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.
Brutalist Spanish mirror with dark wood frame, 1960s
Located in Herentals, BE
The mirror has a harness-shaped dark wooden hand-carved frame and finished with natural cord that is attached with decorative black cast iron nails. The mirror is also equipped with ...
Metal, Iron
$120Sale Price|48% Off
Ruscha Keramik Brutalist Advents Candle Holder - West Germany, 1960's
By Ruscha
Located in Bern, CH
West German ceramic Brutalist Advents candle holder produced by Ruscha Keramik (W.Germany) in the late 1960's to mid-1970s. With four candle holde...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Brutalist Danish Pottery and Iron Wall Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Danish Pottery and Iron Wall Candleholder, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gray Styles: ...
Metal
Jean Tall Side Table with Black Marble Base and Pink Marble Top
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean tall side table with Nero Marquina top (black marble), Nero Marquina middle part (blackmarble) and Nero Marquina (bottom). Made to Order. Open since 1997 and based in Lisbon, ...
Marble
Rustic Vintage Brutalist Mid-Century Coffee Table from Oak
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
A robust Brutalist coffee table, crafted from thick solid oak and constructed using traditional mortise-and-tenon joints. The tabletop shows slight weathering, consistent with the pi...
Oak
Wooden Zodiac Gemini Wall Plaque Relief Brutalist Midcentury, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful wooden wall plaque relief sign, made in the Brutalist style in Germany in the 1970s. This is a wonderful Zodiac sign. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as a decorati...
Plywood
Brutalist Ceramic Vase by Bernard Rooke, England, 1970s, Signed
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brutalist ceramic vase by Bernard Rooke, England, 1970s. In 1960 he set up his own workshop in Forest Hill, London. Progressive designs were readily accepted in London at that time, ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Contemporary Sculpted Cabinet / Wardrobe in Solid Light Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Sculpted High Cabinet / Wardrobe in Solid Light Oak (+ linseed oil) Dimensions: 180 x 80 x 40 cm Unique piece made to order. -------- SÓHA design studio conceives an...
Oak
Extra Large Hammered Glass Wrought Iron Sconce by Longobard, Italy, 1970s
By Longobard
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Extra Large wall lamp light sconce multicolor hammered glass and wrought iron, partial gilding gold patina, by the manufacture Longobard in Verona i...
Wrought Iron
Willy Guhl Style Concrete Tulip Chair, for Cristina
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique 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 one chair ...
Concrete
Modular Side Table by Willy Guhl for Eternit AG, Switzerland, 1954
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Antwerp, BE
Willy Guhl’s modular cubic side table for Eternit AG, handmade in Switzerland in 1954. This rare piece exemplifies Guhl’s groundbreaking design approach, crafted with precision from ...
Concrete, Cement
$2,444Sale Price|20% Off
French Sunburst Mirror in Gilt Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Starburst sunburst mirror, gold leaf, gilt iron. France, 1950s. Large size. This gilt metal sunburst miror has alternating rays in two sizes surrounding the central sphere. This Brut...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Menorah G048 Abstract Candelabra Cast Brass Gold Coloured Made in Spain
Located in Benahavis, AN
The decorative Menorah was created by David Marshall, it is made of sand cast brass. Handmade, mounted and finished in our foundry and workshop in Spain from recycled materials. Ce...
Brass
Light Blue Cereus Lamp (Medium) by Nani Goods Contemporary Ceramic Cactus Lamp
By Steven Lancaster, Nani Goods
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Inspired by the undulating forms of night‑blooming desert cacti, the Cereus Lamp balances minimalism with playful organic movement. Hand‑built from speckled stoneware using slab‑cons...
Brass
Set of Six Vintage Oak Brutalist Chairs from the 1970s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Set of 6 Oak Brutalist Chairs - 1970s Set of 6 chairs Measures : 40cmx36cm H:95cm HS:46cm Materail : Oak Set of 6 brustalist chairs, very nice for a warm and cozy feel with a design...
Wood
Set of 3 Vintage Postmodern Brutalist Candle Holders in Stone, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Brutalist Candle Holders in Stone, 1980s, Set of 3, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Stone Color: Beige Styles: ...
Stone
Italian Oak Wood Sideboard with Hand Carved Patterns in the Doors, Italy
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Manufactured in Italy, this oak wood sideboard features a hand-carved pattern on its doors, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. Comprising five doors and adorned with an oak skirting...
