Brazilian Design Lafer
1
to
73
311
204
624
363
235
222
209
17
8
6
3
3
1
1
1
1
498
71
8
6
6
Sort By
Brazilian Coffee Table Design by Percival Lafer, 1960s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Brazilian Coffee Table design by Percival Lafer,1960s
A beautiful Brutalist coffee table by
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Jacaranda, Glass
Armchair MP-13 by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
is to spread the importance and diversity of Brazilian design, a material heritage of immeasurable
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Other
Sofa 'MP-13', by Percival Lafer, Mid-Century Brazilian Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The MP-13 Sofa, designed by Percival Lafer, is a quintessential piece reflecting the Brazilian mid
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Sofa MP-163, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
design quality. Additionally, Lafer is one of the pioneers of the industrialization of Brazilian design
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Steel
'MP-79' Center Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The MP79 center table, designed by the illustrious Percival Lafer, stands as a paragon of mid
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Center Tables
Materials
Limestone
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 47.25 in
Pair of "MP-13" Armchairs, Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
the pioneers of industrialization in Brazilian design processes.
Lafer's attention to detail and
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
H 27.96 in W 41.34 in D 33.47 in
Sofa 'MP-41' in Hardwood, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
of Brazilian mid-century design. Lafer, widely celebrated for his innovative and distinctive style
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Fabric, Wood
H 24.41 in W 76.38 in D 36.62 in
Brazilian Sidetable Rosewood by Percival Lafer
By Percival Lafer
Located in Vienna, AT
A punchy sidetable designed by Percival Lafer, Brazil, 1960. A firm and heavy object, upholstered
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Brutalist Side Tables
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Bjork Lafer Black Leather Recliner Reclining Lounge Chair -Brazil
By Lafer
Located in Southampton, NJ
The ‘Bjork’ chair by Lafer of Brazil.
Sleek streamlined design combined with supple leather and
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Steel
Mp-97 Sofa Midcentury Brazilian Design by Percival Lafer, Cedar Wood, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
Original condition.
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Metal
H 26.38 in W 83.86 in D 33.86 in
Percival Lafer Brazilian Cocktail Coffee Table, 1960s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural cocktail table designed by Percival Lafer, Brazil, 1960s.
This iconic coffee table is
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Teak
Percival Lafer MP1 lounge chairs Brazil 1961
By Percival Lafer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare lounge chairs designed by Percival Lafer and manufactured by Lafer MP, Brazil 1961. Steel
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Percival Lafer Brazilian Modern Sofa and Ottoman
By Percival Lafer
Located in Raleigh, NC
Brazilian Modernism from the most prolific designers of the genre. Percival Lafer designed along side other
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Leather
Side table By Percival Lafer, Brazil, 1960s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Brasília, BR
This beautiful side table designed by Percival Lafer in the 60s, combines design and functionality
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Percival Lafer, Midcentury MP-19 Armchairs, Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in Whitstable, GB
A pair of beautiful MP19 armchairs, designed and manufactured by Percival Lafer. Brazil c. 1967
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Percival Lafer Coffee Table / Side Table Produced by Lafer MP in Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare coffee / side table designed by Percival Lafer. Produced by Lafer MP in Brazil.
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Slate
H 14.97 in W 29.93 in D 25.6 in
Stunning Percival Lafer sofa set in original black leather - Lafer S.A. - Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Extremely rare, complete & matching set from its first owner. 6 pieces.
Designed by Percival Lafer
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Materials
Leather
H 23.63 in W 74.81 in D 35.44 in
Percival Lafer Sculptural Brazilian Brutalist Jacaranda Coffee Table
By Percival Lafer
Located in Elkton, MD
Vintage coffee table designed by Percival Lafer. Features a continuous mixed wood pattern of
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood, Glass
'MP-97' Sofa, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The MP-97 sofa designed by Percival Lafer is a truly exceptional piece of furniture. This sofa is
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood
Percival Lafer Adjustable Lounge Chair MP, Brazil, 1970
By Percival Lafer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
. An amazing piece or Brazilian design, one of the rarer models designed by Percival Lafer.
