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.
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze "Stalagmite" Coffee Table, Signed brutalist MCM
By Paul Evans
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Paul Evans designed Pe-71 coffee table Stunning designer collectors piece that's in great original condition. The glass top has surface scratches . Dim: 42" D x 16" H
Metal
Solid oak wooden dining table Brut by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Brut table takes cues from Brutalism and Amsterdam School architecture. A balance of raw materiality and subdued forms with geometrically expressive detailing. Designed by Aad B...
Oak
A Beautiful Slate and Oak Coffee Table by Carl Straub, Circa 1960’s
By Carl Straub
Located in Hastings, GB
A Beautiful Slate and Oak Coffee Table by Carl Straub, Circa 1960’s This beautiful oak and slate contrasting table, not only has an elegance but also a playful use of weight and bal...
Slate
In Stock - STOR Dining Table Stained Solid Ash - 123"x49"
Located in Calgary, AB
Oversized turned legs and exposed joinery make a bold statement. The exposed end-grain joint is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, a detail that visibly confirms solid wood ...
Ash
Sculptural Side Table, Rustic, Burnt Black Wood, Carved, Handmade, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
This commanding functional sculpture is hand-carved from a single, massive hardwood log. It features a substantial, thick circular top supported by heavy legs that have been hand-hew...
Wood
Free Form Organic Designer Coffee Table In Aged Plaster Finish
Located in NEW YORK, NY
A contemporary addition to your living space, this piece radiates the beauty of nature and serves a practical purpose. The coffee table features a captivating organic shape that draw...
Marble
Brutalist solid Oak Coffee Table by De Puydt Belgium, 1970s
By De Puydt
Located in Berlin, DE
Brutalist solid Oak coffe table by De Puydt. De Puydt was a Belgian furniture manufacturer known for producing high-quality, modern designs during the mid-20th century, particularly ...
Steel
Japanese Antique Brutalist Side Table 1860s-1900s / Coffee Table Wabisabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese Brutalist side table. It is composed of materials that were originally used during the Meiji period (1860s–1900s), and it po...
Wood
Rustic solid oak coffee table with a one piece top, France 1950s
By Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina, Axel Vervoordt
Located in ECHT, NL
Rustic wabi sabi coffee table. Made in France in the 1950s. Made from solid oak. What makes this table special is that the top is a single slab of natural shaped oak. It has an amazi...
Oak
$9,911Sale Price / item|10% Off
Concrete Circular Dining Table Atlante Ultra High Perfomance Cement Mortar
Located in Rome, Lazio
Atlante is a round dining table with essential lines and a strong inspiration. Completely fashioned in UHPC concrete mortar by a team of expert artisans, this table perfeclty emodie...
Concrete
$1,026Sale Price / item|10% Off
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
French 19th Century Carpenter’s Workbench
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French 19th century workbench is a fascinating relic of technology from before the assembly line, a hybrid of artisanal rusticity and industrial innovations. The top planks are ...
Iron
Paul Kingma End Table, Signed, Slate with Brass Inlay, 1980s Dutch
By Paul Kingma
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Offered is this beautiful end or cocktail table. Bold and strong this table signed by the sculptor Paul Kingma is an early and solid example of his passion for creating unique pieces...
Slate, Brass
Handcrafted Dining Table in Solid Warm Brown European Oak, Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra table is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city devel...
Oak, Walnut
$4,538Sale Price|20% Off
Luciano Frigerio 1928-1999 Brutalist Bronze Round Coffee Table circa 1975
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Luciano Frigerio 1928-1999 Brutalist Bronze Round Coffee Table circa 1975 Sculptural winged bronze round table with clear cut glass top The table base is made of three bronze butter...
Bronze, Copper
Freestanding Desk in Oak, Danish Mid Century Modern, Henning Kjærnulf, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant freestanding writing desk designed by Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf in the 1950s. Crafted in rich oak, the piece showcases a tactile warmth through its finely grained s...
Brass
Oak Frame Coffee Table with Slate Inset, France 1970s
Located in Berlin, DE
This brutalist coffee table combines a circular slate inset with a solid wood frame, creating a striking contrast between textured stone and warm wood. Its clear geometry and careful...
Slate
Large Round Rustic Vintage Brutalist Coffee Table from Oak
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This large, round coffee table from the 1960s is crafted in a Brutalist style from heavy, high-quality oak. The wood exhibits a beautiful patina and minor signs of wear, giving the p...
Oak
Brutalist Coffee Table with Slate top France, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Round coffee table with dark slate stone top and oak frame. The stone has a natural textured surface, contrasting with the warm oak wood. The table stands on four sturdy square legs ...
