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.
Vintage Torch Cut Brass and Copper Tree Wall Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage wall sculpture captures the raw, industrial energy of the mid-century Brutalist movement. Hand-crafted using torch-cut techniques, the piece features a "Tree of...
Brass, Copper
Earth Bloom Ceramic Wall Art, Organic Pattern Wall Sculpture
Located in Istanbul, TR
Lunar Surface – Ceramic Wall Sculpture Inspired by the quiet, cratered landscapes of the moon, Lunar Surface captures the raw beauty of natural erosion and time-worn textures. Each ...
Stoneware
Extra-Large Brutal Style Agate Stone Butterfly Wall Sculpture & Light
Located in North Miami, FL
This 6 foot wide brass illuminating wall sculpture in a copper finish and adorned with multiple natural agate stones in blues, purple, ochre and grey. This provides an outstanding l...
Agate, Iron
Holography Wall Sculpture, Modern, Industrial Art - "Examined Life 2"
By Karen Brown
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
EXAMINED LIFE 2 is part of a series of wall sculptures made of cast plaster combined with holography. This sculpture was cast in a hard hydrocal plaster which includes casts of machi...
Plaster
Set of 8 Brutalist Antique Gold Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Antique Gold collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, o...
Wood
Wooden Zodiac Sagittarius Wall Plaque Relief Brutalist Midcentury, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful wooden wall plaque relief sign, made in the Brutalist style in Germany in the 1970s. This is a wonderful Zodiac sign. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as a decorati...
Plywood
Ron Schmidt Large Brutalist Sculpture, 1960's
By Ron Schmidt
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist wall sculpture by Ron Schmidt circa 1960's. Made of cut nail, assembled and detailed with brass welding. Pinwheel pattern. Ver...
Brass, Iron
The Day After - Contemporary stone mosaic - Luis Barragán scene
Located in Guadalajara, MX
Part of the "On Monumentality" series, this wall-mounted mosaic evokes architectural vignettes from Mexico’s layered history through a refined assemblage of quarried and volcanic sto...
Stone
Modern Brutalist Abstract Framed Painting in Black & Brown by Artist Machado
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Another beautiful brutalist inspired black and brown mixed media original painting on board by designer/artist George Machado from our collection. Titled “Oscar”. This mixed media p...
Canvas
Art Brut painting "Na tam il na ovam", mixed media by Joskin Siljan, Serbia 2016
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a striking piece of art by Joskin Siljan, titled "Na tam il na ovam", which tramslates to "To here or to there". The piece is done as mixed media on a m...
Canvas, Paint, Paper
Large Curtis Jere Attributed Brass & Steel Brutalist Floral Wall Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This very large and substantial wall sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have been designed by Curtis Jere of the United States, dating to approximately 1970 and done in his signa...
Brass, Cut Steel
Set of 2 (large) Brutalist Charcoal Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Charcoal collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, one-o...
Wood
$1,352Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist "Timeless Elegance:Bronze Wall Sculpture
Located in Oirlo, LI
What an impressive art piece! Brutalist wall sculptures like this one, cast in bronze, are remarkable not only for their robust and distinctive appearance but also for their timeless...
Bronze
Vintage Carved Wood Panel Wall Sculpture - Set of 4
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior with this striking set of four vintage hand-carved wood panels, a masterful fusion of Brutalist texture and Boho Chic elegance. Each panel features a high-relie...
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Brutalist Wall-Mounted Sculpture From Susanne Wibroe Brass and Fiberglass
Located in Oirlo, LI
I am an exile; I miss my California, and yet I feel good here.” This short sentence, spoken by Susanne Wibroe, a renowned sculptor, still reveals a deep nostalgia for the life she on...
Brass
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Creates "Solara" Metal Hand Burnished Gold/Silver Sun Sculpture
Located in Oceanside, US
Crafted by Marc Weinstein in 1974, this piece features intricate layers of brass and steel, arranged in a radiant, sunburst composition that evokes energy and movement. Hand-forged ...
Metal
Monumental Ceramic Wall Sculpture on Iron Plate, Signed Pablo
Located in Dallas, TX
This is one of those pieces of art that you know you are looking at something really special. It is an extremely well executed work of art. The ceramic pieces are clustered and adher...
Iron
Vincent Payez Signed 1967 Torch Copper Wall Art, Brutalist Floral Repoussé Panel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A striking hand-worked copper wall panel by French brutalist artist Vincent Payez, signed and dated 1967. The composition features a raised, repoussé floral and botanical motif — a s...
Copper
Set of 2 (large) Brutalist Matte Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Matte Black collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, on...
Wood
$1,398Sale Price / set|20% Off
Coral Branches Iron Wall Sculpture, Handmade, Red Glazed, 62cm Tall
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Coral branches iron wall sculptures, completely handmade by a Tuscan sculptor more than 20 years ago. The large coral branche may be used as a candle holde...