Oak
Important Paul Evans Studio Sculpted Bronze and Resin Sofa, Signed, 1971
By Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
This sofa is strikingly gorgeous! A rare, one of one-- one of a kind sofa designed and executed by Paul Evans. This sofa features an almost sleigh like craftsman base that is very George Nakashima - esque, and is completely clad in Evans sculpted resin and bronze. The sofa has been upholstered in a fine, butter-creamy colored mohair and is not only easy on the eyes, but is incredibly comfortable. This piece is triple signed, featuring Paul Evans initials and date on the bottom of the sofa's shell, another Evans signature and date on the base of the sofa, and a G singed above for (George Fry). One of the most recognizable and important names in the American studio craft movement of the 1960's and 70's, Paul Evans was a groundbreaking pioneer in brutalism. Collaborating as well as sharing a showroom with Phillip Lloyd Powell until 1964 when Evans met the owner of Directional Furniture and created a line of 6 coffee tables to go into the Directional High Point, NC booth for the spring Market. As the story has been recounted by Dorsey Reading, the tables never even made it to the showroom floor. Evans soon found out the tables never even had the opportunity to be sold; obviously disappointed, the `owner of Directional, BG agreed to put the tables out on the showroom floor in New York City to placate Paul Evans. What happened can probably best be compared today with "going viral." The coffee tables started flying off the floor, and the orders came rolling in. This fervor led to Evans creating many designs with Directional in years long partnership-- with the very first series being the "Sculptured Metal" Collection which was publicized in 1968. This piece specifically was not a Directional piece. This piece was created in Paul Evans Studio and ended up being sold directly through the studio. This Sculpted Bronze and Resin sofa is an incredibly rare example of Paul Evans Sculpted bronze technique, which involves hand sculpting using an epoxy resin and coating in an atomized cold cast bronze. Paul Evans used to be labeled kind of a "bad boy" of design-- with an an affinity for sculpted brutalism and pieces that epitomize maximalism, his pieces were collected by rock stars, artists and creatives. Evans, now widely recognized as a pioneer in the American craft movement has solidified his place in design history and is highly collectable. This sofa would look excellent in any mid century modern, brutalist or even contemporary or boho chic environment. While brutalist in nature, this piece can be styled up or down to blend into almost any environment. We currently have this sofa in our gallery paired with a Jean Royere coffee table...
Bronze
Vintage Mid-Century Brutalist Magazine Rack from the 1970s
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Brutalist lectern from the 1970s, crafted from metal, leather and oak. A bold and expressive piece that perfectly reflects the strong, architectural style of the period. A striking s...
Metal
Danish Modern Sculptural Ceramic Table Lamp by Jeppe Hagedorn-Olsen, 1960s
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish mid-century ceramic table lamp by Danish ceramist Jeppe Hagedorn-Olsen (1929-2011). Made ca 1960´s. The lamp base has a slightly body shaped form with shoulders and waist. ...
Ceramic, Fabric
1 of the 2 Holmegaard Lilac Ceramic Lamps, Custom Silk Lampshades by R. Houben
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamps. Custom made neutral silk lampshades by René Houben. The lilac glazed ceramics with wooden base fit perfectly with the neutral custom made lamps...
Ceramic
1 of the 6 Bitossi Lamps, Custom Silk Lamp Shades by R. Houben
By Bitossi
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 6 ceramic table lamps, most lamps are made by Bitossi, other ones are in the style of Bitossi. This set brings a rich visual appeal to any interior. With its beautiful shap...
Ceramic
Brutalist Square Coffee Table in Warm Wood Veneer, Podio by NONO
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Brutalist square coffee table in red oak wood Veneer, Podio by NONO The NONO design team presents a coffee table that exudes elegance and modernity. The foundation of this piece is ...
Plywood
Spanish Drinks Table / Side Table / Martini Table with Handle, Gilt Iron
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Brutalist Squared Drink Table in Wrought iron Gilt patinated brutalist Martini table with squared top and handle, Spain, 1950s Wrought iron table standing on four footed base...
Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron
Brutalist Dark Brown Trigon Chair
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Trigon Chair is composed of pentahedral volumes; five-faced triangular shapes. The triangle is one of the earliest known geometric forms, with its use dating back to over 5.000 y...
Oak, Walnut
Enzo Mari, Travertine desk organizer, Fratelli Mannelli Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli, Enzo Mari
Located in Firenze, IT
Travertine desk organizer Enzo Mari, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s. H 10 cm - 13 × 14.5 cm. Conditions: good condition consistent with age and use. Defects.
