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.
In Stock - Bastogne Walnut Single Slab FIJN Dining Table
Located in Calgary, AB
A single slab of California exhibition-grade Bastogne walnut set atop oversized legs set in a brutalist stance. Handcrafted from one of our "unicorn"...
Steel
$27,750 / item
James de Wulf Special Edition Solid Base Pool Table
Located in Paia, HI
A special re-edition of the Classic James de Wulf pool table, this one features a pair of solid concrete legs with a raw edge detail. The cast-concrete tabletop...
Concrete
$47,760 / item
Sculpted Dining Table in Solid Oakwood 'Custom Size XXL'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Dining table of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Warm furniture’s made by Russian designer Denis Milovanov from "Soha" studio. Simplicity of shapes. Authentic material. Wooden items are created from oak and are boiled in oil from several days to several weeks, to achieve a natural wood coloration from a dark brown to a complete black color. Patterns are applied solely by chain saw. Unique piece made to order. ----- Artist, designer and the founder of DENIS MILOVANOV and SÓHA brands, Denis Milovanov is a regular partaker of prestigious international exhibitions and fairs such as PAD Paris, Maison...
Oak
$21,492Sale Price|20% Off
Table De Conférence De Rainer Daumiller Pour Hirtshals Savværk Møbler, 1980
Located in SAINT-SEVER, FR
Important pine conference table by Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Savværk møbler in the 1980s. The table consists of 2 rectangular tables and 2 half-moon consoles. The table comes fr...
Pine
$2,614 / set
H 33.08 in W 18.9 in D 17.72 in
Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Savvaerk Dining Set, Solid Pine, 1970s, Denmark
By Rainer Daumiller, Hirtshals Savvaerk
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Outstanding combination of Scandinavian craftsmanship & design. Dining set designed by Rainer Daumiller and manufactured by Hirtshals Savvaerk Møbler. The set is made of solid pine w...
Pine
$4,477 / set
H 29.93 in W 63 in D 45.28 in
Solid Pine Dining Set by Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Savvaerk, Denmark
By Rainer Daumiller, Hirtshals Savvaerk
Located in Beerse, VAN
This warm and characterful dining set, designed by German designer Rainer Daumiller, is a wonderful example of late 20th-century Scandinavian craftsmanship. Produced in the 1970s–19...
Pine
Custom English Flame Mahogany Double Pedestal Dining Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Double pedestal, flame mahogany dining table with satinwood crossbanding, beaded edge, mahogany apron. Cannon turned single column pedestals with reeded legs ending in brass "paw" to...
Mahogany, Satinwood, Ebony
Custom English Walnut Double Pedestal Dining Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Custom made, English walnut double pedestal dining table. This richly finished table features a handsomely figured English walnut top bordered i...
Walnut, Burl, Ebony
Custom Mahogany Double Pedestal Dining Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
A classic English dining table if ever there was one, this non-banded mahogany double pedestal table has the proportions and appearance that c...
Mahogany
$2,341Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 62.6 in D 40.95 in
Rainer Daumiller Style Solid Extendable Pinewood Dining Table, 1980's Dyrlund
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
Large, beautiful solid pine dining table with extension. The table is crafted from thick pine wood, organically shaped with soft curves and rounded edges. It has been lightly oiled a...
Pine
$7,500 / item
H 30 in W 84 in D 36 in
Bookmatched Walnut Dining Table with Black Steel Legs "Lafayette Dining Table"
By Anton Maka
Located in Shelby Twp, MI
The Lafayette dining table is made of a book-matched claro walnut top with a blackened steel base with walnut inserts. This piece has been finished in an extremely durable matte conv...
Steel
Boeing Bi-Plan Wing Conference Table
Located in Paris, FR
Conference table, made from original structure of Boeing Bi-Plan Wing from 1934. Original brand new piece made on order. With top in thick clear glass. Exceptional piece.
Wood
Rainer Daumiller Extendable Dining Table, 1970’s
Located in Hilversum, NL
Designed by Rainer Daumiller in Denmark during the 1970s, this Scandinavian modern square dining table is a timeless piece. The table is ext...
Pine
Burl Walnut Three Extension Boards Single Pedestal Round Dining Table
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Burl Walnut three extension boards single pedestal round dining table three (3) table leaves measure 21 inches across.
Mahogany
Walnut Black MiMi Dining Table by Miduny, Made in Italy
Merging clean lines with warm materials, the faceted geometry of the MiMi dining table creates a slender, elegant profile punctuated with painted sur...
Birch, Walnut, Plywood
Expanding Walnut Dining Table of Midcentury Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large walnut dining table with extension leaf (100" x 60", expanding to 128" x 60). with beautifully matched, solid walnut planks. Because each table is bench-made in our own Los A...
