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.
Scandinavian Brutalist Candelabra in Patinated Bronze, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A small scaled ( H: 14.5, W/D: 19 cm) candelabrum for 4 regular sized candles. It is fashioned from patinated bronze and showcases distinct Neo-gothic/brutalist vibes. It was possibl...
Bronze
Brutalist Wrought Iron Candle Holder, Seven Arms, Vintage 1970s, Black
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large brutalist Candle Holder. Handmade from wrought Iron. 7 arms and tripod foot.. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist Period: 1970s Item Type: V...
Metal
Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron candle holder
Located in BELFORT, FR
Mid century and brutalist style wrought iron candle holder. Perfect condition.
Wrought Iron
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s This well sized hand forged candle holder is wonderfully shaped like a tree, it origins from Europe, 1970s. It is original...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Metal Candelabra, Black Finish, Vintage Design, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist candelabra with 5 arms. The arms finely executed are finished in black. A tripod serves as a foot. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist ...
Metal
Sculptural Vintage 3-Arm Wrought Iron Candelabra, Handcrafted
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage hand-crafted wrought iron candle holder features sculptural shape with 3 branches with textured leaves flowing upwards from the base and terminating into round candle holder...
Wrought Iron
Large vintage mid century brutalist hand forged brass candlesticks
Located in Bristol, GB
A fabulous pair of large vintage candlesticks, hand crafted in solid brass, circa 1960. The candlesticks have a brutalist yet refined mid century feel to them, the slender stem with...
Brass
Brutalist Candelabra, Sculpture in Wrought Iron, 1970s, France
Located in Antwerp, BE
Handcrafted brutalist candelabra, sculpture with five bronze holders made in France, one piece unique five-arm candelabra a work of craftsmanship by an unknown artist. It's an except...
Bronze, Wrought Iron
1980s Brutalist Iron and Brass Italian Three Arms Candelabra
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This striking 1980s Italian candelabra is a masterclass in Brutalist design, merging raw industrial strength with sophisticated Mid-Century flair. Hand-forged with a dramatic archite...
Brass, Iron
Mid Century Brutalist Candle Holder in Wrought Iron 1960s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mid Century Brutalist Candle Holder in Wrought Iron, Europe, 1960s. This is a wonderful and fairly large mid century candle holder in wrought iron with a very distinct chain like br...
Wrought Iron
Paul Evans Rare and Early Candlesticks, Set of Three, 1953
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Rare and Early Candlesticks, Set of Three, 1953 Sandblasted pewter Each: 20½ h × 3¼ dia in (52 × 8 cm) Provenance: The Artist Collection of Dorsey Reading Exhibited: Paul...
Pewter
Sculptural Brutalist Tree of Life Hand-Forged Candelabra Candle Holder, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Brutalist tree candle holder / candlestick from the 1970s. Hand-forged from blackened wrought iron and wonderfully shaped like a tree, featuring a base designed as roots,...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Mid-Century brutalist hand-forged candlestick
Located in Herentals, BE
Hand-forged, twisted and hammered candlestick. The candlestick has 4 different, forged and hammered legs that are attached under a twisted center piece. Above this, the scalloped dri...
Wrought Iron
Rare Gold BMF Nagel Quist Variomaster Brutalist Stockable Modular Candleholder
Located in Vienna, AT
Stackable modular candleholder by BMF Quist Nagel, rare gold edition. The candleholders were designed by Ceasar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel and manufactured by BMF (Bayerische Metallwaren...
Brass, Chrome
Vintage Brutalist Candelabra by Menachem Berman, Israel, Bronze and Walnut
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Vintage mid century brutalist candelabra by Menachem Berman, designed and produced in Israel, circa 1960s. Three hand worked bronze candle arms rise organically from a solid walnut t...
Bronze
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candleholder 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candleholder, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Wrought Iron Color: Black Styles: Brutalis...
Wrought Iron
Vintage Brutalist Wrought Iron Candle Sconce, Italy, Circa 1970
By Paul Evans
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage wrought iron candle sconces in the Brutalist style will certainly light up a room and create interesting shadows. Sculptured and patinated, each iron piece holds a single tap...
Wrought Iron
XL Brutalist Black Enameled Metal Floor Candle Holder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rising from a flat hexagonal base, this floor-standing candle holder takes a cylindrical column form that narrows into a pointed, bullet-shaped top. A narrow vertical slot cut into t...
Metal, Enamel
Mid-Century Brutalist Cast Iron Candleholder by Jens H. Quistgaard, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Danish Brutalist Cast Iron Candleholder by Jens H. Quistgaard for Paro, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additio...
Metal
Large Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron floor candelabra candle holder, knot
Located in BELFORT, FR
Large mid century and brutalist style wrought iron floor candelabra.