Like all
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Sculptural 1960s Brazilian Coffee Table by Percival Lafer
By Percival Lafer
Located in Long Island City, NY
A mid-century Brutalist style coffee table with a staggered wooden block relief design, protected
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Wood
Percival Lafer Brazilian Mahogany Sling Chairs and Ottoman Set
By Percival Lafer
Located in Oakland, CA
Pair of mid-century Brazilian Mahogany lounge chairs and ottoman designed by Percival Lafer, circa
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
Percival Lafer coffee table in mixed wood Brazil 1960
By Percival Lafer
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Beautiful sculptural coffee table designed and manufactured by Percival Lafer, Brazil 1960. This
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Hardwood, Teak
Pair of Midcentury Brazilian Armchairs by Percival Lafer, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Lafer was undoubtedly one of the most prolific designers of the Brazilian midcentury period. Responsible
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Foam, Wood
Wonderful Percival Lafer "S-1" Leather Brazilian Rosewood Lounge Chair
By Percival Lafer
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Brazilian exoticness paired with Scandinavian sensibility. Of Lafer's designs, the S-1 is a bit more rare
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Rosewood, Leather
Percival Lafer Smoked Glass Top Brazilian Modern Rosewood End Tables
By Percival Lafer
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Pair of vintage 1970s Percival Lafer, Brazilian Modern side tables. The deep red hue rosewood bases
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Smoked Glass, Rosewood
Percival Lafer - MP-85 , 2 Adjustable Lounge Chairs, Brazil 1971
By Percival Lafer
Located in Immenstaad am Bodensee, DE
the name Lafer MP.
Very rare and versatile set of 2 MP-85 chairs, designed and manufactured by
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Hardwood
1970s Brazilian Leather MP97 Sofa by Percival Lafer
By Percival Lafer
Located in Victoria, BC
We are delighted to unveil the newest addition to our esteemed vintage Brazilian collection: an
Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Materials
Leather
MP-091 Sofa by Percival Lafer, wood and leather, Brazil, 1960S
By Percival Lafer
Located in Argelato, BO
Mid-Century Modern MP-091 3-seater sofa by Percival Lafer in original Brazilian Jacaranda wood and
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Leather, Wood
Geometric "S1" Lounge Chair, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
characterized Brazilian furniture design in the mid-20th century.
Lafer's designs are often recognized for
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Hardwood
H 15.75 in W 26.38 in D 30.71 in
Architectural Sofa in Hardwood, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This sofa, designed by Percival Lafer in the 60's, is a striking piece of mid-century Brazilian
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Fabric, Hardwood
H 24.02 in W 76.78 in D 30.32 in
'MP-105' Coffee Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
design.
Percival Lafer's legacy continues, with his seating designs remaining highly sought after for
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
H 13.78 in W 42.13 in D 19.69 in
Percival Lafer – MP-91 – Lounge Chair – Brazil – 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in NIEUWKUIJK, NB
This truely beautiful lounge chair is called the MP-91 and is designed by Percival Lafer. It’s an
Category
Vintage 1970s South American Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
Percival Lafer "MP-85" Midcentury Brazilian Armchair in Jatobá, 1971
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
is to spread the importance and diversity of Brazilian design, a material heritage of immeasurable
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Fabric
H 27.17 in W 27.17 in D 31.11 in
Brazilian Modern Percival Lafer Coffee Long Coffee Table, c. 1970's
By Percival Lafer
Located in Deland, FL
This extraordinary Mid-Century Modern mosaic coffee table was designed by the renowned Brazilian
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Percival Lafer Midcentury Brazilian "Earth Chair" Set Armchair and Ottoman, 1976
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
internationally, Percival Lafer is a renowned Brazilian designer famous for uniting design to production with
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
H 33.47 in W 35.44 in D 29.34 in
'MP-85' Side Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
likely to possess unique veining, bringing an irreplaceable uniqueness to each piece.
Lafer's design
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Marble
"MP-79" Coffee Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
imaginative and innovative mind of designer and architect Percival Lafer. With its iconic design and timeless
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood
H 15.75 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Pair of MP-51 Armchairs by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century
By Percival Lafer
Located in Whitstable, GB
.
Lafer then made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Brazilian Modernist Sofa in the Style of Percival Lafer, circa 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Norwalk, CT
- became a design powerhouse in its own right. During this time, designers such as Percival Lafer and
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Leather, Wood
MP-71 Armchair with ottoman by Percival Lafer, 1970s, Brazilian Midcentury
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
In his designs, Percival Lafer sought ergonomy and comfort. The MP-71 armchair, from 1973/1974, is
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Cedar
H 26.38 in W 32.49 in D 29.53 in
Vintage MP-97 Lounge Chair by Percival Lafer, 1970s, Brazilian Midcentury
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
In his designs, Percival Lafer sought ergonomy and comfort. This pair of MP-97 lounge chairs by
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Faux Leather, Cedar
H 26.38 in W 32.49 in D 29.53 in
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchair/Ottoman by Percival Lafer in Suede Leather
By Percival Lafer
Located in Belmont, MA
: Lafer is a pioneer of the Brazilian Modernist movement. He is most famous for his chair and sofa designs
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Suede, Rosewood
H 27.5 in W 35 in D 28 in
"MP-29" Coffee Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
those who encounter it.