Wrought Iron
Bruce R McDonald Abstract Metal Wall Sculpture 17 Elements 2012
Located in Miami, FL
Striking 17-piece wall sculpture by American artist Bruce R. McDonald, composed of sixteen square panels measuring approximately 10 inches each, together with a larger 23-inch square...
Steel
Spanish Colonial Wall Clock / Wall Decoration in Enamel & Wood, Spain 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching wall clock with hand-painted and enamel decorative details. Spain, 1950s. This wall clock features a carved wood backplate with scalloped edge adorned by a central circl...
Brass, Enamel, Gold Leaf
Mid-Century Brutalist Cast Aluminum Wall Relief from Stadler Design, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Cast Aluminum Wall Relief from Stadler Design, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attri...
Aluminum
Wooden Zodiac Sagittarius Wall Plaque Relief Brutalist Midcentury, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful wooden wall plaque relief sign, made in the Brutalist style in Germany in the 1970s. This is a wonderful Zodiac sign. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as a decorati...
Plywood
Collection of 5o 19th Century Carved Wood Molds for Castings, Sizes Vary
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of 50 19th century carved wood molds for castings. Would make a great residential or commercial art installation. Sizes vary, great color and patina. Please note there ar...
Wood
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Mammouth Brutalist Wall Garden Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in New York, NY
Phenomenal Brutalist sculpture in the form of a wind blown tree. The sculpture has a wrought iron tree trunk and branches with copper leaves, it is designed to be installed on a wall...
Copper, Wrought Iron
Set of 4 Brutalist Antique Gold Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Antique Gold collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, o...
Wood
Mid-Century Original Brutalist Wall Art by Jean Olds
Located in Raleigh, NC
Original sculptural wall art by artist Jean Olds. Brutalist in style and construction against a burlap background. Mixed media, combining various wooden elements and nails. The compo...
Metal
Billy Joe McCarroll & David Gillespe Brutalist Bar
By Billy Joe Mccarroll and David Gillespe, Forms and Surfaces
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Bar designed by Billy Joe McCarroll and David Gillespe and produced by Forms and Surfaces, Inc., Santa Barbara, California. The bar features a B...
Brass
1970s Large Brutalist Wall-Mounted Mirror, Textured Design, Lane
Located in Chattanooga, TN
1970s large Mid-Century Modern Brutalist mirror by Lane. Intricately laid, highly textured pattern adorns the centre panel, left, right and bottom. Rough hewn forms exemplify the Bru...
Oak, Mirror
French Neo-Primitive Abstract Portrait Painting, Mixed Media on Panel, 1999
Located in Valencia, VC
An original French abstract figurative portrait executed in mixed media on wood panel in 1999. Signed by the artist and accompanied by the original handwritten certificate of authent...
Wood
Set of 2 (large) Brutalist White Wash Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural White Wash collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, one...
Wood
Set of 4 Brutalist White Wash Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural White Wash collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, one...
Wood
Brutalist Starburst Wall Sculpture, Metal, Mid-Century, 1960s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Metal Brutalist wall sculpture from the Mid 1960's.
Metal
Vintage Brutalist Mixed Metal Horseshoe Nail Starburst Wall Sculpture Ornament
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small vintage horseshoe nail star-form ornament/wall sculpture in mixed metals including brass with gold leaf embellishments (ca. 1970s). Striking decorative object in very good, vin...
Metal, Brass, Gold Leaf
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
1960s Brutalist Metal Starburst Wall Sculpture with Brass and Copper
Located in Burbank, CA
We have this stunning original Brutalist Midcentury Modern designer wall art piece for sale. It's an original piece of brutalist wall art, and dates back to the 1960's. It's rare, an...
Metal, Brass, Copper
1970s Bernhard Rohne Original Acid Etched Brass Abstract Geometric Plaque
Located in Monrovia, CA
1970s Original Bernhard Rohne Etched Brass Geometric Abstract Plaque For METALLIC DESIGN STUDIO, 1970. Bernard Rohne Has Become Quite Famous For His Work With Mastercraft, But Als...
Metal, Brass
$1,950 / set
Pair of Brutalist Mixed Metal Wall Sculptures
Located in Norwalk, CT
Unique one of a kind modernist brutalist mixed metal wall sculptures. Each signed, possibly D.F.?.
Metal
Brutalist Wall Sculpture or Door Mounted Decor in bronzed aluminium, Germany
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a striking set of three large-scale decorative architectural elements, made in Germany during the 1970s and strongly representative of the period's Brut...
Aluminum Alloy
Vintage Boho 1980 Silas Seandel Brutalist Wall Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make a bold artistic statement with this Vintage Boho Silas Seandel Brutalist Wall Sculpture. Crafted by renowned artist Silas Seandel, this striking piece showcases the rugged, abst...
Metal
Set of 2 (large) Brutalist Antique Gold Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Antique Gold collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, o...
Wood
1977 Henry Moore Reclining Figure Interior Setting I Lithograph Cramer 458
By Henry Moore
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Original 1977 color lithograph by celebrated British modernist artist and sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986), titled Reclining Figure, Interior Setting I. The composition features Moor...
