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.
Brutalist Nightstand Tables, Walnut, Canada, Vintage Design, 1975
Located in Montréal, CA
Pair of brutalist bedside tables from summer of last June 1975. Clean design with solid construction. Both pieces are versatile and can be used as bedside tables, a small bar, or a v...
Walnut
Vintage Sculptural Brutalist Solid Oak Commode by Sergio Vulpe
Located in Burlăceni, Cahul District
This solid oak commode is a sculptural embodiment of brutalist design by Sergio Vulpe. Its bold, geometric form and rich wood texture make it a unique storage statement for modern or...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Dresser in Black Oak 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Dresser / cabinet Sculpted wood (solid oak) Finish: wavy, medium SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authentic style...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Dresser in Solid Oak 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Dresser / Cabinet Sculpted wood (solid oak) Finish: hammered, dark SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in so...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Dresser in Solid Oak 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Brutalist dresser in solid oak 'Custom Size' Dimensions: Depth 51 cm x Width 167 cm x Height 84 cm Dresser / cabinet Scul...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Style Commode in Solid Oak 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Commode / Chest of Drawers made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) by Denis Milovanov for SOHA Concept Measures: 85 x 122 x 56 cm - Custom size on request SÓHA design studio conceives and...
Oak
1970s brutalist cabinet in massive oak, by De Coene (BE)
Located in Oostende, BE
1970s brutalist cabinet in massive oak, by De Coene Frères (BE)
Oak
Exceptional French Brutalist Sculptural Tallboy Chest
Located in Knokke-Heist, BE
Striking French Brutalist tallboy chest crafted in solid wood during the 1970s. This highly sculptural piece is defined by its organic, undulating silhouette and six hand-carved draw...
Walnut
$21,182 / item
Contemporary Brutalist Geometric Commode in Solid Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Wardrobe made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Measures: H. 77 x 170 x 60 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authent...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Dresser in Solid Oak 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Dresser / cabinet Sculpted wood (solid oak) Finish: wavy, medium Warm furniture’s made by Russian designers from "Soha Concept" studio lead by the artist Denis Milovanov. Simpli...
Oak
Tobago Brutalist Dresser, Walnut, 9 Drawers, Mid-Century, Canada, 1975
Located in Montréal, CA
Tobago Canadian dresser – 9 drawers. This vintage piece features a central section with three drawers flanked by six hidden drawers, three on each side, offering clever and versatile...
Walnut
Brutalist Italian Ash Tree and Brass Chests of Drawers, Two
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Brutalist-style chest of drawers in ash wood and brass. With its harmonious, geometric lines, the piece is further enhanced by the brass band underneath. The price is for a single c...
Brass
Pair of Minimalist 'Amboine' Burlwood Night Stands by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Minimalist 'Amboine' burlwood night stands by Design Frères. Simple, functional design with 2 deep drawers per night stand.
Wood, Burl
Brutalist “Staccato” Tallboy Dresser by Lane Furniture, USA, 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Brutalist “Staccato” Tallboy Dresser by Lane Furniture, USA, 1970s Exceptional Brutalist tallboy dresser from the “Staccato” series by Lane Furniture, USA, 1970s. This striking piec...
Wood, Walnut
Contemporary Sculpted Chest of Drawers by Soha Concept, Solid Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary sculpted Cabinet / Chest of Drawers in Solid Oak Dimensions: H. 100 x W. 70 x D. 40 cm Unique piece made to order. ------ SÓHA design studio conceives and produces ...
Oak
Brutalist Oak Wood Chest of Drawers with Sculptural Fronts, Italian Handcrafted
Located in Madrid, ES
Handcrafted chest of drawers made of solid oak, featuring a bold brutalist design with sculptural, geometric drawer fronts. The piece includes seven spacious drawers, offering both f...
Oak
Italian Brutalist Commode in Ash Wood and Brass, 1980s Design
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Brutalist style chest of drawers in ash wood and brass. With fantastic geometric embellishments which serve as the drawer pulls for each of the six drawers; with harmoniou...
Brass
1960s Belgian Brutalist Oak Chest of Drawers Mid Century
Located in London, London
A mid-century Belgian chest of drawers in solid oak, dating to the 1960s, with a focus on honest materials and straightforward construction. The piece comprises three generously size...
