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.
Joel Escalona's Elefante Console Table 33, Layered Wood, Dynamic Shape
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Console Table 33, Layered Wood, Dynamic Shape ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a ...
Hardwood
Maurice Barilone for Roche Bobois Fleur de Fer Oxidized Steel and Glass Console
By Maurice Barilone, Roche Bobois
Located in San Diego, CA
Designed by renowned Franco-Italian designer Maurice Barilone for Roche Bobois, this sculptural Fleur de Fer console table exemplifies the designer's celebrated approach to transform...
Cut Steel
Solace No10 Console Table – Soft-Edged Wood Sculpture, Design by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No10 Console Table – Soft-Edged Wood Sculpture, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table se...
Hardwood
Extra Large Brutalist Two Tier Iron and Glass Console Table after Evans c1970's
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Brutalist school console table in the style of Paul Evans, made in the USA c. 1970's. The table is constructed of solid iron bars, which are hand sculpted to create a dim...
Wrought Iron
Elefante Console Table 55, Joel Escalona, Dynamic Wood Design
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 55, Joel Escalona, Dynamic Wood Design ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernis...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a...
Hardwood
$4,139Sale Price|30% Off
Sculptural Solid Walnut Fenestra Console
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This Fenestra Console is a showroom model, in excellent condition. This piece is made in solid American walnut and finished with oil. Please see our other listings for the Fenestra C...
Walnut
Contemporary Console Table 'LIAH' by Eichkorn, Brass and Oak, Customizable
By Eichkorn
Located in Paris, IDF
LIAH Console Table by German contemporary design studio Eichkorn. Material: Brass and Burnt Oak Wood Standard size: H.78 x 55 x 20 cm - Customizations are possible Liah Console - T...
Brass
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 61, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a...
Hardwood
Solid Walnut Fenestra Console
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and void. The Fenestra console is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city deve...
Oak, Walnut
Flying rock sculpture, monolith in composite material, stone effect, brutalist
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Flying rock sculpture, monolith in composite material, stone effect, brutalist. This flying rock sculpture resembles an ancient monolith with bold, powerful edges and a mix of smoot...
Composition
Console With Realistic Stone Texture, Brutalist Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Console With Realistic Stone Texture, Brutalist Style. This console resembles an ancient monolith with bold, powerful edges and a mix of smooth and rough surfaces. At first glance, ...
Composition
Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Patchwork Hanging Shelf Console Table & Mirror
By Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Paul Evans studio floating shelf and mirror set circa early 1970's. It features copper, bronze and pewter cladding in a patchwork design. Console shelf measures 60 x 13 x 6.5 inches ...
Slate, Bronze, Copper, Pewter
Mid Century Iron and Glass Console Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
Brutalist Style Black Iron and Glass Console or Sofa Table, circa 1970s, in the style reminiscent of Giacometti. Brutalist furniture, popularized from the 1950s through the 1970s, em...
Iron
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Elefante Console Table 51 by NONO, Solid Wood, Elegant Curves
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 51 by NONO, Solid Wood, Elegant Curves ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernis...
Hardwood
Sculpted Brutalist Console by Denis Milovanov, Solid Oakwood
Located in Paris, IDF
Massive console table of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Dimensions: H. 75 cm x W. 142 cm x D. 51 cm Warm furniture’s made by the designer Denis Milovanov from "Soha" studio. Simplicity ...
Oak
$6,880
Brutalist Leaf Console
Located in New York, NY
A rare vintage walnut console in the Brutalist style, designed and crafted in Italy circa 1960s. This striking piece is composed of three separate sections that fit together to form ...
Walnut
Solace No32 Console Table – Organic Sculpture in Wood, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No32 Console Table – Organic Sculpture in Wood, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by...
Hardwood
Floating Console In Composite Material, Stone Effect, Brutalist Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Floating Console In Composite Material, Stone Effect, Brutalist Style. Floating console in composite material with stone effect. this floating console reproduces the appearance of a...
