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Brutalist Lowboys

BRUTALIST STYLE

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 

  • Use of industrial materials — tubular steel, concrete, glass, granite
  • Prioritizes functionalism, minimalism and utilization of negative space
  • Spare silhouettes, pronounced geometric shapes
  • Stripped-down, natural look; rugged textures, modular construction
  • Interiors featuring airy visual flow and reliance on neutral palettes

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.

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Style: Brutalist
Paul Evans Studio Sculpted Bronze Cocktail Table Mid Century Brutalist Modern
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Signed Paul Evans Studio coffee table from New Hope PA circa 1969. Sculpted bronze on steel with clear glass top. Very good overall condition. Glass size can be customized to fit you...
Category

1960s American Vintage Brutalist Lowboys

Materials

Bronze

James de Wulf Block Coffee Table, Square - Standard Finish
Located in Paia, HI
Cast concrete block coffee table. A solid statement piece to center a living space. Pairs well with the James de Wulf Block Chair for a stylized common...
Category

2010s American Brutalist Lowboys

Materials

Concrete

Brutalist Round Coffee Table in Red Oak Wood Veneer, Podio by NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Podio XL circular coffee table The NONO design team presents a coffee table that exudes elegance and modernity. The foundation of this piece is a cluster of cylindrical columns, pro...
Category

2010s Mexican Brutalist Lowboys

Materials

Plywood

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Brutalist lowboys for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Brutalist lowboys for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lowboys created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, aluminum and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Brutalist lowboys made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lowboys, popular names associated with this style include Daniel Gluck, Paul Evans, James de Wulf, and Joel Escalona. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for lowboys differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,054 and tops out at $20,340 while the average work can sell for $5,254.

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