Wood, Paper
1950s Cubist Painting St Ives E Kahnii Oil on Canvas Sunday Morning
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Wonderful oil on canvas of St Ives, dated 30.3.56 Cubist style, wonderful colours showing the town of St Ives Signed E Kahnii ST Ives 30.3.56 and titled Sunday Morning Good overal...
Canvas
"Vintage X-Large Metal Wall Sculpture of Railroad Train Station by Curtis Jere"
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Rare X-Large Railroad Train Station Metal Wall Sculpture Signed by Curtis Jere
Metal, Brass
Phenomenal Pair of Brutalist Mixed-Metal Plaques in the Manner of Paul Vanders
By Paul Vanders
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
A phenomenal pair of Brutalist mixed-metal relief plaques or wall-mounted sculptures with great texture and patina in the manner of Paul Vanders, circa 1970.
Metal, Brass, Copper
$318Sale Price|25% Off
KITA LIVING Shelf No: 1 - Charcoal Black
By Gökhan Eryaman, İsmail Dağlı
Located in Bomonti, TR
An open, wall-mounted shelf designed for the storage and display of everyday objects. Crafted from raw aluminum plate and breech wood brackets with water-based charcoal black wood st...
Aluminum
$927Sale Price|20% Off
Danish Abstract, Brutalist Oil Painting by Frans Vester Pedersen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A hole lot is going on in this vintage Danish abstract painting. Both oil and acrylic paint were used to create texture, dept and drama. A mentionable feature is the double framing c...
$242Sale Price / set|50% Off
Set of 3 Mid-Century Brutalist Copper Metal Wall Butterflies
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Toronto, CA
A vibrant and textural trio, this set of three mid-century copper wall butterflies is a striking example of Brutalist design from the 1960s–70s. Crafted in hand-cut and torch-treated...
Brass, Copper
Set of 4 Brutalist Matte Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Matte Black collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, on...
Wood
Wooden Zodiac Capricorn Wall Plaque Relief Brutalist Midcentury, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful wooden wall plaque relief sign, made in the Brutalist style in Germany in the 1970s. This is a wonderful Zodiac sign. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as a decorati...
Wood
Giovanni 'John’ Bucci Metal Art Sculpture, 1960s
Located in Savannah, GA
Giovanni 'John' Bucci (Italian-American, 1935-2019) A welded metal sculpture composed of various found metal pieces, 1960s. 30 inches wide by 11 ½ inches tall by 3 ¼ inches deep
Metal
Set of 8 Brutalist Natural Parota Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassfor
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Natural Parota Wood collage tile set, part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly text...
Wood
A RUSTIC MODERN BRUTALIST PRIMITIVIST Animalist OWL Wall Sculpture France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
One (of a pair) sculpture or wall hanging representing a stylized owl, Handcrafted, Brutalist, Tribal, Modern Rustic, Hippie, Seventies, composed of braided rope(s) of varying thickn...
Wood, Rope
21st Century Studio Irvine Concrete Moodboard 100% Handmade Cement in Italy
Located in Rome, Lazio
A metaphysical view to show colors, texture and a preview of Fusto collection by Studio Irvine for Forma & Cemento. A framework made in concrete with For...
Concrete
Brutalist Wall Sculpture or Door Mounted Decor in bronzed aluminium, Germany
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a striking Brutalist architectural decoration executed in cast aluminium alloy, dating from the second half of the 20th century. The composition is bui...
Aluminum Alloy
Unique Danish Brutalist Large Ceramic Wall Art with Mirror by Mette Høm ca 1970s
By Jean-Pierre Capron, Saxbo, Noomi Backhausen, Sejer Denmark
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Unique Danish ceramic wall art in brutalist style by Danish ceramist Mette Høm (1938-1989). Made ca, 1960s in Mette Høm’s own studio. The wall art is made from tiles and vase shaped...
Iron
Wooden Shelving, Brut Bibliothèque, Solid Light Brown Oak, Mokko by Aad Bos
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Brut collection takes cues from Brutalism and Amsterdam School architecture. A balance of raw materiality and subdued forms with geometrically expressive detailing. Designed b...
Oak, Walnut
Large Ceramic Wall Plaques Set, Modernist Brutalist Style, 1970s
Located in Hannover, DE
3 large ceramic wall plaques. Made in Germany in the 1970s. These pieces were handmade and only produced in very limited numbers. The plaques showcase a modernist brutalist style. Th...
Ceramic
Monumental Brutalist Metal Wall Sculpture by Mark Weinstein "MARK CREATES"
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental Brutalist / Mid Century Modern / Metal Wall Sculpture by Mark Weinstein "MARK CREATES" c 1970s.. Stunning 3- dimensional sculpture,, can be hung vertically or horizontal...
Metal, Iron
Wooden Zodiac Taurus Bull Wall Plaque Relief Brutalist Midcentury, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful wooden wall plaque relief sign, made in the Brutalist style in Germany in the 1970s. This is a wonderful Zodiac sign. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as a decorati...
Plywood