Wrought Iron
60s Mid Century Modern Brutalist K L Hakuli Brass Abstract Art Menorah Israel
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Beautiful Artisan made, K. L. Hakuli for Weinberg, Israel Brutalist 9 candle Hanukkah Menorah Piece is off-centered and very abstract with incised v...
Brass
Vintage Pair of Brutalist Candle Holders, Hand Forged Wrought Iron
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage pair of wrought iron candle sticks features a streamlined columnar body on footed base with wide scalloped bobeches and tall, slightly flared candle holders. The textured abs...
Wrought Iron
$164Sale Price|30% Off
Swiss Brutalist wrought iron Candle Holder
Located in Bern, CH
Swiss Brutalist wrought iron candle holder dating from the 1960's. Made by W. Müller Metalfabrik, Ersigen, Switzerland. With placement for two candle holders. Original makers label ...
Metal
32-Inch Tall Bronze Brutalist Candle Holder, Mid-20th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A sculptural and commanding Brutalist candle holder, standing at an impressive 32 inches in height. Crafted in solid bronze with a raw, hand-forged texture, this piece embodies the b...
Bronze
Vintage Brutalist Sculptural Metal Candleholder, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large Brutalist Metal Candle Holder with 2 Arms. Additional information: Materials: Metal Style: Brutalist Period: 1970s Color: Black Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Dimens...
Metal
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candle Holder
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Wrought Iron Candle Holder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 Additional information: Color: Black Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern Item Type...
Iron
Rare 1970s MCM János Lehoczky Artisan Brutalist Hand Wrought Steel Candle Holder
By János Lehoczky, Károly Bieber, Paul Evans
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare 1970s Mid-Century Modern Brutalist, 3 candle candelabra, hand forged by the hands of Hungarian blacksmith János Lehoczky. Height includes can...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Vintage Brutalist Floral Metal Candleholder 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist Floral Metal Candleholder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Brown Period: 1970s Item Type: Vintage,...
Metal
Pair of Wrought Iron Tall Floor Candle Holders in Brutalist Giacometti Style
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti
Located in Carimate, Como
Pair of wrought iron tall floor candle holders in brutalist Giacometti style
Wrought Iron
Pair of Sculptural Vintage Brutalist Candle Holders in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Brutalist-style vintage candleholders (ca. 1970s, USA). Sculptural forms each composed of two flat solid brass pieces which connect to form a standing figure with a cradle at the top...
Brass
Forged Wrought Iron Brutalist Candle Holder Wall Sconce, Spain 1940s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Spanish hand forged iron wall sconce features a brutalist, graphic form, combining Medieval and Spanish Hacienda Revival influences with Arts and Crafts attitude. The prominent silho...
Wrought Iron
Candelabra Piramide III G016 handmade in cast brass & aluminium
Located in Benahavis, AN
The Candelabra Piramide III was created by David Marshall, from sand cast brass & aluminium. We use recycled materials all our pieces are handmade, mounted and finished in our found...
Aluminum, Brass
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder in Wrought Iron, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder in Wrought Iron, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Wrought Iron Color: Gray Styles: Brutal...
Wrought Iron
Sculptural Danish Candle Sconce from Dantoft Kunstartikler, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
1970s Brutalist Wall sculpture made by Danish design company Dantoft kunstartikler (trans.: art objects). It is made from black lacquered and welded iron set in a graphic formation h...
Iron
Pair of Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron candle holder sticks
Located in BELFORT, FR
Pair of mid century and brutalist style wrought iron candle holders. Perfect condition.
Wrought Iron
Vintage Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Gallo, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Gallo, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Bronze...
Bronze
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Material: ...
Metal
Mid-Century Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Brutalist Bronze Candleholder from Harjes, Germany, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designe...
Metal, Bronze
Brutalist Mid Century wrought iron candelabra candle holder
Located in BELFORT, FR
Mid century and brutalist style wrought iron candelabra.
Wrought Iron
Modernist Candle Holder - Stainless Steel Brutalist Candlestick - Italy 1980s
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Modernist Candle Holder - Stainless Steel Brutalist Candlestick - Italy 1980s Superb design for this piece, quite reminiscent of the Memphis Group style. Made of stainless steel an...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Vintage Sculptural Brutalist Iron & Glass Wall Candleholders by Dantoft, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large 1970s Brutalist Wall sculptures made by Danish design company Dantoft kunstartikler (trans.: art objects). Made from black lacquered and welded iron set in a graphic formation ...
Iron
$950Sale Price / item|48% Off
SALE David Palumbo Huge Mid Century Modern Brutalist Hand Forged Iron Menorah
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
CYNER WEEK SALE David Palombo's Very Rare and Iconic, Hand-Forged Iron, Freeform, Spired Cylindrical, Brutalist Sculptural Hanukkah Menorah. This is one of 2 David Palumbo menorahs...
