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.
De Sede DS 76 Buffalo Leather & Glass Square Coffee Table, 1970s, Switzerland
By De Sede, Karl Springer
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Sculptural "monolite" couch table made in 1970s by De Sede, Switzerland. Plywood base upholstered with Buffalo leather with very thick insert smoked glass top. Easy combinable with m...
Leather, Smoked Glass, Plywood
Danish Modern Round Coffee Table in Solid Pine, Rainer Daumiller Style, 1970s
By Hirtshals Savvaerk, Rainer Daumiller
Located in Odense, DK
A fine Danish Modern round coffee table in solid pine, made in the style of Rainer Daumiller in the 1970s by a Danish Cabinetmaker. This sculptural coffee / side table will complem...
Pine
Vintage Brutalist coffee table / Side table in solid wood - 1960s
By Pierre Chapo, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage Brutalist coffee table / Side table in solid wood - 1960s Wear consistent with age and use. organic style - natural decoration - Wabi-Sabi Measures : 98cmX48cm H:46.5 Mater...
Wood
Mid Century Organic Wooden Scandinavian Wabi Sabi Coffee Table, Made in 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Outstanding unique Scandinavian organic shaped wooden coffee table / pedestal in solid stained pine. Impressive lines with an additional book shelve. This vintage piece is in great c...
Pine
$4,225Sale Price|20% Off
French Brutalist Cast Iron "Chain" Sofa Table Smoked Glass Top, France 1960s
Located in Salzburg, AT
French Brutalist Iron "Chain" Coffee Table Smoked Glass Top, France 1960s Brutalist sofa table with a heavy iron frame made of large interlocking chain links. The horizontal and upr...
Iron
Midcentury Organic Wooden Scandinavian Wabi Sabi Coffee Table, Made in 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Wonderful unique Scandinavian organic shaped coffee table in solid wood. This vintage piece is in good condition with some traces of wear. A beautiful wabi sabi style brutalist ob...
Oak
Angel Pazmino for Muebles De Estilo Sofa Table, 1960s, Ecuador
By Muebles De Estilo, Angel Pazmino
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful sculptural couch table designed in 1960s by Angel Pazmino and manufactured by Muebles De Estilo in Ecuador. Constructed of solid rosewood using...
Leather, Rosewood
$9,185 / item
Sculpted Low Table in Solid Oakwood 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Low table made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Made to order - Custom size SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid ...
Oak
Brutalist Wrought Iron Coffee Table with Bronzed Sunburst Top, Europe, 1970s
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
A bold round coffee table in the Brutalist and Spanish Revival spirit, made in Europe around the 1970s. It combines a hand-forged, blackened iron base with a thick circular top in a warm bronzed finish, and it has the presence of a sculpture as much as a piece of furniture. The base The base is made of hand-forged wrought iron, formed by six broad, curved legs that flare out towards the floor. At the centre they are joined by a decorative ring with riveted details. The result is a strong, architectural silhouette with a real sense of movement and balance, and a dark, textured surface that shows the hand of the smith. The top The top is about 4 cm thick and has a wooden core encapsulated in cast polyester with a rich, bronzed metallic finish. The surface is deeply engraved with a geometric sunburst pattern radiating from the centre, which gives the top a relief-like, almost archaeological quality. The contrast between the dark forged iron and the warm bronze tone is striking. The table is unsigned. The forging and the engraved pattern point to artisan production rather than mass manufacture, and the design fits the vocabulary of European Brutalism of the period, with its emphasis on heavy materials, texture and expressive forms. Condition Good vintage condition with a patina consistent with age and use. Minor surface marks, small imperfections and wear to the finish on both base and top. Structurally sound and ready for use. Please see the photos for details. Dimensions: diameter 109.5 cm, height 54.5 cm, top thickness 4 cm. Style and comparable designers Collectors of Brutalist furniture will recognise the language of Paul Evans, Silas Seandel and the Belgian and French forged-iron workshops of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the Spanish Revival pieces of the same era. The table works as a statement piece in a living room or lounge, as a centre table in a hallway or foyer, or in a gallery, boutique hotel or restaurant. It pairs well with mid-century modern seating, leather and bouclé, and fits in rustic modern, wabi-sabi and eclectic interiors. Keywords: Brutalist coffee table, wrought iron coffee table, round coffee table, sunburst table, Spanish Revival table...
