocky wooden chair is known as the Steltman Chair, a famous piece of modern design originally created by the Dutch architect and designer G...
Ash
$991 / item
80s Memphis Milano Prototype Cardboard Chair
Located in Wien, AT
Rare Prototype Armchair, Milano circa 1980 — Attributed to the Wider Sphere of Memphis Milano An extraordinary and rare example of Italian postmodern design, this sculptural armchai...
Paper
Set of Four Belgian Brutalist Oak Dining Chairs, Belgium 1970s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Thanks to low-profile, clean-lined furnishings; an earth-tone-inspired colour palette; and little ornamentation, the minimal brutalist design style resonates with many. This organic ...
Oak
Mid Century Spanish Brutalist TriPod Milk Stool Witco Styling
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A striking hand-carved rustic tripod stool featuring deeply sculpted organic detailing and a dark leather upholstered seat secured with decorative nailhead trim. Rich in texture and ...
Leather, Wood
Paul Evans Style Brutalist Handmade Brass & Leather Lounge Chair, a Pair
By Paul Evans
Located in Plainview, NY
These exceptional lounge chairs inspired by the bold and sculptural aesthetic of Paul Evans' Brutalist designs, seamlessly blend industrial artistry with Art Deco elegance. Masterful...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Brutalist Walnut Stools in the Manner of Charles Dudouyt, France, 1940s
Located in Almelo, NL
Pair of Brutalist Walnut Stools in the Manner of Charles Dudouyt, France, 1940s A sculptural pair of French Brutalist stools crafted in solid walnut, designed in the manner of Char...
Walnut
Stump Chair in Solid Birch by a Swedish Cabinetmaker, Wabi Sabi, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
Charming primitive stump chair made in solid birch. Hand carved by a Swedish cabinetmaker. A nice wabi sabi piece, perfectly sutied for the modern interior. This modern armchair w...
Birch
Set of 8 French Modernist Dining Chairs in Stained Oak and Brass, 1960s
Located in Almelo, NL
Set of 8 French Modernist Dining Chairs in Stained Oak and Brass, 1960s This exceptional set of eight French dining chairs from the 1960s captures the essence of mid-century moderni...
Metal, Brass
Mid century brutalist bar stools, 1960s - set of 4
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful hand made brutalist bar stools. Good original condition. Sturdy and well manufactured stools in solid oak with steel ring foot rests. 1960s - Belgium Dimensions: Height...
Oak
Vintage Spanish Brutalist Wrought Iron + Tooled Leather Folding Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
A Spanish Brutalist stool from the mid-20th century, forged in hand-wrought iron and finished with hand-tooled leather. The X-form base is mar...
Wrought Iron
Large Wooden Bench, Brutalist, Solid Oak, Brut Slim Bench by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Brut collection takes cues from Brutalism and Amsterdam School architecture. A balance of raw materiality and subdued forms with geometrically expressive detailing. The Brut Slim...
Oak, Walnut
$3,383 / set
Pair of 1970s Brutalist Solid Oak Side Chairs
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A striking pair of Brutalist side chairs, handcrafted in solid oak during the 1970s. These pieces capture the bold architectural spirit of the period, defined by their powerful geome...
Wood
$5,717 / item
Sculpted Armchair in Solid Oak Wood
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Armchair made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Dimensions: H. 82 x 48 x 48 cm (SH 45 cm) Founded by artist Denis Milovanov, SÓHA design studio conceives and produces f...
Oak
$3,500 / item
Lowback Leaf Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hand Bronze Cast Winter Hazel Leaves made in the Artists Foundry. Cast Bronze legs are sand cast and welded. Reflecting the forms found in nature, the Lowback Leaf Chair has asymmetr...
Bronze
Story Book Brutalist Wabi Sabi Oak Fire Place Chair
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
One light oak armchair that fits perfectly with the style of designers such as Axel Einar Hjorth, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Touret and Charles Dudouy...
Oak
1970s Green Leather 'Inca' Lounge Chair With Ottoman By Arne Norell AB , Sweden
By Norell Möbel AB, Arne Norell
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
This iconic Inca model lounge chair with matching ottoman was designed in the 1970s by Swedish designer Arne Norell for Norell AB. A celebrated example of Scandinavian modern design,...
