Set of four Brutalist stools; Belgium, ca. 1970.

Set of four Brutalist stools; Belgium, c. 1970.
Oak wood and iron.
Measurements: 113 x 42 x 42 cm (x4).
This set of four stools reflects some of the key concerns of Belgian design in the 1970s, a period in which numerous designers and artisan workshops championed the sincerity of materials and structural clarity over decorative refinement. Rooted in the Brutalist aesthetic, these pieces view furniture as a direct expression of construction: each element reveals its function without artifice, while the combination of solid wood and iron highlights the inherent qualities of both materials. Crafted from oak and lacquered iron, the stools stand out for their balance between sturdiness and visual lightness.
Although associated with Brutalism due to their constructive honesty and the expressive presence of the materials, these stools depart from the monumental scale characteristic of this movement. Instead, they adopt a domestic scale and a formal refinement reminiscent of Nordic design and Central European modernism, combining the warmth of wood with the precision of metal. The result is furniture of great simplicity. Belgian furniture production in the 1970s occupied a unique place within the European landscape, straddling the line between artisanal tradition and industrial modernization. Many workshops opted for small-batch production or semi-artisanal methods that preserved high-quality craftsmanship and a special attention to structural details.