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.
Concrete Side Table "G" Abecedario Collection Green Color by Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee table G is part of the Abecedario Collection; it marks the beginning of a language in cement that will create a concrete alphabet made up by tables and ...
Concrete
Elefante Side Table 1, Joel Escalona, Solid Walnut Wood Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 40, Wood Spheres, Elegant Lines ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood opt...
Hardwood
Concrete Side Table "B" Abecedario Collection Studio Irvine for Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee table B is part of the Abecedario Collection and marks the beginning of a language in cement that will create a concrete alphabet made up ...
Concrete
Natural White Marble Stone, Rose top, Black detail handmade Jean Tall Side Table
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean side tables are unique in their conception. The combination of three different marbles make them a sign of unconformity and originality. The combination in the picture is in Estremoz white marble, Estremoz pink marble and Nero Marquina marble. The marbles can be combined differently. Made to Order. 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 the world while embracing the crafts heritage, creating contemporary pieces combining traditional Portuguese materials and handmade techniques producing original, high quality products. Mambo Unlimited Ideas is dedicated to furniture and upholstery. Its collection offers a comprehensive customizable furniture...
Marble
Wooden Brutalist Table, Wabi-Sabi, Handmade, Oak, Black, Rock, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Unique table with original design by Logniture. Made entirely from wood. Protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handmade design wil...
Wood, Oak, Ash
1930s Italian Art Deco Brutalist Rational Bookmatched Burl Walnut Table, Pagano
By Gino Maggioni, Osvaldo Borsani, Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
A refined Italian Art Deco occasional table, side table or end table. Circa 1930s, it is veneered in richly figured book matched burl walnut. The piece reflects the transition betw...
Hardwood, Walnut, Burl
Varco Concrete Stool by Ernesto Messineo in White Shade for Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Two identical hollow pieces joined together through a slight contact. The "cut" is brought to the limit of the visible giving the perception of instability. The light that enters ins...
Concrete, Cement
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 6, Weighty Design, Elegant Rounds
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 6, Weighty Design, Elegant Rounds ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finish...
Hardwood
Paul Evans 'PE-31' Patchwork Copper and Slate Cube Table for Directional, c 1967
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning 'PE-31' patchwork copper table by Paul Evans for Directional, produced in circa 1967. The cube shaped form is fabricated from patinated pieces of copper, bronze, and pewter which have been welded and nailed in a patchwork style pattern resting on top of a patinated steel plinth base with casters. Works fantastic as a coffee or cocktail table, or as a large end or side table. The table sits on top of casters which makes it easy to move around and relocate. The top has been fitted with slate. The fusion of these exterior materials formulates an exemplary piece which would be a welcome addition to any connoisseur's collection or high-end interior designer project. We have the matching PE-32 bar cabinet and PE-17 floating wall console with PE-18 mirror (all with Patchwork Copper) if you would like to create a matching set. We also carry other Paul Evans designs, including Cityscape, Deep-Relief, Artisan, and Sculptured Metal Collections. Contact us for more information or see our other listings for more details. This Paul Evans patchwork copper cube table...
Slate, Bronze, Copper, Pewter
Jean Low Side Table with White Marble Base and Estremoz Pink Marble Top
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean side tables are unique in their conception. The combination of three different marbles make them a sign of unconformity and originality. Made to order. 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 the world while embracing the crafts heritage, creating contemporary pieces combining traditional Portuguese materials and handmade techniques producing original, high quality products. Mambo Unlimited Ideas is dedicated to furniture and upholstery. Its collection offers a comprehensive customizable furniture...
Marble
Lead Low Table, Roger Capron, Vallauris c. 1968
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Table top consisted of an embossed lead foil stretched over a wooden frame fixed on 4 tubular oak legs. An exceptional cooperation with Jean Derval for this atypical hand crafted wo...
Lead
$2,427 / set
Jean Side Tables Tall and Low
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean side tables are unique in their conception. The combination of three different marbles make them a sign of unconformity and originality. The combination in the picture is in Est...
Marble
NONO Elefante Side Table 19, Sculptural Walnut Wood Shapes
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 19, Sculptural Wood Shapes————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood options are also available, which may affect the fi...
Hardwood
Low Side Table Jean with White Marble base and Black Marble Nero Marquina Top
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean side tables are unique in their conception. The combination of three different marbles make them a sign of unconformity and originality. The combination in the picture is in Est...
Marble
$6,889 / 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
Concrete Side Table "F" Abecedario Collection Ardesia Color by Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee table F is part of the Abecedario Collection; it marks the beginning of a language in cement that will create a concrete alphabet made up ...