Iron
$120Sale Price|48% Off
1960's Ruscha Keramik Brutalist Advents Candle Holder - West Germany
By Ruscha
Located in Bern, CH
West German ceramic Brutalist Advents candle holder produced by Ruscha Keramik (W.Germany) in the late 1960's to mid-1970s. Brutalist style with f...
Ceramic
$216Sale Price|29% Off
Brutalist Danish Mid Century Ceramic Candle Holder by Judi Kunst, Denmark 1970
By Judi Kunst
Located in Hannover, DE
This lantern by Judi Kunst is custom-made in size and design and was a personal gift of honor. This candle holder is exceptionally masterfully shaped in its organic shape and is remi...
Pottery
$150Sale Price|20% Off
1960's Swiss Brutalist Metal Candle Holder
Located in Bern, CH
1960's Swiss made Sculptural brutalist candle holder crafted from blackened metal, featuring an architectural fortress-inspired design with raw textures and bold geometric forms. A ...
Metal
Set of 2 Brutalist Wrought Iron Candleholders, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Wrought Iron Candleholders, 1960s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Ce...
Metal
Mid-Century Italian Brutalist Bronze Amadeus Series Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Brutalist Bronze Amadeus Series Candleholder by Kurt Jesch for Fratelli Tonini, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additio...
Metal
$1,179Sale Price|20% Off
Hanging cast bronze candelabra by Michael Harjes, Germany 1960s
By Michael Harjes, Harjes Metallkunst 1
Located in ECHT, NL
Cast bronze candelabra. It has 4 arms that are set on a central rod. The arms can rotate around the rod. At the bottom it is capped with a cast bronze cap and at the top it has a cas...
Bronze
XL Black Brutalist Style Candlestick Holder Of Wrought Iron, 1950s
Located in München, BY
Large brutalist style candlestick holder of Wrought iron, Germany, 1950s. Dimensions: Height 30.7" / 78cm, Width 15.0" / 38cm, Depth 15.4" / 39cm, Edge Length Candle Bases 4.7" / 1...
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Metal Candle Holder, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Metal Candle Holder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Black Styles: Brutalist Item Type: Vintage, Antique or ...
Metal
Large Pair of Faux Rock Crystal Candlesticks, after Van Day Truex
Located in Spencertown, NY
A Large version of Van Day Truex's renowned "rock crystal" candlesticks. Height 13", Unmarked
Glass
Vintage Candle Holder For 3 Candles Stainless Steel Brutalist Design Italy, 70s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage candle holder for 3 candles stainless steel brutalist design Italy,70s This vintage candle holder for three candles in a brutalist design from the 1970s brings timeless eleg...
Stainless Steel
Large Mid-Century Brutalist Metal Candleholder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large Brutalist Candle Holder handmade from steel. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gray Styles: Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern Period: 1960s Item Type: Vintage, Antiq...
Metal
Vintage Danish Brutalist Iron & Blue Glass Wall Candleholders by Dantoft, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large 1970s Brutalist Wall sculptures made by Danish design company Dantoft kunstartikler (trans.: art objects). Made from black lacquered and welded iron set in a graphic formation ...
Iron
$120Sale Price|48% Off
Ruscha Keramik Brutalist Advents Candle Holder - West Germany, 1960's
By Ruscha
Located in Bern, CH
West German ceramic Brutalist Advents candle holder produced by Ruscha Keramik (W.Germany) in the late 1960's to mid-1970s. With four candle holde...
Ceramic
Brutalist Bronze Candleholder 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Brutalist Bronze Candleholder, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Bronze Color: Gold Styles: Brutalist Item Type: Vintage, Ant...
Bronze
Quist Variomaster Brutalist Modular Candle Holders Set Chrome German 1970s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This set of four Variomaster modular candle holders was produced in the 1970s by Quist, a German manufacturer known for its bold interpretation o...
Metal, Chrome
Pair of brutalist wrought iron candle holders, France 1950s
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
Pair of brutalist wrought iron candle holders circa 1950, in the style of Atelier Marolles. Heavy pieces with a beautiful patina. Both are in great condition, showing minimal signs...
Wrought Iron
$1,283Sale Price / set|20% Off
Jens Harald Quistgaard. Danish cast iron candlesticks, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Brutalist and Space Age style candlesticks designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard and manufactured by Dansk Design in Denmark, 1960s. Both pieces are made of solid cast iron with a centr...
Brass, Iron
Vintage Brutalist German Metal Candleholder, Ebersberg, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Brutalist German Metal Candleholder from Kunstschamiede Bergmeister, Ebersberg, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This pi...
Metal