Eisler and Hauner 'Costela' Sofa, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Forma (Manufacturer),Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.29 in (82 cm)Width: 55.12 in (140 cm)Depth: 30.32 in (77 cm)Seat Height: 13.78 in (35 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Antwerp, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU933430883722
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Forma began in São Paulo, under the leadership of Italian designer Carlo Hauner and Austrian architect and interior designer Martin Eisler. Hauner studied drawing and technical drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan. After participating in the Venice Biennale, he emigrated to São Paulo, where he established the furniture manufacturer Móveis Artesanal, for which Carlo and Martin — as well as Carlo’s brother Ernesto Hauner — would create a range of pieces for the home.
In 1936, Eisler earned a degree in architecture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he studied under Oskar Strnad and Clemens Holzmeister. With World War II looming, he left Austria immediately after graduating. He first went to Czechoslovakia, to which some of his family had already fled. In 1938, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and opened his interior design firm Interieur Forma.
Eisler relocated to Brazil in the early 1950s, where he met Hauner. At the time, Eisler had been looking for help producing furniture for his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf, and contacted Hauner. The two found that they had a shared vision, and with financial help from Wolf, they opened Galeria Artesanal as a storefront for Móveis Artesanal.
Looking to expand into international sales, the duo rebranded the company Forma. Sérgio Rodrigues, who helped launch a branch of Artesanal in Curitiba, was put in charge of interiors at Forma. That company soon became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture — it sold its own sculptural rattan lounge chairs, bookcases and other case pieces crafted with rosewood or jacaranda, and Forma was eventually distributing furniture licensed from iconic American manufacturer Knoll, thereby bringing works by noted designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian market.
Forma stands at the forefront of a revival of Brazilian modern furniture. Fashioned from high-grade regionally sourced hardwoods, leather and iron, even Forma's earliest creations have stood the test of time. The company’s alluring mid-century modern works appealed to homeowners at its peak, from the 1950s through the ’70s, and given the broadening interest in Brazilian furniture and the likes of designers such as Rodrigues, vintage Forma is making a major comeback today.
The Forma furniture company continued producing masterfully crafted furniture into the 1970s, until Eisler's death in 1977. Forma folded soon after, but Eisler's company in Argentina, Interieur Forma, is still in business today.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler furniture for sale.
Forma
Forma stands at the forefront of a revival of Brazilian modern furniture. Fashioned from high-grade regionally sourced hardwoods, leather and iron, even Forma's earliest creations have stood the test of time. The company’s alluring mid-century modern works appealed to homeowners at its peak, from the 1950s through the ’70s, and given the broadening interest in Brazilian furniture and the likes of designers such as Sérgio Rodrigues, vintage Forma is making a major comeback today.
Forma began in São Paulo, under the leadership of Italian designer Carlo Hauner and Austrian architect and interior designer Martin Eisler. Hauner studied drawing and technical drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan. After participating in the Venice Biennale, he emigrated to São Paulo, where he established the furniture manufacturer Móveis Artesanal, for which Carlo and Martin — as well as Carlo’s brother Ernesto Hauner — would create a range of pieces for the home.
In 1936, Eisler earned a degree in architecture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he studied under Oskar Strnad and Clemens Holzmeister. With World War II looming, he left Austria immediately after graduating. He first went to Czechoslovakia, to which some of his family had already fled. In 1938, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and opened his interior design firm Interieur Forma.
Eisler relocated to Brazil in the early 1950s, where he met Hauner. At the time, Eisler had been looking for help producing furniture for his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf, and contacted Hauner. The two found that they had a shared vision, and with financial help from Wolf, they opened Galeria Artesanal as a storefront for Móveis Artesanal.
Looking to expand into international sales, the duo rebranded the company Forma. Sérgio Rodrigues, who helped launch a branch of Artesanal in Curitiba, was put in charge of interiors at Forma. That company soon became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture — it sold its own sculptural rattan lounge chairs, bookcases and other case pieces crafted with rosewood or jacaranda, and Forma was eventually distributing furniture licensed from iconic American manufacturer Knoll, thereby bringing works by noted designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian market.
The Forma furniture company continued producing masterfully crafted furniture into the 1970s, until Eisler's death in 1977. Forma folded soon after, but Eisler's company in Argentina, Interieur Forma, is still in business today.
