Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Pair of Wrought Iron chairs by José Zanine Caldas, Brazil, 1950s

About the Item

Awesome unique chairs by Zanine! In true 1950s style, these rare and unique pieces are testimony of the genius of Zanine, a self taught artist who kept innovating and pushing barriers of his own design language throughout his career. In these chairs he creates an interesting contrast between the softness of plastic in straight lines, with the rigidity of the iron in delicate curves. The stretched plastic rope backrest has been updated, in dark green. The seat is made of cushions resting on top of an amazing star shaped spring system. The iron has been cleaned and sealed, but left in its orignal state. The chair is solid and in very good vintage condition. Jose Zanine Caldas (1919-2001) was a multi-talented Brazilian architect: A builder, carpenter, sculptor, designer, Caldas did not limit himself to a single field of action. Caldas’ work is a dive into Brazilian memory and identity. Born in Belmonte, Bahia, he began his career in 1939, with an architectural scale model workshop in Rio de Janeiro - this experience was fundamental for the opening of Móveis Artisticos Z in 1948, in São Paulo, where he produced furniture for the middle classes. In Rio, he designed and built most of his architectural work. Zanine was a dynamic, hands-on man. In the 1970s he returned to his homeland where he would use wood surviving the burning of forests, to make tables, benches and armchairs, creating what was called "furniture denunciation". Zanine spent a period in Lyon, France, where he taught at the university. He was very active until the early 1990s; and died in 2001 in Vitória.
More From This SellerView All
  • Organic Shape Chair by Moveis Cimo, Brazil 1950s
    By Moveis Cimo
    Located in Whitstable, GB
    Small curved chair with organic shaped ivory wood base, 'Pau Marfim'. Brazil, 1950s. The wooden frame is really eye catching; the organic shape frame is divided into three parts, with beautiful rounded edges and curves. There are some minor marks of wear and age, normal in a vintage piece, but frame is in excellent condition. The slightly angled back and seating appear to float on the frame. This chair design is very unique, and at the same time, very ergonomic: The seat and backrest provide a very comfortable seating experience. New upholstery in a light green zigzag fabric. Móveis Cimo...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

    Materials

    Wood, Hardwood

  • Pair of Michel Arnoult Ouro Preto Chairs, Brazilian Midcentury, 1964
    By Michel Arnoult
    Located in Whitstable, GB
    A pair of "Ouro Preto" Chairs Manufactured by Mobília Contemporãnea The Ouro Preto chair is an important example of Michel Arnoult genius as a designer: Si...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

    Materials

    Nylon, Imbuia

  • Dining Table by Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s
    By Branco & Preto
    Located in Whitstable, GB
    Branco & Preto Designed and manufactured in the 1950s by Branco & Preto This stunning solid wood dining table by Branco & Preto was part of the personal collection of Miguel Forte, o...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

    Materials

    Hardwood

  • Brazilian Dining Chairs by Novo Rumo, Set of 8
    By Novo Rumo
    Located in Whitstable, GB
    Eight beautiful dining chairs by Novo Rumo in solid wooden frame. Brazil 1960s These chairs have seat and back shell made in a single curved plywood piece, which is finished in high grade wood veneer. It also has original wooden Buttons on the seat. The set of eight chairs have been refinished, and reupholstered in Brazil with a luxurious velvet fabric. The hardwood frame has a beautiful live grain and colour. The great craftsmanship is a common in Novo Rumo pieces, and these are in very good vintage condition. Original unique brass screws, common amongst Novo Rumo and Zalszupin pieces. Produced in the 1960s, these pieces are often described as 'by Jorge Zalszupin for Novo Rumo’. Moveis Novo Rumo was a furniture studio and manufacture in São Paulo founded by Francesco Scapinelli: architect and ceramist, brother of celebrated designer Giuseppe Scapinelli. Novo Rumo produced excellent quality furniture at Industrial scale, using quality hard word from Brazil. Their pieces are always inventive, a unique design and of high quality craftsmanship. The design of these chairs- and many other produced by Novo Rumo, resemble Zalszupin's design probably due to his close collaboration and often contribution to Moveis Novo Rumo production. Novo Rumo's work is often also mistaken as L’Atelier (Zalszupin’s manufacture company) because several employees of L’Atelier left the company to join Novo Rumo. This group of chairs...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