Concrete
1930s Italian Art Deco Brutalist Rational Bookmatched Burl Walnut Table, Pagano
By Osvaldo Borsani, Gino Maggioni, Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
A refined Italian Art Deco occasional table, side table or end table. Circa 1930s, it is veneered in richly figured book matched burl walnut. The piece reflects the transition betw...
Hardwood, Walnut, Burl
Brutalist End Table in the manner of Louise Liljencrantz
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous Brutalist Modern Strict Line End Table. Perfect as a single table on it s own.
Oak
NONO Elefante Side Table 15, Solid Walnut Wood, Bold Organic Forms
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 15, Solid Wood, Bold Organic Forms ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut. Other wood options are also available, which may affect th...
Hardwood
$425Sale Price / set|38% Off
Brutalist Walnut End Tables with Smoked Glass, Paul Evans Style
By Paul Evans
Located in Trenton, NJ
Pair of vintage Brutalist Modern end tables, attributed in style to Paul Evans and reminiscent of Lane Furniture’s Staccato series. Featuring sculptural cubist carved wood panels, ea...
Smoked Glass, Wood
$6,889 / item
Sculpted Brutalist End Table 'CT-8' 'Solid Oak'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
End table CT-8 by Denis Milovanov x Soha Concept (Side table, end table, stool, pedestal...) Material: Solid oak Dimensions: H 40 x 45 x 45 cm SÓHA desi...
Oak
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 8, Hefty Organic Look
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 8, Hefty Organic Look ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finishes. Other w...
Hardwood
$7,200Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Elefante Side Table 15, Solid Walnut Wood, Bold Organic Forms
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 15, Solid Wood, Bold Organic Forms ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut. Other wood options are also available, which may affect th...
Hardwood
Brutalist Two Door Cabinet End Side Table by Heritage
Located in New York, NY
Well crafted two door cabinet, having a sculpted wood front with decorative metal pulls. The cabinet is in very good original condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and ...
Metal
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 12, Rounded Silhouette, Walnut Wood
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 12, Rounded Silhouette, Decorative Craft ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood...
Hardwood
21st Century Varco Concrete Stool Designed by Ernesto Messineo for Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Two identical hollow pieces joined together through a slight contact. The "cut" is brought to the limit of the visible giving the perception of instability. The light that enters ins...
Concrete, Cement
Pair of Pine Nightstands by Regain, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Pine nightstands with one drawer and a lower shelf.
Pine
Concrete Side Table "E" Abecedario Collection Honey Color by Forma & Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee table E is part of the Abecedario Collection; it marks the beginning of a language in cement that will create a concrete alphabet made up ...
Concrete
$9,000 / item
NONO Elefante Side Table 19, Sculptural Wood Shapes
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 19, Sculptural Wood Shapes————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finishes. Other wood opt...
Hardwood
NONO Elefante Side Table 7, Solid Walnut Wood, Sculptural Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 7, Solid Wood, Sculptural Elegance ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood options are also available, which may aff...
Hardwood
$1,608Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Brutalist Studio Welded Steel Side Tables by Masciarelli for Regent
By Masciarelli
Located in Oceanside, US
These striking Brutalist side tables by Masciarelli for Regent crafted during the 1960s, the tables feature torched and textured cylindrical metal bases, creating a visually compelli...
Steel
NONO Elefante Side Table 7, Solid Wood, Sculptural Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 7, Solid Wood, Sculptural Elegance ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finishes. Othe...
Hardwood
Brutalist Wrought Iron & Slate End Table, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist slate top table banded in riveted wrought iron on solid wrought iron “bat” legs. Pair available. Sold individually.
Slate, Wrought Iron
Elefante Side Table 18 by Joel Escalona, Solid Wood, Decorative Spheres
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Elefante Side Table 18 by Joel Escalona, Solid Wood, Decorative Spheres ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted fin...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 2, Rounded Organic Form
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 2, Rounded Organic Form ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finishes. Other ...
Hardwood
$6,889 / item
Sculpted Brutalist End Table 'CT-9' 'Solid Oak'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
End table CT-9 by Denis Milovanov x Soha Concept (Side table, end table, stool, pedestal...) Material: Solid oak Dimensions: H 34 x 40 x 40 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and prod...
Oak
$6,000 / set
Cloutier Freres End Table, France 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Striking Nesting tables in red enameled lava stone, blackened steel bases with canted legs.
Lava, Cut Steel
Cast Glass Blocks Side / End Table
By Imperial Imagineering
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Cast glass blocks side / end table by Imperial Imagineering. Glass top shown is 33" by 33" and not included.
Glass
Brutalist Metal Floor Lamp with Table by Harry Balmer for Laurel
By Laurel Lamp Company, Harry Balmer
Located in Buffalo, NY
Brutalist metal lamp table by Harry Balmer for Laurel, welded and patinated steel base, art, sculpture, attached glass tabletop, retains original...