Slate
Large Oval Dining Table - Solid European Oak - Aperta Capsule
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Aperta is inspired by the mystery and attraction of light and space breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures. The objects feature a precise slit, creating a sense of...
Oak, Walnut
Large Square Vintage Rustic Brutalist Coffee Table from Oak
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This large, square coffee table from the 1960s is crafted in a Brutalist style from heavy, high-quality oak. The wood exhibits a beautiful patina and minor signs of wear, giving the ...
Oak
Mid-20th Century, Freestanding Oak Desk by Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
A sculptural freestanding oak executive desk by Henning Kjærnulf, crafted in Denmark circa 1960s. The design showcases the expressive wood craftsmanship and sculpted contours charact...
Oak
Lothar Klute, sign. Coffee Table for Atelier Lothar Klute, 1994
By Lothar Klute
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
A special bronze alloy made it possible for the artist Lothar Klute to forge the bronze. The glass was produced using a specific melting process and specially adapted for the table. ...
Bronze
$29,500 / item
James de Wulf Outdoor Concrete Pool Table
Located in Paia, HI
The classic James de Wulf Concrete Billiards Table is a staple to any game room. The regulation sized table is constructed of concrete reinforced with carbon fiber. It features a smo...
Concrete
Danish Brutalist Oak Extendable Dining Table attr. to Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Brutalist Oak Extendable Dining Table attr. to Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern dining room table in light Nordic oak. Attributed to Danish designer H...
Oak
Nesting Tables in Oak, Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker, Mid Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
A refined and decorative set of three oak nesting tables, crafted in the 1960s in the style of Danish designer Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf. These tables display the hallmarks of Danish ...
Oak
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
1960s Brutalist Cocktail Table by Don Drumm, Cast Aluminum & Glass
By Don Drumm
Located in Portland, OR
Fabulous one of a kind cocktail table by Don Drumm. The sculptural element is cast aluminum in a brutalist-style sun motif. Square glass top, (3/4” thickness) floats above the sculpt...
Aluminum, Steel
$11,294Sale Price / item|20% Off
Solid Wood Coffee Table Serie 3 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Elegant Spaces
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solid Wood Coffee Table Serie 3 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Elegant Spaces ——— Sereno Coffee Table Series – A Note from Joel Escalona What happens when structure becomes art? Th...
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
$6,380 / item
James de Wulf Concrete Leaning Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
A play on balance, this table is constructed entirely of two concrete pieces. The tabletop is singly supported by the leg, while the two merge with gravity to lock into place. Their balance is a sight to behold. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Color shown in natural tone A perfect complement to the James de Wulf concrete...
Concrete, Cement
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
Brutalist Faux Verdigris Finish Glass Top Coffee Table c. 1970/1980's
Located in New York, NY
Voguish Brutalist coffee table in rich faux Verdigris paint finish, made in the USA c 1970-1980's. The table features a metal base in original dark green and black finish, with a gl...
Metal
James de Wulf Straight Split Locking Concrete Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
A stylish update to the classic Split Locking table, the straight split locking concrete coffee table features a parallel split radius in the tabletop. C...
Concrete
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
$12,300 / item
James de Wulf Concrete Backgammon Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
Concrete Backgammon Game Table by James de Wulf. Each table is made custom for indoor and outdoor living areas. The table is sealed and waxed for a unique luster. Table will devel...
Concrete
Rainer Daumiller, Extendable Round Dining Table in Pine, Danish Modern, 1970s
By Hirtshals Savvaerk, Rainer Daumiller
Located in Odense, DK
A large round dining table in solid pine with beautiful structure and wood grains. Designed by Rainer Daumiller for Hirtshals Sawmill in 1970s, Denmark. This table has been refinishe...
Pine
$1,273 / item
Brutalist Iron and Wood Round Accent Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
The table captures the essence of sculptural rawness and refined materiality, embodying the expressive character of Brutalist design. Forged iron legs display a hand-hammered texture...
Iron
Pair of Paul Evans Cityscape Nightstands - Chrome Patchwork by Directional
Located in Raleigh, NC
Pair of Paul Evans Cityscape nightstands in chrome patchwork, produced by Directional. Each features a two-tiered C-shaped design with integrated drawer, creating both open and enc...
Chrome
Danish Baroque-Inspired Oak Desk / Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs, 1900s
By Philip Arctander, Pierre Chapo
Located in Odense, DK
This charming table blends rustic craftsmanship with decorative elegance. Made from solid oak, it features beautifully turned barley twist legs – a detail that became popular during ...