Lafer's approach to design was not just about creating design, but about
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Iron
H 16.93 in W 47.25 in D 28.35 in
Sofa Mp-61 in Rosewood by Brazilian Designer Percival Lafer, 1973
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
In his designs, Percival Lafer sought ergonomy and comfort. The MP-61 sofa and armchair, from 1973
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Rosewood, Leather, Fiberglass
Percival Lafer Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Cherry and Leather Lounge Chairs
By Percival Lafer
Located in Weesp, NL
lounge chairs by Percival Lafer, crafted with care in São Paolo, Brazil. The chairs feature a beautiful
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Cherry, Leather
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 32.68 in
Pair of MP-97 Lounge Chairs by Percival Lafer, Midcentury, Brazil, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
In his designs, Percival Lafer sought ergonomy and comfort. This pair of MP-97 lounge chairs by
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Foam, Cedar
H 27.17 in W 33.08 in D 32.29 in
Mid Century Pair Rosewood Smoked glass end tables by Percival Lafer Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Pair of rosewood end tables designed by Percival Lafer. Made in Brazil. 1960s. Smoked glass and
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Rosewood, Smoked Glass
H 12.5 in W 24 in D 22 in
Pr. Lounge Chairs by Percival Lafer made in Brazil c. 1970’s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
Incredible pair of lounge chairs designed by Percival Lafer, made in Brazil, circa 1970’s. The
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Brutalist Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pair of "MP-05" Armchair by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
designer Percival Lafer. Originally designed as a variation on the MP-03 armchair, the MP-05 presents a
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
H 27.17 in W 29.93 in D 29.53 in
Rosewood and Suede MP-091 Sofa by Percival Lafer for Lafer MP
By Lafer, Percival Lafer
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed by Brazilian modernist Percival Lafer, this bold sofa, model MP-091, is deeply inviting
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Modern Sofas
Materials
Suede, Rosewood
Percival Lafer 'S-1' Rosewood and Leather Lounge Chairs, Brazil, 1976, Signed
By Percival Lafer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Percival Lafer for Lafer MP. This set was designed in 1976 and was Lafer's concept of merging Brazilian
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
H 27.25 in W 31.5 in D 33.75 in
Pair of Brazilian Mp-5 Midcentury Lounge Chairs by Percival Lafer, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
Lafer, where Percival designed a wide range of products, played a substantial role in Brazilian
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Faux Leather, Cedar
H 27.96 in W 29.53 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Contempo Lounge Chairs, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Designed and produced in 1977 by the master Percival Lafer, this pair of lounge chairs is a true
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
H 31.5 in W 25.99 in D 29.53 in
Midcentury Armchairs MP-13 by Percival Lafer in Hardwood & Beige Leather, Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Brazilian armchair set, model MP-13, designed by Percival Lafer in Hardwood
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
H 27.6 in W 39.4 in D 31.5 in
Mid Century Brutalist Sofa by Percival Lafer made in Brazil c 1970's
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
Rare Brutalist Mid Century sofa, designed by Percival Lafer, made in Brazil, circa 1970's. The sofa
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Brutalist Sofas
Materials
Leather
'MP- 51' Coffee Table in Marble, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
elegance and timeless appeal of Brazilian mid-century modern design. It is a fine representation of Lafer
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Marble
H 15.75 in W 38.98 in D 23.63 in
3-Piece Percival Lafer Designed Coffee and End Tables in Jacaranda Rosewood
By Percival Lafer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Offered is a three piece set of a Percival Lafer designed coffee and end tables in Jacaranda
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Rosewood
H 14.88 in W 47.13 in D 27.38 in
Pair of Rare "MP-01" Armchair, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
industrialization of Brazilian design processes. Lafer's pieces have excellent design quality and are made using the
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
H 27.56 in W 29.14 in D 30.32 in
"MP-43 Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
choice.
Architect and designer Percival Lafer believed that instead of idealizing design, often
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
H 29.53 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
- 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Brazilian Design Lafer", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
Brazilian Design Lafer For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the Brazilian design lafer you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, animal skin and leather, every Brazilian design lafer was constructed with great care. Find 590 options for an antique or vintage Brazilian design lafer now, or shop our selection of 6 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a Brazilian design lafer — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Each Brazilian design lafer bearing mid-century modern or modern hallmarks is very popular. A well-made Brazilian design lafer has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Percival Lafer, Lafer and L'Atelier San Paulo are consistently popular.
How Much is a Brazilian Design Lafer?
Prices for a Brazilian design lafer can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $575 and can go as high as $44,000, while the average can fetch as much as $5,243.
A Close Look at mid-century-modern Furniture
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
More Ways To Browse
8 Sculptural Dining Chairs
Vintage Leather Bomber Jacket
Lafer 97
Lafer Mp 97
Moveis Lafer
Iron Twin Bed Pair
Percival Lafer Mp 41
Antique Vintage Loveseat
Brazilian Animal Skin Chaise Longues
Lafer Mp 41
Mp 41
Percival Mp 41
Lafer Chair Mp97
Wooden Slat Brazilian Hardwood
Brazilian Cherry Lounge Chairs
Lafer Fiberglass
Mp97 Lounge Chair By Percival Lafer
Mp 97 Lounge Chair