Ironstone, Polyester, Plywood
Brutalist Paul Kingma Style One-Off Coffee Table
By Paul Kingma
Located in Echt, NL
Unique Brutalist coffee table in the style of the Dutch sculpture M. Kingma. The tabletop is a mosaic of slate panels and brass details. The table is signed by the artist on a br...
Concrete, Slate, Metal, Brass
Vintage Brutalist solid pine coffee table from the 70s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage Brutalist solid pine coffee table from the 70s Wear consistent with age and use Brutalist - Natural decoration - Vintage Measures : 100cmx65cm Top: 100cmx50cm H:44/40,5cm
Hardwood
Custom Sculpted Coffee Table in Solid Oakwood, Square & Dark Wood
By Denis Milovanov, Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Coffee table made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Square: 105 x 105cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authentic st...
Oak
$4,305 / 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
Rainer Daumiller pine wood round Dining Table, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Round dining table designed by Rainer Daumilier. The table is entirely made out of high quality and everlasting solid pine wood. Elegant legs Good condition. 1970s - Denmark Di...
Pine
$2,181
H 14.38 in W 42.92 in D 28.94 in
Italian Design Wooden Coffee Table with Bar Compartment, 1970s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
This is a stunning and sophisticated piece of mid-century furniture. 1970s Italian design often combines elegance and practicality, making this coffee table truly unique. Its rectan...
Glass, Plywood
$2,239
H 20.87 in Dm 21.66 in
1930s Round Coffee Table in Deep Patinated Solid Pine from Danish Cabinet Maker
By Fritz Hansen
Located in København K, 84
Rare danish modern 1930s round coffee table in solid deep patinated pine wood. This table is hand crafted by danish cabinet maker and has elegant geometric proportion with its diagon...
Pine
$1,159
H 16.34 in Dm 22.64 in
Gold Color Metal Smoked Glass Vintage Swiveling Coffee Table Sofa Table, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Gold colored vintage coffee table or sofa table, which shows two revolving smoked glass plates and one in the middle. The multi functionality makes this sofa table to a stylish inter...
Metal
Italian Design Coffee Table, 1970s
By Marco Zanuso, Zanotta
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
This is a beautiful and sophisticated piece of 20th-century furniture. 1970s Italian design is distinctive and evident in this rectangular coffee table. Made with minimalist cylindr...
Metal, Chrome
$1,580
H 19.69 in W 51.19 in D 27.17 in
Mid Century Large Solid Rectangular Coffee Table in Pine, Danish Modern, 1960s
By Roland Wilhelmsson, Sven Larsson
Located in Odense, DK
A striking and generously proportioned rectangular coffee table in solid pine, crafted by a Danish cabinet maker in the 1960s. The design combines simplicity and strength, with a thi...
Pine
$3,157
H 13.78 in W 31.5 in D 51.19 in
Solid wood Perriand and Chapo style coffee table, Netherlands 1960s
By Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Chapo
Located in ECHT, NL
Mid century design coffee table. Designed in the style of Pierre Chapo and Charlotte Perriand. Made from solid pine with amazing wood joinery details. The thick solid legs are fixed...
Wood
$2,397
H 19.69 in W 59.06 in D 35.63 in
Mid Century Modern, Brutalist Solid Pomeranian Pine Coffee Table, Denmark, 1970s
By Christian IV, Hans Frydendal 1
Located in Rødding, DK
A solid pine plank-top coffee table by Hans Frydendal for Christian IV, Denmark, 1970s. The top is constructed from wide knotty pine planks, the grain running in tight parallel lines...
Pine
Round Danish Modern Brutalist Sofa / Coffee Table in Solid Oak, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
An astonishing side table in solid oak made in the 1960s by a Danish Cabinetmaker. Attributed to Danish architect Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf for Nyrup Møbelfabrik. The table's round si...
Oak
De Sede Leather-Wrapped Mirror Coffee Table
By De Sede
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking 1970s coffee table by De Sede, crafted in leather-wrapped wood and crowned with a panel of mirrored smoked glass. It reflects the maker’s unmistakable commitment to luxuri...