Oak
Large Round Rustic Vintage Brutalist Coffee Table in Oak
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This large, round coffee table from the 1960s is crafted in a Brutalist style from heavy, high-quality oak. The wood exhibits a beautiful patina and minor signs of wear, giving the p...
Oak
$13,249Sale Price / item|15% 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
Oak Mid-Century Modern Rustic Brutalist Round Coffee Table, 1960s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning Mid-Century Modern Rustic Brutalist round coffee table. Striking Dutch design from the 1960s. Solid oak top on four solid oak legs. This wonderful Mid-century Modern Rustic ...
Oak
Rustic Sculptural Coffee Table, Burnt Black Wood, Carved, Handmade, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
This sculptural coffee table is a one-of-a-kind work of functional art, carved by hand from a single hardwood log and charred using the traditional shou sugi ban technique. Its organ...
Wood
Wrought iron coffee table in the style of Lothar Klute Coffee table in the style
By Lothar Klute
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
Coffee table in artfully forged iron with a bronze patina. Glass top specially cast and machined for this table.
Wrought Iron
$1,396Sale Price|30% Off
1960s Lane Furniture Brutalist Oak Parquetry and Iron Coffee Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1960s Lane Furniture Oak Parquetry Coffee Table with scroll forged iron base painted black. Measurs 56" in width, 21" in depth and stands 15.25" t...
Iron
$4,972Sale Price|35% Off
Brutalist Coffee Table in Solid Natural Light Oak - Brut by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brut coffee table by Mokko with dimensions L:135 x W:80 x H:30 cm. Made in the Netherlands out of solid European oak. The light oak is finished with a matte varnish. A custom wooden...
Oak
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
$11,294Sale Price / item|20% Off
Sereno Coffee Table Serie 1 by Joel Escalona – Solid Wood for Modern Interiors
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Sereno Coffee Table Serie 1 by Joel Escalona – Solid Wood for Modern Interiors ——— Sereno Coffee Table Series – A Note from Joel Escalona What happens when structure becomes art? ...
Hardwood
Warm Brown Oak Brutalist Dining Table - Fenestra by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rhythmic interplay of volumes and voids. The Fenestra table is inspired by Brick Expressionism, the architectural movement visible in Amsterdam’s ‘South Plan’ area - the city devel...
Oak, Walnut
Brutalist Square Coffee Table with Brown Agate by Sculptor Paul Kingma
By Paul Kingma
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Brutalist coffee table designed and made by Paul Kingma †, The Netherlands 1991. Introducing the Brutalist Round Coffee Table by renowned sculptor Paul Kingma, crafted in the Nether...
Agate, Multi-gemstone, Concrete, Slate, Brass, Bronze, Sheet Metal
Wrought iron coffee table in the style of Lothar KluteCoffee table in the style
By Lothar Klute
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
Coffee table in artfully forged iron with a brown patina. Glass top specially cast and machined for this table.
Wrought Iron
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
Danish Modern Round Coffee Table in Solid Pine, Rainer Daumiller Style, 1970s
By Rainer Daumiller, Hirtshals Savvaerk
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
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Cathedral Coffee Table by Silas Seandel
Located in New York, NY
Impressive brutalist cathedral coffee table by Silas Seandel, circa 1970s. The table features a thick (.75 in.) round plate glass top (shows inc...
Brass, Bronze
Round Fundamenta Coffee 51 Geometric Wood, Modern Appeal by NONO
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Round Fundamenta Coffee 51 Geometric Wood, Modern Appeal by NONO Sculptural coffee table made of solid wood with a natural water-based or black tinted finish. Due to the nature of...
Hardwood
Daniel Gluck Brutalist Cocktail Table
By Daniel Gluck
Located in Southampton, NJ
Incredible and rare cocktail table by Daniel Gluck. This amazing brutalist table basehas torch cut intertwining steel pieces that swirl upon one another. Table is in amazing conditio...
Cut Steel
Large solid oak brutalist coffee table, France 1950s
By Axel Vervoordt, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Chapo
Located in ECHT, NL
Large railway sleeper coffee table. The top is made from thick oak beams. It stands on a solid oak base. The top has loads of patina and natural imperfections. The wood has a deep an...
Oak
Large Round Rustic Vintage Brutalist Coffee Table in Oak
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This large, round coffee table from the 1960s is crafted in a Brutalist style from heavy, high-quality oak. The wood exhibits a beautiful patina and minor signs of wear, giving the p...
Oak
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
Large Round Vintage Brutalist Oak Farmhouse Coffee Table
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This large, round coffee table from the 1960s is crafted in a Brutalist style from heavy, high-quality oak. The wood exhibits a beautiful patina and minor signs of wear, giving the p...
Oak