    Materials

    Velvet, Hardwood

  • Pair of Curved Ply Armchairs by "Moveis Cimo", in Brazilian Imbuia
    By Moveis Cimo
    Located in Whitstable, GB
    A rare and special pair of armchairs, made by Móveis Cimo. Made at the end of 1940s, there are not many around nowadays as this design was produced in small quantities. The seat and back rest are made with a single sheet of curved Imbúia plywood (Brazilian Wallnut) The structure of the chair is made of Açoita Cavalo wood ('horse whip...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Imbuia

  • Pair of MP-51 Armchairs by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century
    By Percival Lafer
    Located in Whitstable, GB
    A rare model of armchair by Percival Lafer, our stunning pair of MP-51 have their structure entirely made out of solid Jatobá wood - Brazilian cherry. The seat base has been redone with new natural leather straps. These straps are part of the overall aesthetics of the piece. The wood on both chairs has been sanded and matt varnished, revealing the beautiful colour and grain of Jatobá. The wood surfaces look stunning. The chairs have a new brown natural leather upholstery, done in Brazil. These MP51 are very comfortable, and ours are in excellent condition. We have two chairs available. A common trait amongst Lafer pieces is that they are very comfortable and also unique: they have a hard-achieved simplicity about them. Lafer studied architecture at São Paulo’s Universidade Mackenzie. After he graduated, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a furniture business that Lafer took over with his brothers. Lafer then made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully designed pieces available at affordable prices. In the same year he introduced the amazing MP-1 chair, a plush piece of furniture made with iron and wood- and since then has had a prolific career. The silhouettes of his lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating were were a step away from the streamlined American and European mid-century modernism being designed at the time, taking on casual, puffed forms thanks to the use of polyurethane layers as padding. He combined such contemporary industrial materials with local natural ones, namely Brazilian hardwoods, which delighted customers around the world as Lafer became one of the country’s leading exporters of furniture. Lafer has continued to design furniture throughout his career, branching into sofas, tables and lighting. He was at the forefront of mechanical furniture movements, debuting the MP-7 sofa...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Leather, Hardwood

You May Also Like
  • José Zanine Caldas Armchairs, Pair, 1950s, Brazil
    By José Zanine Caldas
    Located in Edogawa-ku Tokyo, JP
    A pair of beautiful armchairs designed by José Zanine Caldas from Brazil. Reupholstered with light pink colored fabric. Very good vintage condition.
    Category

    Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Upholstery, Wood

  • José Zanine Caldas Pilao chair Brazil 1978
    By José Zanine Caldas
    Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
    Very rare and early version of the famous Pilao chair designed by Jose Zanine Caldas, made in his own workshop in Nova Vicosa, Brazil 1978. Compared to other Pilao chairs, this one i...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

    Materials

    Hardwood

  • Three wooden chairs attributed to Jose Zanine Caldas, 1950s
    By José Zanine Caldas
    Located in Baranzate, IT
    Three Brazilian wooden chairs attributed to Jose Zanine Caldas. C1950s
    Category

    Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

    Materials

    Wood

  • José Zanine Caldas - MÓVEIS ARTÍSTICOS Z Chair, Brazil, 1960s
    By José Zanine Caldas
    Located in Immenstaad am Bodensee, DE
    This beautiful and very rare chair is attributed to José Zanine Caldas and his company Móveis Artisticos Z. Structure in solid noble wood, totally original, only cleaned and refinish...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

    Materials

    Upholstery, Hardwood

  • José Zanine Caldas Hand-Sculpted Chair in Brazilian Hardwood
    By José Zanine Caldas
    Located in Waalwijk, NL
    José Zanine Caldas, hand-sculpted chair, Brazilian hardwood (Vinhático), Brazil, 1980s This exceptional hand carved chair embodies everything that José Zanine Caldas stood for: love...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

    Materials

    Hardwood

  • Brazilian Modern Armchair in Wood & Mint Faux Leather, Jose Zanine Caldas, 1950s
    By José Zanine Caldas
    Located in New York, NY
    Available right now, this Brazilian Modern armchair in wood & mint faux leather by Jose Zanine Caldas, in the fifties decade is gorgeous! This Brazilian Modern rarity consists of ...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

    Materials

    Faux Leather, Hardwood

Recently Viewed

View All