Leather, Canvas, Beech
Three-seater Sofa by Giuseppe Rivadossi in Slavonian Oak and Leather, Italy 1960
Located in Hellouw, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi, an esteemed Italian artist and craftsman, is renowned for creating furniture that harmonizes functionality with artistic expression. His works, deeply rooted in t...
Leather, Oak
Pair of Industrial Steel & Ply Swedish Stools, Sweden 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Pair of fully adjustable Iron and Plywood stools by Odeberg.
Cut Steel
Willy Guhl Style Concrete Tulip Chairs, 1970s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique set of concrete aggregate chairs with a Tulip style base. Very unusual chairs with light patina and nice coloring. Good condition. Extremely heavy and well made. Priced as a pair of 2 chairs...
Concrete
Pair of brutalist bar stools in oak and wrought iron, 1960s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Industrial style - Bar Stools Measures : Base : Ø 53cm Seat : Ø 27cm H:80cm Materials : Oak and Wrought iron Pair of unique Brutalist-style bar stools - Made of wrought iron with ro...
Iron
$4,000Sale Price / set|50% Off
Danish Brutalist Folk Art Dining Chairs in Wicker / Rattan in Solid Oak, 1930s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
4 Danish folk art wicker dining chairs from 1936. Made by cabinetmaker E. Druse in 1936 - signature on the back of the chairs. These four highback chairs are so unique with their ca...
Wicker, Oak
" MONO" Stool / Sidetable, Solid Oak Design Bjarke Frederiksen, Denmark 2024
By Knud Friis & Elmar Moltke Nielsen, Axel Einar Hjorth, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina
Located in Ystad, SE
“Mono” Stool / Side Table in Solid Oak Design by Bjarke Frederiksen Copenhagen, Denmark, 2024 A sculptural contemporary stool or side table crafted in solid Danish oak. Mono is defi...
Oak
French Brutalist Hand-Carved Wood Stool, circa 1950s
Located in Houston, TX
A sculptural French primitive stool, dating to the 1950s and hand-carved from solid wood. Rooted in rural craftsmanship, the form features a saddle-shaped seat with a cut-out handle ...
Wood
Romweber Horse Head Brutalist Oak and Leather Bar Stools, Set of 3
Located in Lutz, FL
Set of 3 bar height Mid Century Modern tall wood and leather barstools by Romweber c.1950’s. Done in a Dutch or German Brutalist style in Oak with long splayed legs, oversized nailhe...
Metal
Brutalist Monoxyle Chair, France, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
This handcrafted brutalist chair, dating back to circa 1970, showcases the raw beauty of solid wood with its bold design. A true statement piece, it reflects the unique artisanal cra...
Wood
$9,900 / set
A Pair of Brutalist Oak Armchairs, Spain 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
The 1960s witnessed the rise of Brutalism, a style characterised by its unpretentious aesthetic and robust construction. While it is often associated with large concrete structures, ...
Bouclé, Oak
Brutalist Rustic tripod Wooden Stool - Natural Shape - 1950/60s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Brutalist - Natural decoration - Stool Brutalist style stool in solid wood, similar to those made of elm in the 1960s or to French trade models. Measures : 43x22 H:43cm
Wood
Set of Six 1970s French Brutalist Oak Dining Chairs In Original Patina
Located in High Point, NC
This set of six 1970s French Brutalist oak dining chairs presents a strikingly architectural silhouette defined by clean lines, strong proportions, and distinctive pointed finials at...
Oak
Vintage Bar Stool in Solid Walnut Wood and Hand-Forged Hammered Iron, 70s
Located in Roma, IT
a bar stool made in Europe around the 70s, made of solid walnut wood in the rustic style of the Milking Stool but 74.5cm high to be able to comfortably rest your elbows on the counte...
Iron
$8,167 / item
Sculpted Bench or Coffee Table N12 in Solid Oakwood
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Bench or side table in solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authentic sty...
