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.
Arc Console in Fiber Concrete Contemporary Art Deco Style
By Tommy Hyldahl, Kristian Sofus Hansen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Arc coffee console in hand-painted fiber concrete, contemporary style inspired by Art Deco. The console is crafted from solid fiber concrete with a raw texture and monolithic lines. ...
Concrete
Sculptural Solid Walnut Console Table - 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
Elefante Console Table 41, Joel Escalona, Solid Wood, Organic Curves
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 41, Joel Escalona, Solid Wood, Organic Curves ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a M...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 40, Wood Spheres, Elegant Lines
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 40, Wood Spheres, Elegant Lines ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's Elefante Table 24, NONO Solid Wood, Unique Form
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Table 24, NONO Solid Wood, Unique Form ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Cra...
Hardwood
NONO Elefante Sideboard 56, Sharp Lines, Solid Wood Modern Appeal
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Sideboard 56, Sharp Lines, Solid Wood Modern Appeal ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Mode...
Hardwood
$15,999Sale Price / item|20% Off
Design by Joel Escalona Elefante Console Table 27, Rich Wood Contours
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Design by Joel Escalona Elefante Console Table 27, Rich Wood Contours ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Mo...
Hardwood
Elefante Console Table 59 by NONO, Deep Solid Wood, Luxurious Touch
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Console Table 59 by NONO, Deep Solid Wood, Luxurious Touch ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Mo...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona Elefante Sideboard 42, Solid Wood, Soft Lines
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Sideboard 42, Solid Wood, Soft Lines ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist ...
Hardwood
Design by Joel Escalona Elefante Sideboard 30, Swirling Wood, Statement Piece
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Design by Joel Escalona Elefante Sideboard 30, Swirling Wood, Statement Piece ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance w...
Hardwood
NONO Elefante Table 28, Joel Escalona Design, Refined Curves
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Table 28, Joel Escalona Design, Refined Curves ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafti...
Hardwood
Solid American 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...
Walnut, Oak
Console Table, Sideboard Made of Black Tinted Oak Solid Wood, Narrow Console
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Console made of solid oak wood stained with a water-based dye and finished with matt polyurethane. —— NONO is a Mexican design brand with more than 10 years of experience dedicated ...
Wood, Oak
Console Table, Solid American Walnut, Brutalist, Sculptural, 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
Brutalist Solid American 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
$13,650Sale Price / set|62% Off
Brass Coral Console Table and Mirror by Alain Chervet
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Brass coral console table and matching mirror by Alain Chervet Console measures 36.5" high, 52" wide and 10" deep Glass top is half inch thick, 60" wide and 15" deep Mirror is 42"...
Brass
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Sideboard 54, Elefante, Bold Lines, Clear Solid Wood Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Sideboard 54, Elefante, Bold Lines, Solid Wood Elegance ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernist...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No37 Sculptural Table by NONO for Entryways
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No37 Sculptural Table by NONO for Entryways ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Un...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No33 Sofa Table by NONO for Contemporary Interiors
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No33 Sofa Table by NONO for Contemporary Interiors ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid w...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No30 Sculptural Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No30 Sculptural Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. ...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No29 Statement Table by NONO in Solid Wood
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No29 Statement Table by NONO in Solid Wood ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Und...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No28 Wall Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No28 Wall Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Under...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No24 Architectural Console, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No24 Architectural Console, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid w...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No23 Hallway Table by NONO for Contemporary Spaces
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No23 Hallway Table by NONO for Contemporary Spaces ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid w...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No21 Statement Table by NONO for Entryways
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No21 Statement Table by NONO for Entryways ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Und...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No20 Wall Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No20 Wall Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Under...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No19 Accent Table by NONO in Solid Wood
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No19 Accent Table by NONO in Solid Wood ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Under ...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No18 Sofa Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No18 Sofa Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Under...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No17 Architectural Console by NONO for Hallways
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No17 Architectural Console by NONO for Hallways ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No14 Statement Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No14 Statement Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. ...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No13 Wall Table by NONO for Modern Interiors
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No13 Wall Table by NONO for Modern Interiors ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. U...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No12 Accent Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No12 Accent Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Un...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No8 Sculptural Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No8 Sculptural 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
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No7 Statement Table by NONO in Solid Wood
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No7 Statement Table by NONO in Solid Wood ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Unde...
Hardwood
Socle No5 Accent Table by NONO for Contemporary Interiors
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No5 Accent Table by NONO for Contemporary Interiors ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid ...
Hardwood
$15,588 / item
Socle No4 Sofa Table, Design by Joel Escalona
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No4 Sofa Table, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Under ...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No3 Hallway Table by NONO in Solid Wood
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No3 Hallway Table by NONO in Solid Wood ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid wood. Under ...
Hardwood
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No1 Architectural Console by NONO in Solid Wood
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No1 Architectural Console by NONO in Solid Wood ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid woo...