Composition
Brutalist Iron and Glass Console Table c. 1970/80's
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti
Located in New York, NY
Chic architectural Brutalist iron and glass console, foyer table, design reminiscent of Giacometti, circa 1970/80's. The table features a Neo Classical Roman style metal base, in f...
Metal
Elefante Console Table 39 by NONO, Stacked Design, Joel Escalona's Touch
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 39 by NONO, Stacked Design, Joel Escalona's Touch ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with ...
Hardwood
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
Sculptural Monolithic Console Table with Marble Top in Custom RAL Lacquer
By JLC
Located in New York, NY
This sculptural console table is conceived as a monolithic architectural form, defined by two solid legs that support a refined stone surface. The base is finished in a deep satin bl...
Marble
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
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No26 Entryway Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No26 Entryway Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. U...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's Elefante Table 44, Sturdy Solid Wood, Modern Edge
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Table 44, Sturdy Solid Wood, Modern Edge ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Mode...
Hardwood
$19,950 / item
James de Wulf Custom 9' Shuffleboard Table
Located in Paia, HI
The James de Wulf Shuffleboard table is a lively addition to any game room. The smaller 9' table is constructed of concrete reinforced with ...
Concrete, Cement
$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
Paul Evans Style Patchwork Brutalist Brass and Copper Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Paul Evans style patchwork Brutalist brass and copper console. A patchwork of copper and brass pieces on a wooden frame finished with a thick lacquer coat.
Brass, Copper
James Bearden Brutalist Console Table, Welded Steel, Glass Top, USA
Located in New York, NY
Custom console table made from welded steel square and rectangular elements sealed with a polychrome finish and finished with a clear glass inset top. Letter of authenticity from the...
Steel
$10,732Sale Price|38% Off
Videre Licet Shell Console by Daniele Albright and Stefan Lawrence, 2017
By Daniele Albright & Stefan Lawrence
Located in amstelveen, NL
Handmade custom console, made from beautiful shell pieces in resin with a chrome top, circa 2017. This item is extremely rare because Videre Licet only makes individual pieces and ea...
Shell, Mirror
$15,588 / item
NONO Elefante Table 52, Distinctive Solid Wood Base
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Table 52, Distinctive Solid Wood Base ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist Touch N...
Hardwood
NONO Sideboard Elefante 26, Design by Joel Escalona, Sculpted Silhouette
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Sideboard Elefante 26, Design by Joel Escalona, Sculpted Silhouette ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Elefante Console Table 57, Solid Wood, Contemporary Flair
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Console Table 57, Solid Wood, Contemporary Flair ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Moderni...
Hardwood
Vintage Giacometti Style Iron Grapevine Console Table
Located in Raymondville, TX
A stunning vintage hammered iron and glass top console table in the manner of Diego Giacometti. It features a grapevine motif with deep purple grape clusters, wrought and forged deta...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$24,000 / item
James de Wulf Custom Shuffleboard Table
Located in Paia, HI
The James de Wulf Shuffleboard table is a lively addition to any game room. The 160" table is constructed of concrete reinforced with carbon fiber. ...
Concrete, Cement
Paul Evans Studio Floating Console Shelf and Mirror Set, USA, Circa 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Paul Evans studio floating console shelf and mirror set, USA, Circa 1970s Brutalist patchwork design in copper and pewter. A striking example of Paul Evans’ iconic Brutalist aestheti...
Slate, Brass, Copper, Pewter
Solace No29 Wall Table – Subtle Curved Base in Wood, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No29 Wall Table – Subtle Curved Base in Wood, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by ...
Hardwood
$15,999Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Elefante Console Table 29, Joel Escalona's Vision, Round Base
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Console Table 29, Joel Escalona's Vision, Round Base ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Moder...
Hardwood
NONO Sideboard 34, Elefante Range, Joel Escalona's Bold Curves
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Sideboard 34, Elefante Range, Joel Escalona's Bold Curves ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernis...