Travertine
$13,633Sale Price / set|20% Off
Round Post Modern Brutalist MCM Beech Dining Table + 6 Chairs, 9 Pcs Set
Located in Basel, BS
Absolutely incredible, and very stylish Brutalist dining table with an additional extendable leaf, and 6 chairs set made of solid beech wood. When the table is without the leaf it se...
Beech
$14,320Sale Price / item|20% Off
A Sculpture of Dark Elegance, Biomorphic Black Solid Wood, Still Stand No97
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
A Sculpture of Dark Elegance, Biomorphic Black Solid Wood, Still Stand No97 —— Joel Escalona's wooden standing sculptures are objects of raw beauty and serene grace. Each one is a ...
Hardwood
Rare signed Paul Evans Cityscape large etagere freestanding shelves USA 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Hastings, GB
A rare signed iconic Paul Evans 'Cityscape' large freestanding etagere, USA 1970s. Chrome & brass (or gold plated metal) clad patchwork design- e...
Brass, Chrome
Vintage Lane Altavista Book Matched Burl Wood Full Headboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking full-size headboard from Lane Furniture’s renowned Altavista collection is a celebration of organic texture and Mid-Century Modern sophistication. Featuring four distin...
Walnut, Burl
Brutalist Rectangular Bronze Door Handles, European, Circa 1970
Located in London, GB
Set of two rectangular horizontal Brutalist bronze door handles with abstract relief and irregular textures, European 1970's. Their relief with original patina is expressive and will...
Bronze
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
Solid Natural Walnut Console - Aperta by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by light breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures, Aperta features a precise slit, creating a sense of lightness to its solid form. The Aperta Console has...
Oak, Walnut
French Brutalist Iron Two-Light Pendant, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
An embodiment of brutalist design, this French iron pendant dates back to the 1960s. Crafted from solid iron with a weathered patina, it showcases rugged craftsmanship, perfect for a...
Iron
$1,200Sale Price|25% Off
Tom Greene for Feldman Lighting Torch Cut Brass Pendant
By Feldman Lighting Co., Tom Greene
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Designed by Thomas A. Greene for T. A. Greene Company and retailed by Feldman Lighting of Los Angeles. Pendant itself is 24 inches high by 10 inches diameter. With existing chain the drop is 30 inches. If requested we can change the color of the candle sleeves to metallic gold instead of the original matte black. Thomas A. Greene was a pioneering and artistic African American designer and businessman. He started his career making dental prosthetics and jewelry and then moved onto larger sculptural pieces. He produced lighting for Feldman and Monteverdi & Young. Tom Greene's lighting and metal sculpture designs are found in many countries, as well as in the U.S. Here is just a small cross-section of his clients: Gruen Lighting, MGM Studios, 20th Century Fox Studios, EuroDisneyland-France, Monte Carlo Hotel-Las Vegas, Hyatt Regency, Trump Towers Casino, Luxor Hotel and Casino, Bellagio Hotel, Disney Tokyo, The Grove, Westin Hotel in Maui and in Kauai, Beverly Hills City Hall, Conrad Hilton...
Brass
A BRUTALIST Iron Belt TABLE LAMP in the style of Jacques ADNET France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
An astonishing and elegant table lamp in metal belt, Modernist, Shabby-Chic, Popular Art, in folded wrought iron decorated with a belt buckle, the whole supporting a socket, to be at...
Wrought Iron
$22,918 / item
Customizable Sculpted Wardrobe in Solid Light Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Sculpted High Cabinet / Wardrobe in Solid Light Oak (+ linseed oil) Designer: Denis Milovanov for Soha Concept (COXA) Dimensions: 171 x 78,5 x 42,5 cm Unique piece mad...
Oak
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
$3,281Sale Price|20% Off
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
1 of the 5 Ceramic Green Brown Pendants, Denmark 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning set of five 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
Italian Oak Wood Sideboard with Travertine Marble Top and Hand Carved Patterns
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant and sculptural, this Italian oak wooden sideboard features a refined travertine marble top and four hand-carved doors with geometric patterns that highlight the craftsmanship...
Marble
Vintage German Brutalist Metal Candleholder from Harjes
Located in Hamburg, DE
This flat candleholder follows organic forms. Official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer records. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gold Styles:...
Metal
Glazed Stoneware Honey Jar With Bee by Danish Getter Hundstrup
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unsual hard-fired stoneware jar or urn featuring a playfull bee to its lid. Designed and made by the Danish Female Ceramist Getter Hundstrup in Denmark during the 1980s. It has this ...