Metal
$6,889 / item
Sculpted Brutalist End Table 'CT-5' 'Solid Oak'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
End table CT-5 by Denis Milovanov x Soha Concept (Side table, end table, stool, pedestal...) Material: Solid oak Dimensions: H 50 x 39 x 39 cm SÓHA desi...
Oak
In the Manner of Charles Dudouyt, Tripod Plant Stand, Turned Oak, France, 1950s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
In the Manner of Charles Dudouyt, Tripod Plant Stand, Turned Oak, France, 1950s. This pedestal plant stand is built from solid turned oak, with three bobbin-turned columns rising fr...
Oak
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
Jean Low Side Table with White Marble Base and Negro Marble Top
Located in Lisbon, PT
Jean side tables are unique in their conception. The combination of three different marbles make them a sign of unconformity and originality. Made to order. Open since 1997 and bas...
Marble
Midcentury Brutalist Yew Wood Sculptural Side Table England, circa 1970
Located in London, GB
Midcentury Brutalist Yew Wood Sculptural Side Table England, circa 1970 In excellent condition commensurate of age.
Yew
Elefante Side Table 1, Joel Escalona, Solid Wood Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 40, Wood Spheres, Elegant Lines ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finish...
Hardwood
Table d'appoint en chêne massif attribué à Gaston Poisson 1960's
Located in TOURCOING, FR
Table d'appoint en chêne massif attribué à Gaston Poisson 1960's Gaston Poisson (1906–1971), ébéniste et designer français actif entre les années 1930 et 1950. Inspiré par l’Art déc...
Oak
Lane Pueblo Series Brutalist Nightstands / End Tables . Classic Modern
Located in Buffalo, NY
Lane Pueblo Series Brutalist Nightstands / End Tables . Classic ModernIST. fun and excitement of the 1960's with these fantastic vintage nightstands / end tables from Lane Furnitur...
Wood, Walnut
French Sculptural Rootwood Table / Bench, Mid-20th Century
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Exceptional French sculptural table handcrafted from natural rootwood, dating from the mid-20th century. This striking piece features an organic base composed of intertwined roots an...
Fruitwood
Brutalist Wrought Iron End Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
A very well crafted blacksmith-made Brutalist end table with a hand hammered square frame supported on four forged legs with attractive twist shaft decoration in varying levels of ti...
Iron
$7,200Sale Price / item|20% Off
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 14, Hefty and Artistic, Solid Walnut Wood
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 14, Hefty and Artistic ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood options are also available, which may affect ...
Hardwood
$7,200Sale Price / item|20% Off
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 14, Hefty and Artistic
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 14, Hefty and Artistic ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finishes. Other wo...
Hardwood
Set of 2 Brutalist Italian Diamond Faced Tables With Leather Tops, Italy, 1970s
Located in Deland, FL
This striking set of two Brutalist sculptural end tables, crafted in Italy during the 1970s, captures the bold artistry of the era with a modern twist. Each table features two doors ...
Wood
Concrete Side Table "D" Abecedario Collection Aubergine Color by Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee table D is part of the Abecedario Collection; it marks the beginning of a language in cement that will create a concrete alphabet made up ...
Concrete
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 10, Sculptural Wood Rounds
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 10, Sculptural Wood Rounds ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available in natural or black tinted finishes. Oth...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 17, Hefty Rounded Form, Solid Walnut Wood
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona Elefante Side Table 17, Hefty Rounded Form————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood options are also available, which may affect t...
Hardwood
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 12, Rounded Silhouette, Decorative Craft
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 12, Rounded Silhouette, Decorative Craft ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid red oak wood, available...
Hardwood
Artful Design Solace 3: Solid Walnut Auxiliary Table with Unique Wood Grain
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Sculptural side table made of solid walnut wood, nightstand, auxiliary table solace S3 by Joel Escalona The Solace side table series, designed by Joel Escalona, is a furniture colle...
Hardwood, Walnut
$7,200Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Elefante Side Table 16, Organic Curves, Solid Walnut Wood Elegance
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Elefante Side Table 16, Organic Curves, Solid Wood Elegance ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut. Other wood options are also available, which may affe...
Hardwood
Abecedario Collection Concrete Side Table "M" by Studio Strato for Forma&Cemento
Located in Rome, Lazio
Coffee Table M is the latest addition to the Abecedario Collection presented in occasion of the Edit Napoli 2023. A new grapheme that marks the evolution of this line and allows us t...
Concrete
Rare & Timless Design Crafted Solid Wood End or Side Tables Attr Charles Dudouyt
Located in Lisse, NL
Multipurpose, different in size and shape modernist tables attr. Charles Dudouyt. This highly decorative and sculptural pair of solid wood side tables is a rare find. Both tables ar...
Wood