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.
Set of 4 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
Peter Glassford Natural Parota Reclaimed Wood Collage, Set of 2 Brutalist tiles
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Natural Parota collage tiles part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled into a richly textured, one...
Wood
Set of 2 Brutalist Whitewashed Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural White wash collage tiles part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled int...
Wood
Set of 2 Brutalist Antique Gold Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Antique Gold collage tiles part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled i...
Wood
Set of 2 Brutalist Satin Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Satin Black collage tiles part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled in...
Wood
Set of 2 Brutalist Matte Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Matte Black collage tiles part of the Brutal Nature collection by Peter Glassford, handcrafted from reclaimed wood fragments and assembled in...
Wood
Set of 2 (large) Brutalist Natural Parota Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter
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
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
$894Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Wall Hanger, Handmade Sheet Metal, 1970s, Colorful Design
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice round sheet metal wall hanger. lots off movement and color in this work. 1970s handmade.
Sheet Metal
Mid-Century Brutalist Wood Wall Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French wall hanging, mid-century, Brutalist. Constructed of wood.
Wood
Brutalist Sculptural Collage Artwork Solid Walnut, Abstract Geometric Wall Art
Located in Burlăceni, Cahul District
Brutalist Sculptural Collage Artwork Solid Walnut, Abstract Geometric Wall Art This sculptural wall panel is crafted entirely from solid walnut, composed of individually shaped wood...
Walnut
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Iron and Brass Pinwheel Sunburst Nail Wall Sculpture by Ron Schmidt
By Ron Schmidt
Located in San Francisco, CA
This explosive Brutalist iron nail wall sculpture contrasting the cold black steel iron nails and the warm buffed-brass brazing combing artistic design, geometric form and the high q...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Welded Steel Abstract Wall Sculpture
Located in Stafford, TX
1960s Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Welded Steel Abstract Wall Sculpture An exceptional handcrafted Mid-Century Modern abstract wall sculpture executed in welded steel during the 196...
Steel
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
Set of 8 Brutalist Satin Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Satin 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
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
Set of 2 (large) Brutalist Satin Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Satin 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
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
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 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
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
Set of 8 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
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
Set of 4 Brutalist Satin Black Reclaimed Wood Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
A sculptural Satin 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
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
Set of 8 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
Abstract work Fred van de Walle Oil on Canvas 1965 Holland
By Karel Appel
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful Abstract work .Painted by the Dutch artist Fred van de Walle in 1965. Unique Original work . Signed and dated . small crack .see photos. Fred van de Walle born 1940 is a ...
Paint
"Yampolsky en Danghú" — Lava stone Triptych, framed in oak.
Located in Guadalajara, MX
Part of the "On Monumentality" series, this triptych reimagines a photograph taken by American-born Mexican photographer Mariana Yampolsky, in the town of Danghú, state of Hidalgo. T...
Stone, Lava
Pair Contemporary Brass Abstract Wall Art Objects
Located in Brescia, IT
This pair of object shows when the brass becomes a real expression of art. The material is shaped by man to create forms that convey emotion. The surface is polished to reflect the ...
Brass
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
Brutalist Nail Wall Art Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sunburst Starburst Metal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Amazing vintage metal Brutalist nail sunburst, starburst wall art. In the style of Silas Seandel, Curtis Jere. Great mid century modern piece.
Metal
$1,271Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary Artwork CALX01 By Mokko X Studio Heinsius
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Calx01 is an abstract limestone wall object with both fluid and solid qualities. Shiny and flowing like water, while rock hard and porous like stone. The object is designed by Aad B...
Limestone
$9,785 / set
Three Metal Wall Plaques in Style on Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in North Miami, FL
Three Brutalist style wall plaques in manner of Paul Evans. All of them have very nice detail. Not signed. All pieces measure height 25" and width 18".
Metal
Picasso's Guitarist Rendering in 3D Embossed Tinted Aluminum Metal Art Signed
Located in Monrovia, CA
Picasso's Guitarist Is Rendered In A 3D Embossed Tinted Aluminum Metal Sculpted Art Piece, Signed by Artist. Picasso's "The Guitarist" Embossed Tinted...
Metal, Aluminum