Stoneware
$140Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Tin Wrapped Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Brutalist tin wrapped wooden box, circa 1970s. The piece was made in Mexico and is in very good vintage condition. #843
Metal
$15,999Sale Price / item|20% Off
Elefante Console Table 21, Design by Joel Escalona, Organic Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 21, Design by Joel Escalona, Organic Elegance————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Mode...
Hardwood
A Supersized Sculptural BRUTALIST Stone FLOOR LAMP by ALBERT TORMOS, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare and sculptural floor lamp or rather a luminous sculpture in cast stone by Albert Tormos, France 1970. This massive and heavy piece in cast stone is made of two parts: a cubic ...
Cast Stone
$143Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Folk Art Vase, Asymmetrical Ceramic Pottery, USA, 1970s
Located in San Carlos, CA
Cool Brutalist Folk Art vase with an asymmetrical design, nice and unusual patterns and a gorgeous blue and purple drip-glazed finish. This Mid-Century Modern vase is in very good...
Ceramic, Pottery
$16,848 / item
James de Wulf 3-Legged Concrete Fire Table
Located in Paia, HI
James de Wulf's 3-Legged Concrete Fire Table is the second design in a series of three different styles. The unique and unexpected 3-legged design is made to look asymmetrical from a...
Concrete
Rare Tarquini Mårtensson and Michael Tarp Jensen Armchair
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Tarquini Mårtensson, Michael Tarp Jensen, armchair, black lacquered plywood, metal, wool, Denmark, 1974 This dining chair was designed by Danish architects Tarquini Mårtensson and M...
Metal
Vintage Norwegian Brutalist Pewter Pendant Necklace by Astrid Holthe 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Sculptural vintage necklace by Astrid Holthe, from Norway circa 1965-75. This distinct piece is iconic of the designer, featuring brutalist and industrial - architectural elements. T...
Pewter
Brutalist Alpine Stools, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of two brutalist alpine solid wooden stools, sober design with a good stability. Can be used as a set of stools by a fireplace or as a set of side tables in a modern interior wit...
Wood
Elegant Lounge Chair High Comfort Muted by Joel Escalona No13
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elegant Bar Stool High Comfort Muted by Joel Escalona No13 — Dive into the world of understated elegance and architectural prowess with the Muted Lounge Chairs Collection by NONO. ...
Hardwood
1 of the 2 Holmegaard Indigo Ceramic Lamps, Custom Tall Blue Shades by R. Houben
By Holmegaard
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor lamps. Custom made silk lampshades by René Houben. The indigo glazed ceramics with a beautiful shape fit perfectly with the custom made lampshade, ill...
Ceramic
Vintage 20th Century Elm Wood Brutalist Coffee Table in Good Condition
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Wabi Sabi - Vintage - Decoration Measures : 73x62 H:40cm Its elm wood bears the marks and imperfections accumulated over centuries of use, making it unique.This is an ideal decorati...
Wood
Hand crafted brutalist metal art wall lamp, Germany 1970s
Located in ECHT, NL
Brutalist hand crafted sheet metal wall lamp, Germany 1970s Brutalist style wall lamp with geometric shapes. Hand crafted from a large sheet of steel. A standard small plug is fitte...
Sheet Metal
Brutalist Oak Bookcase Attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Oak bookcase attributed to Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf, crafted in Denmark during the 1960s. Executed in a distinctive Brutalist style, the piece features finely carved details ...
Oak
Minimalist Brutalist Lounge Chair, Burn Oak Wood Muted D Easy Chair by NONO
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Minimalist Brutalist Lounge Chair, Burn Oak Wood Muted Easy Chair by NONO Brutalist chairs boast a strong, yet passive presence with minimalist designs that highlight the rich text...
Hardwood
$940 / item
Decorative Cutting Board #2, Sculpted Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Decorative cutting board #2 Sculpted solid oak Approximative size: from 20cm to 30cm (form 8'' to 12'') Custom size available. SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture d...
Oak
Quist Variomaster Brutalist Modular Candle Holders Set Chrome German 1970s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This set of four Variomaster modular candle holders was produced in the 1970s by Quist, a German manufacturer known for its bold interpretation o...
Metal, Chrome
$611Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract surrealist wooden sculpture by Fredrik Weerkamp, Netherlands 1980s
Located in ECHT, NL
Surrealist abstract sculpture made from different kinds of wood. Created by Dutch visual artist Frederik Weerkamp. This sculpture was part of his personal collection. It depicts a p...
Wood