Oak
$9,882 / item
Muted by NONO No54 Bench Solid Wood Minimalist
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Muted by NONO No54 Bench Solid Wood Minimalist — Dive into the world of understated elegance and architectural prowess with the Muted Lounge Chairs Collection by NONO. This series,...
Hardwood
$8,167 / item
Sculpted Bench or Side Table N10 in Solid Oakwood
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Bench or side table of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authentic sty...
Oak
"Monobloco" Contemporary Sculptural Chair in Cast Brass by Estudio Orth
By Estúdio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This contemporary chair was meticulously handmade by master artisans one piece at a time. It is therefore quite difficult, if not impossible to make...
Brass
Six High-Back Dining Chairs in the Style of Giuseppe Rivadossi, Italy
Located in Hellouw, NL
Introducing a sculptural set of six high-back dining chairs, reminiscent of the raw elegance often found in Italian Brutalism. Executed in the style of Giuseppe Rivadossi, these chai...
Wood
$5,250 / item
Sculpted Chair N3 in Solid Oak Wood
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Chair made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Dimensions: H. 82 x 48 x 48 cm (SH 45 cm) Warm furniture’s made by Russian designer Denis Milovanov from "Soha" studio. Sim...
Oak
$1,540 / set
Set Brutalist Swedish Solid Pine Stools
Located in SITTARD, NL
Set of Two original vintage stools from Sweden, dating back to the 1960s. Crafted from solid pine wood Traditional mortise-and-tenon joints (no screws or nails) Robust and heavy, ...
Pine
Large Pine Wood Rocking Chair, Germany 1970s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This rocking chair, born from the era's penchant for Brutalist design, manages to strike an intriguing balance between the rugged and the refined. The 1970s marked a distinctive peri...
Fabric, Pine
$5,250 / item
Sculpted Chair N1 in Solid Oak Wood
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Chair made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Dimensions : H. 82 x 48 x 48 cm (SH. 45 cm) SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objec...
Oak
4 Dutch Brutalist Oak Ladderback Dining Wabi Sabi Room Chairs
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
4 Robust and heavy dark oak chairs. Fit perfectly with the style of designers such as Axel Einar Hjorth, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Touret and Charles Dudouyt. The chair sits comfort...
Oak
Pair of Brutalist pine wood armchairs with synthetic fur cushions
By Jean Gillon
Located in Lastra a Signa, FI
Rare Brutalist style solid pine wood and rope armchairs Attributed to Jean Gillon 1970s With faux fur pillow
Faux Fur, String, Wood, Pine
$1,323 / set
Set of 5 brutalist dining chairs, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century brutalist dining chairs with their original grey/beige fabric upholstery. Very sturdy chairs with a nice design. Good original condition. 1970s - Germany Dimensions: ...
Fabric, Oak
Antique Primitive Carved Oak Arm Chair, Belgium
Located in Rīga, LV
Sculptural armchair with tall back and deeply carved Gothic-style motifs. The hand-chiseled detailing, slanted legs, and robust construction suggest vernacular craftsmanship rooted i...
Oak
$7,000 / item
Sculpted Brutalist End Table 'CT-13' 'Solid Oak'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
End table CT-13 by Denis Milovanov x Soha Concept (Side table, end table, stool, pedestal...) Material: Solid oak Dimensions: H 45 x 33 x 33 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and pro...
Oak
Vintage Redwood Slab Sofa After Darryl Stokes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This monumental redwood slab sofa is a tour de force of organic modernism, masterfully executed in the tradition of the California Studio Craft movement. Reminiscent of the sculptura...
Fur, Rope
Set of Two Armchairs by Giuseppe Rivadossi in Leather and Slavonian Oak
Located in Hellouw, NL
These exquisite armchairs, crafted by the renowned Italian designer Giuseppe Rivadossi in the late 1960s, exemplify mid-century elegance with a distinct artisanal touch. Made from hi...
Leather, Oak
Pair of Brutalist Spade Chairs, The Netherlands ca 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Brutalist design - deriving from the French word brut, meaning “raw” – is characterised by a deliberate plainness and crudity. It emerged in the mid-20th century and gained popularit...
Wood