Hardwood
M_017 Console by Anya Antropova for Monolith
By Monolith
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The M_017 Tuye Console embodies a delicate balance between monolithic solidity and lightness. With its earthy travertine outline, it seamlessly integrates into diverse design context...
Travertine
Italian Modern Industrial Design Criss Cross Fretwork Iron Console / Entry Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Very stylish contemporary brushed wrought iron lattice sofa /hall table, entirely custom made in Italy with Industrial Home Interior Design, the interlace...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$6,800 / set
Brutalist Carved Wood Lacquered Consoles, Pair
By Witco
Located in North Miami, FL
Lacquered in a black piano finish - the brutal carved wood design is almost tribal and artistic (reminiscent of Louise Nevelson). These are wall-mounted. Note: we have a matching ...
Wood
Console Jean in Estremoz white Marble with Terrazzo Africa Top
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean console is unique in its conception. The combination of three different marbles makes it a sign of unconformity and originality. The combination in the picture is in Terrazzo to...
Marble
Two French Midcentury 1930 Style Wrought Iron & Stone Consoles
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and sober French Post-Art Deco style consoles in bronzed wrought iron supporting a top of stone. Consoles have a narrow profile with 10.5" depth. Each console is priced an...
Travertine, Iron
Solace No46 Narrow Table – Stone-Like Legs in Wood, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No46 Narrow Table – Stone-Like Legs in Wood, by NONO————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by Joe...
Hardwood
Solace No34 Accent Table – Pebble-Inspired Legs, Design by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No34 Accent Table – Pebble-Inspired Legs, Design by Joel Escalona ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, ...
Hardwood
Solace No30 Display Table – Abstract Carved Form, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No30 Display Table – Abstract Carved Form, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by Joel...
Hardwood
Solace No27 Accent Table – Sculptural Base, Wood Finish by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No27 Accent Table – Sculptural Base, Wood Finish by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed ...
Hardwood
Solace No19 Wall Table – Sensuous Solid Wood Legs, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No19 Wall Table – Sensuous Solid Wood Legs, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by Joe...
Hardwood
$15,294Sale Price / item|20% Off
Solace No9 Accent Table – Rhythmic Solid Wood Form, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No9 Accent Table – Rhythmic Solid Wood Form, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by ...
Hardwood
$15,294Sale Price / item|20% Off
Solace No8 Sculptural Wood Table for Halls and Walls, by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solace No8 Sculptural Wood Table for Halls and Walls, by NONO ————————————————————— Solace Console Table Series Design by Joel Escalona The Solace console table series, designed by...
Hardwood
Studio-Made Iron Console Table
Located in Nashville, TN
Late 20th century studio-made iron console table. A sturdy piece that would incorporate into a variety of styles. The top surface does dip down slightly in the center. Dimensions: ...
Iron
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Joel Escalona Elefante Sideboard 58, Solid Wood, Stylish Form
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Sideboard 58, Solid Wood, Stylish Form ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a Modernis...
Hardwood
P. Watson Brutal Torch Cut Iron & Concrete Garden Console Table
Located in North Miami, FL
Expertly torch cut from a round solid piece of steel in to 4 legs which comprise this console. Inset of gray slate tone concrete slab. Very brutal and unique with natural oxidizati...
Concrete, Iron
Fenestra Console, Solid Walnut Wood, Made in The Netherlands 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
Vincent WEGNEZ Sculptural bronze and glass console table - Signed / Belgium 20th
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vincent WEGNEZ Sculptural bronze and glass console table - Belgium 20th Sculpture - Decoration - Table Vincent Wegnez Studio Professor, Designer Former student of Saint-Luc, Class of...
Bronze
$3,246 / item
Console Jean in Estremoz Rose Marble
Located in Lisbon, PT
Open since 1997 and based in Lisbon, Portugal, a country with a long crafts tradition, Mambo Unlimited Ideas' design team researches for innovation and creativity developments around...
Marble
Console Jean in Estremoz white Marble with Nero Marquina Top
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean console is unique in its conception. The combination of three different marbles makes it a sign of unconformity and originality. The combination in the picture is in Terrazzo to...
Marble
$2,920Sale Price|20% Off
Fabulous Brutalist Modern Iron Strap Inlayed Console Table with Matching Stools
By Arte de Mexico
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Fabulous Brutalist Modern inlayed iron strap console table with matching bench/tables. We just the love the intentionally distressed ebonized finish and the inlayed iron straps-very...
Iron
$1,207Sale Price|40% Off
Brutalist french console
Located in PAU, FR
Brutalist french console Made by a shepherd of the Pyrenees mountains on the years 50’s. Really Good patina and really stable.
Wood
Stucco Marble console by Amandine Antunez
Located in PAU, FR
Console in stucco Marble by Amandine Antunez. The Stucco-marble is an old skill of 300 years old. Made With plaster, natural glue and natural pigment.
Stucco