Leather, Mirror
$1,607
H 17.92 in W 41.34 in D 41.34 in
Danish Modern Square Brutalist Coffee Table in Oregon Pine, 1970s.
By Roland Wilhelmsson, Pierre Chapo
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Square Brutalist Coffee Table in Oregon Pine, 1970s. Impressive Scandinavian coffee table in solid pinewood with large articulated finger joints and clear lacquer fini...
Pine
Sold
H 14.77 in Dm 47.25 in L 14.77 in
Round Brutalist Coffee Table in Stone & Steel, French Mid-Century Modern, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
A round coffee table from the 1970s, crafted in France, featuring a large stone tabletop supported by a sturdy steel base. Its circular form and robust design embody the Mid-Century ...
Stone, Steel
Rustic Brutalist coffee table
Located in New York, NY
Organic and sculptural in form, this rustic table is crafted from a thick, solid slab of natural wood—most likely suar—set on three gently curved legs. The top features a raw, textur...
Hardwood
Sold
H 13.78 in Dm 35.83 in
Round Brutalist Coffee Table in Oak & Slate, French Mid-Century Modern, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
Round coffee / side table with solid oak legs and a nice slate stoneware top. Made by a French cabinetmaker in the 1970s. This decorative and heavy table comes with multi functional ...
Slate
Sold
H 14.97 in W 53.15 in D 33.47 in
Brutalist Coffee Table, Wood and Travertine, Belgium, 1980s Design
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Wood and travertin top large coffee table Wear consistent with age and use 1980s - travertine - Mi-Century Measures : 130x85cm H38cm Materials : Wood - Travertine
Travertine
Sold
H 13.39 in Dm 39.38 in
Round Brutalist Coffee Table in Stone & Steel, French Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
A round coffee table from the 1960s, crafted in France, featuring a large stone tabletop supported by a sturdy steel frame. Its circular steel legs and robust design embody the Mid-C...
Stone, Steel
Rare couchtable by Lothar Klute, germany 80s
By Lothar Klute
Located in Kiel, SH
Rare couchtable in glass and metal by Lothar Klute from the 80s We'll disamble the table for the transport : ) and will packed the glass pieces in seperate boxes.
Metal
Sold
H 17.33 in W 29.93 in D 29.93 in
De Sede, Switzerland, Coffee Table in Marble & Leather, Mid Century, 1970s
By De Sede
Located in Odense, DK
This square coffee table is a blend of elegance and functionality, embodying the essence of mid-century modern design. Crafted in the 1970s by De Sede in Switzerland, it boasts a sle...
Travertine, Marble
Danish Modern, Round Coffee Table with Ceramic Tiles by Sallingeboe, 1981
Located in Odense, DK
A magnificent Danish Modern round shaped coffee in teak, top made with handmade ceramic tiles. Designed by Britt Sallingboe in 1981, Denmark. Signed here by. This lovely table will...
Ceramic, Wood, Teak
Sold
H 10.24 in W 51.97 in D 37.01 in
Danish Modern, Geometric Coffee Tables with Ceramic Tiles by Sallingeboe, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
A magnificent geometric shaped coffee table with chunky round legs in beech, top made with handmade ceramic tiles. Designed by Britt Sallingboe in the 1970s, Denmark. Signed here by....
Ceramic, Wood, Beech
Pair of Brutalist Blackened Teak Root Tables for Vanessa
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Unusual pair of massive organic teak root sofa table colored by the artist in a very unique way. This blackened brutalism root tables are definitely a great ...
Teak
Danish Modern Solid Pine Sofa / Side Table, Made in 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Introducing a Danish Modern treasure from the 1960s - a rectangular solid pine sofa table that exudes the timeless charm of mid-century design. Crafted with meticulous attention to d...
Oak
Brutalist Coffee Table by Lothar Klute, 1970s
By Lothar Klute
Located in Munster, NRW
Lothar Klute is a German designer active in the 1970s-1990s. His design is Brutalist with a refine elegance. He worked bronze and frosted glass to create furniture in an Artistic way...
Bronze