Hardwood
$15,920Sale Price / item|20% Off
Elefante Console Table 35, Design by Joel Escalona, Sculptural Base
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 35, Design by Joel Escalona, Sculptural Base ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Mod...
Hardwood
Modernist Console in Solid Warm Brown Oak, Brutalist Design, Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Fenestra Console in the photos is made in solid American Walnut. This listing and its price reflect the Fenestra Console in European oak stained in warm brown. A rhythmic inter...
Oak, Walnut
NONO Elefante Console Table 23, Flowing Lines, Solid Craft
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Console Table 23, Flowing Lines, Solid Craft ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist Tou...
Hardwood
$14,113Sale Price|20% Off
Unique sculptural platinum and white gold leaf coated metal and crystal console
Located in Highclere, Newbury
WAR TORN - a unique handmade sculptural platinum and white gold leaf coated metal and crystal glass console table. Created by Nick and Sue Allen of 'The Allen Studio' renown this un...
Metal
Brutalist European Warm Brown Oak Console - Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra collection is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city...
Walnut
Handcrafted Console - Solid Walnut - Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra collection is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city...
Walnut
Unique Giandomenico Belotti Architectural Table in Chrome and Stone, Italy 1960
Located in Milan, IT
Unique, Sculptural, Piece of Art, Giandomenico Belotti Monumental table made for his wife in the 1960s The pure essence of Italian architectural modernism. Structure, lightness, ...
Stone, Steel, Chrome
Arcade Sculptural Console Table in Walnut Burl with Black Marble Top
By JLC
Located in New York, NY
The Arcade Console Table is defined by a rhythmic triple-arch structure, combining architectural mass with sculptural negative space. Its arched openings create a strong sense of dep...
Marble
Solace No39 Console Table – Carved Details, Design by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No39 Console Table – Carved Details, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, desig...
Hardwood
"Grip" Console-Table / Display / Sculptural Object in Solid Bamboo
Located in Maastricht, NL
"Grip" console-table / display / sculptural object in solid bamboo Four square shapes flow to the center to swirl, weave, and grip eachother. Firmly holding on to form “Grip” A sculptural, powerful , iconic object made out of solid bamboo using...
Bamboo
Solace No36 Wall Table – Abstract Solid Wood, Design by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No36 Wall Table – Abstract Solid Wood, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, des...
Hardwood
Contemporary 'OKA' Console Table by Eichkorn, Burnt Cherry Wood, Customizable
By Eichkorn
Located in Paris, IDF
OKA Console Table by German contemporary design studio Eichkorn. Material: Burnt Cherry Wood Standard size: H.75 x 170 x 45 cm - Customizations are possible Also available as dinin...
Cherry
Brutalist Console in Solid Walnut Wood - 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
$19,900 / item
NONO Elefante Console Table 37, Dramatic Wood
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Console Table 37, Dramatic Wood ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist Touch NONO, re...
Hardwood
Modernist Console in Solid Walnut, Brutalist Design, Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra collection is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city...
Oak, Walnut
Solace No25 Art-Inspired Console Table – Organic Wood Form, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No25 Art-Inspired Console Table – Organic Wood Form, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, desig...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
NONO Elefante Table 48, Luxurious Solid Wood Finish
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Table 48, Luxurious Solid Wood Finish ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist Touch N...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's Elefante Console Table 53, Artistic Wood Finish
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Console Table 53, Artistic Wood Finish ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modern...
Hardwood
Hand Crafted Art Deco Brutalist Dining, Console Table or Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand-crafted French Deco wrought iron table with very interesting rolled and hammered disks to the lower portion of each leg. A very versatile piece which could be a small dining tab...
Wrought Iron, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Architectural Console in solid walnut
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Fenestra Console in this listing is made out of solid American walnut and finished with oil. Alternatively, we can craft this piece out of European oak and finish it with a colo...
Walnut, Oak