Find vintage Forma seating, tables and storage pieces for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Antwerp, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Rustic Modern Primitive Sofa in Pierre Frey Bouclé, France, 1960sLocated in Antwerp, BERustic modern two seater sofa upholstered in luxurious grey Pierre Frey bouclé wool. The modern design of the wooden structure effortlessly harmoniz...Category
Vintage 1960s French Rustic Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Walnut Rustic Modern Chalet Sofa in Pierre Frey Bouclé, Switzerland, 1960sLocated in Antwerp, BEWalnut chalet sofa, a timeless piece inspired by rustic modern design from 1960s Switzerland. Crafted with a wabi-sabi ethos, this walnut-framed sofa exude...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Rustic Loveseats
MaterialsBouclé, Walnut
- French Wooden Two-Seater with Leather Cushions, 1960sLocated in Antwerp, BEFrench; Sofa Set; Living Room Set; leather cushions; 1960s; armchair; Club Chair; Lounge Chair; Loveseat; Two-Seater; Settee; Sofa; Footstool; Ottoman; Coffee Table; French Design; ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- LC3 Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, 1990sBy Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, CassinaLocated in Antwerp, BELC3 two-seat sofa for Cassina. An iconic piece of modernist design, designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier, his cousin and colleague Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand. The sofa is a symbol of timeless elegance and exceptional comfort, with a unique combination of high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Made of high-quality materials by Italian manufacturer Cassina in the 1990s, this LC3 sofa...Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsChrome
- Mid-Century Sofa in Pierre Frey Chenille, Italy, 1960sLocated in Antwerp, BEExquisite sofa enveloped in refined Pierre Frey chenille fabric in the intriguing shade titteul, formerly owned by the renowned Marc Lagrange. This Italian sofa, with its striking an...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsChenille, Wood
- Three-Seater Sofa by Georges van Rijck for Beaufort, Belgium, 1960sBy Georges van Rijck, BeaufortLocated in Antwerp, BEThree-seater sofa designed by Georges van Rijck and manufactured by Beaufort in Belgium. This piece merges the timeless design aesthetics of 1960s Belgium with contemporary elegance....Category
Vintage 1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- 'Costela’ Sofa by Martin Eisler + Carlo Hauner for Forma, Brazil 1960sBy Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, FormaLocated in Chicago, ILA 1960s Brazilian ‘Costela’ sofa by Martin Eisler + Carlo Hauner for Forma. This sofa features a slat wood frame with subtly curved edges and fou...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Brazilian Design Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Costela Sofa, 1960sBy Carlo Hauner and Martin EislerLocated in Renens, CHThe Costela (Rib) chairs and sofas by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler became an instant success after their introduction in the Brazilian market, and it wasn’t for long that productio...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- "Concha" Sofa by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Modern Brazilian Design, 1950sBy Carlo Hauner and Martin EislerLocated in New York, NYDesigned by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, modern Brazilian sofa, iron, and velvet. Brazil, circa 1950s. Shell or "Concha" sofa is made of iron and recently reupholstered in yellow velvet by the experienced craftsmen in our team. The upholstery was chosen considering the contemporary proposal of the piece. The sofa features a comfortable seat, clean design, and freedom of user movements and is constructed in a frame with metal rods elegantly positioned to give strength to the piece, a common trait of designers. The buttons velvet coated between seat and backs were used, by the designers, for an excellent velvet finish, and the restoration proposal was to maintain them. Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner were the primary designers for the iconic Brazilian furniture...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsIron
- Forma S.a Rare Sofa by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Ca 1954 Midcentury BrazilBy Carlo Hauner, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin EislerLocated in New York, NYThis rare sofa was designed in 1955 and produced by Forma, a company directed by Carlo Hauner (1927- 1996) and Martin Eisler (1913- 1977). This piece is an icon and illustrates some ...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Sofa & Armchairs Lounge Set, 1950sBy Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, FormaLocated in Whitstable, GBCarlo Hauner & Martin Eisler midcentury sofa and armchairs; 1950s Sofa designed for their manufacturing company, Forma around 1955. This model is an icon of Brazilian midcentury des...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Hardwood
- White Fabric Sofa by Martin Eisler and Carlo HaunerBy Carlo Hauner and Martin EislerLocated in Milano, LombardiaMartin Eisler (Vienna, 1913 – Brasile, 1977) & Carlo Hauner (Brescia, 1927 – Isola di Salina, 1997) European by birth and Brazilian by adoption, Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner began...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsStainless Steel