Walnut
Paul Evans Patchwork Console Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Astoria, NY
Paul Evans Patchwork Console Table, unsigned, copper and brass with two inset slate panels. 28.5" H x 60" W x 18.25" D. Provenance: From an East Village Estate.
Slate, Brass, Copper
Sold
H 28.75 in Dm 51.19 in
Rainer Daumiller, Extendable Round Dining Table in Pine, Danish Modern, 1970s
By Hirtshals Savvaerk, Rainer Daumiller
Located in Odense, DK
A large round dining table in solid pine with beautiful structure and wood grains. Designed by Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Sawmill in 1970s, Denmark. This table has been refinishe...
Pine
Sold
H 29.5 in W 66 in D 42 in
Paul Evans Patchwork Copper 106" Extendable Dining Table for Directional, c 1967
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning and very rare copper clad extendable dining table by Paul Evans for Directional, produced circa 1967. This incredible piece of design history is fabricated from patinated pieces of copper, brass, and pewter formed in a patchwork pattern. Perfect statement piece for a discerning collector, design connoisseur or luxury interior designer. Hefty and sturdy construction in this extendable Parsons table which can be transformed from 66" up to a large 106" with the two matching leaves, allowing seating for up to 10 to 12 people. Or consider using as a heavy duty desk / work table. The fusion of these mixed metals of copper, brass and pewter formulates an exemplary piece which would be a welcomed statement to any connoisseur's collection. We have the matching cafe / game table and floating wall console...
Brass, Copper, Pewter
Large French White Handmade Japandi Dining Table in Oak, 1990s
Located in Eindhoven, Noord Brabant
Unique large oak dining table / presentation table in oak. This table is handmade in France and then painted in a scratch-free boat paint. The designer has cut the 10 cm thick oak table top in such a way that the natural appearance of the wood is preserved. Ideal for large dining rooms, in retail spaces as a display table for clothing, for example, and as an eye-catcher in a meeting room...
Oak
Sold
H 30.71 in Dm 51.19 in
Rainer Daumiller, Extendable Round Dining Table in Pine, Danish Modern, 1970s
By Hirtshals Savvaerk, Rainer Daumiller
Located in Odense, DK
A large round dining table in solid pine with beautiful structure and wood grains. Designed by Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Sawmill in 1970s, Denmark. This table has been refinishe...
Pine
Sold
H 29.14 in Dm 55.12 in
Mid-Century Modern, Round Dining Table in Granite, Tulip Style, Made in 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
An attractive large round dining table in granite with a steel base. Made in the style of the iconic Tulip dining table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International. This item was probab...
Granite, Steel
Sculpted Massive Dining Table V9 in Solid Oakwood 'In Stock'
Located in Paris, IDF
Massive dining table made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Model shown : Measures: 310 cm x 122 cm x 79 cm Warm furniture’s made by Denis Milovanov, founder of 'Soha Concept' design studio. Simplicity of shapes. Authentic material. Denis Milovanov produces wooden sculptures employing chainsaw and chisel as sole instruments of his practice. Reclaimed oak is carefully chosen, hand-processed and boiled in linseed oil in accordance with traditional Russian woodwork...
Oak
Paul Evans Brass and Burl Cityscape Dining Table, USA, 1975
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Paul Evans brass and burl cityscape dining table, USA 1975 Large rectangular glass top (96" x 48" 3/4" thick) over An architectural base (64" W x 20" D x 28'1/4 H) in burl and bras...
Brass
Table T40, Canard Feet, Pierre Chapo
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Table T40 - Canard feet- Pierre Chapo Circular table with 2 central extensions Solid elm Circa 1978 Without extension: D 96 x H 74 With 2 extensions: W 196 x 9...
Wood
Adrian Pearsall Brutalist Dining Table
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Southampton, NJ
Beautiful dining table in the manner of Paul Evans. This particular Brutalist dining table is in incredible condition. I've highlighted the only issues I could find and I went over i...
Resin
Sold
H 29.5 in W 84 in D 48 in
Mid Century Paul Evans Brutalist Dining Table Stalagmite Bronze & Resin, 1970
By Paul Evans
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
A spectacular and very rare sculptural brutalist Paul Evans stalagmite base dining table, model PE102, signed PE70. The bronze and resin composite base is in extraordinary condition ...
Bronze
Table "Irregular" by Ruud van Oosterhout in Solid Oak
By Ruud van Oosterhout
Located in Dronten, NL
Free form dining table in solid oak.
Could also be used as boardroom table or -desk.
Bruut design, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.