Oak
Chest of drawers in solid pine, by Swed-Form Skillingaryd, Swedish brutalism
Located in Stockholm, SE
Chest of drawers in solid pine, by Swed-Form Skillingaryd, Swedish brutalist 1970s. With two drawers. In good condition, signs of age and wear. One previous owner who bought a set ...
Pine
Brutalist 9 drawers dresser by Paul Evans, Walnut, Canada, 1975
By Paul Evans
Located in Montréal, CA
A striking vintage walnut 9 drawers dresser showcasing bold architectural lines and a sculptural pedestal base. This statement piece blends Brutalist influence with refined craftsman...
Walnut
Brutalist Oak Chest of Drawers, 1970s
Located in London, London
Brutalist Oak Chest of Drawers, 1970s A solid and quietly sculptural Brutalist chest of drawers in oak, likely dating from the 1970s. The piece features three wide drawers with sim...
Oak
Italian Vintage Oak and Brass Chest of Drawers, 1970s Brutalist Style
Located in Houston, TX
Great looking Italian Vintage chest of drawers made out of high quality oak wood. Top is display beautiful wood grain. Chest has 3 spacious draw...
Brass
Vintage Italian Chest of Drawers, Cherry Wood & Black Marble, 1970s
Located in Houston, TX
Unusual vintage chest of drawers from Italy made out of Cherry wood. Very unique design presented on top of the doors. Many wood squares combined together at the different angle to s...
Chrome
Contemporary Brutalist Style Commode in Solid Oak 'Custom Size'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Commode / Chest of Drawers made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) by Denis Milovanov for SOHA Concept Measures: 52"W x 15"D x 33.5"H. Custom size on request Finish: 'scratched' SÓHA desi...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Style Commode in Solid Oak and Linseed Oil
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Commode / Chest of Drawers made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) by Denis Milovanov for SOHA Concept Measures: 85 x 140 x 40 cm - Custom size on request SÓHA design studio conceives and...
Oak
Brutalist Two-Drawer Chest in Solid Oak, Belgium, 1960s
Located in London, London
Brutalist Two-Drawer Chest in Solid Oak, Belgium, 1960s A boldly sculptural two-drawer chest in solid oak, Belgian, circa 1960s. With its broad proportions and emphatic lines, this ...
Oak
$4,900Sale Price|37% Off
Walnut Side Chest with Solid Drawers
Located in Chicago, IL
This walnut side chest dates to the 1960's and is an example of "brutalist" or "mid-century socialist's" furniture design. The furniture and art of Eastern Europe in the post-war per...
Metal
Brutalist 1960s Walnut Tallboy - Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A 1960s tallboy chest of drawers in walnut veneers, featuring a distinctive geometric front with raised block-pattern drawer fronts. The clean-lined design is softened by rounded cor...
Walnut
French Brutalist Style Elm Commode Chest of Drawers, circa 1970
Located in Labrit, Landes
Commode brutalist style, French chest of drawers, circa 1970 Elm and wrought iron made by the designer Aranjou renomed for its Brutalist-style furniture. Aranjou furniture is known f...
Iron
A brutalist solid elm chest
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A custom made solid elm chest can be use as mutlifontional way
Elm
Patinated Steel Veneer "Highboy with Protrusions" in Walnut with Drawers
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
This "high boy" features 4 deep drawers. The counter-top and base is cast concrete. The piece is wrapped and fully finished with steel that is employed as a veneer. The steel is blac...
Concrete, Steel
Brutalist Three Drawer Oak Chest of Drawers
Located in London, London
1960s Belgian Brutalist Oak Chest of Drawers A striking example of Belgian Brutalist design from the 1960s, this solid oak chest of drawers pairs sculptural presence with practical ...
Oak
Contemporary Brutalist Geometric Commode in Solid Oak by Soha Concept
By Sóha, Denis Milovanov
Located in Paris, IDF
Wardrobe made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Measures: H. 77 x 170 x 60 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative ...
Oak
Steel Veneer, Cast Conrete "Protrusions End Table" with Drawers
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
This end table is a variation of the S.O. sidetable. The counter-top and base is made from cast concrete. The piece is fully wrapped and fully finished (front and back) with steel th...
Concrete, Steel
Sculptural Brutalist Solid Oak Commode by Sergio Vulpe
Located in Burlăceni, Cahul District
This solid oak commode is a sculptural embodiment of brutalist design by Sergio Vulpe. Its bold, geometric form and rich wood texture make it a unique storage statement for modern or...
Oak