Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Brazilian, Portuguese, 1906-1992
The Portugese-born furniture designer Joaquim Tenreiro was a pioneer of modernism in Brazil, where his work paved the way for the successes of such mid-20th-century design greats as Sergio Rodrigues, Jorge Zalszupin, and Lina Bo Bardi, an Italian-Brazilian architect whose futuristic São Paulo buildings are only part of her legacy.
Tenreiro’s vintage tables, chairs and storage cabinets are known for their simplicity of line and an elegance that is enhanced by the use of richly grained South American hardwoods such as jacaranda and imbuia.
Tenreiro’s father and grandfather were both master woodworkers, under whom he trained in the craft. He had artistic leanings and in the late 1920s enrolled as a university student at the School of Arts and Crafts in Rio de Janeiro, where he joined a group of upstart modernists protesting the staid, retrograde curriculum at the college. At the time, Brazil was culturally mired in a 19th-century mindset that was reflected in an upper-class preference for academic painting and reproduction furnishings in antique European styles. But the progressive spirit that Tenreiro and his colleagues fostered slowly gained force.
With the terms “lightness” and “functionality” as his bywords, Tenreiro opened a furniture-design business in 1943, where one of his first clients was the legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer. The arrival of Brazil’s first democratically elected government, in 1945, lent modernism official sanction, which culminated in the construction of the new capital, Brasília. Tenreiro eventually stepped away from design in the late 1960s to devote his time to sculpture and painting.
To appreciate how revolutionary Tenreiro’s work seemed, one must imagine the heavy, ornately carved, deeply varnished furniture that was the standard for top-end Brazilian interior design in the 1930s. Tenreiro’s chairs and sofas employed slender, softly angular frames that were only lightly stained to highlight the grains of the local woods. He preferred chairs and chaises with caned seats and backrests that “breathe” in the tropical climate, and as a carpenter and joiner he wanted to show off the beauty of Brazilian wood.
Two versions of a three-legged side chair introduced in 1947 serve as a veritable manifesto for a new age in Brazilian design: Using the stack-lamination technique, Tenreiro bonded together a gently contoured seat made of alternating layers of different-colored native woods to produce a magnificent stripe effect. These chairs, like all Tenreiro works, demonstrate the enduring power of simple design and superb construction — with a teaspoon of flair.
Find vintage Joaquim Tenreiro furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Joaquim Tenreiro
Mid-Century Modern Armchairs in Leather & Wood by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1955, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Mid-Century Modern armchair set in beige leather & hardwood designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in 1955 is a showstopper. Full stop.
The stately pair consists of a hardwood structure with ebonized feet, spring seat and backrest in leather. Both pieces have the "Tenreiro Arquitetura de Interiores SA" seal under the seat which can be seen by opening the zipper underneath the seat (as seen in the pics). The armchairs are very wide, making them not only super rare but very comfortable.
These Brazilian Modern gems effortlessly flex into any Mid-Century Modern, modern, Danish modern or contemporary environment. This piece would also look wonderful in a boho chic, or Hollywood Regency styled home or office as well.
During the restoration process, both armchairs where dissembled to understand their condition and to restore them following Tenreiro’s technique. Part of the process is shown in the last few images.
Back in the fifties, most of the high-end furniture was created as special requests by wealthy patrons. As such, this is the case of this set that belonged to a private residence in Teresopolis, a well-known city for modernist architecture, two hours away from Rio de Janeiro.
The mastery of the work is seen throughout the entire piece: The curved arms, joints and back sitting on a wide comfortable seat resting on Tenreiro’s iconic wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood, Ebony
Brazilian Mid Century Armchairs in Hardwood & Caning, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian pair of armchairs in Rosewood & Caning by Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950s, is nothing less than gorg...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood, Cane
Pair of “Leve” armchairs in hardwood & leather by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1942, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today in NYC with free domestic shipping, these one a kind pair of “Leve” armchairs in hardwood and leather by Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1942are nothing less than spectacular, c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Slim Armchair in Grey Fabric Attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This slim armchair is made with a wooden frame and a soft gray fabric. The legs of the chair are slim, which is a common theme in Brazilian modern armcha...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Pair of “Leve” armchairs in hardwood & leather by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1942, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today in NYC with free domestic shipping, these one a kind pair of “Leve” armchairs in hardwood and leather by Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1942are nothing less than spectacular, c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Joaquim Tenreiro, Pair of "Concha" Armchairs, Solid Wood and Fabric. c. 1955
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992)
Pair of "Concha" Armchairs, 1955
Solid wood and cotton fabric (Donatelli Publisher - Brazil)
73 x 80 x 70 cm
28 37/50 x 31 1/2 x 27 14/25 in
This model,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Hardwood
Rarissime paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Très rare paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro, l’assise en cuir clouté et la structure en caviuna.
Cette paire de fauteuils, très rare sur le marché est une pièce majeure du des...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Brazilian Modern Pair of Concha Armchairs in Green Suede, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian Modern Pair of Concha Armchairs in Green Suede, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1960s, is nothing less tha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood, Suede
Mid-Century Modern Armchair Set in Metal and Suede by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
These armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro are nothing less than specatcular.
The structure of these two chairs is made with painted tubular metal. It features a mustard suede upholstery. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of Curva Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Paire de fauteuils de Joaquim Tenreiro, Brésil, 1950.
Tout le modernisme brésilien dans un fauteuil; ses lignes en courbes et une structure tel une architecture.
Les pieds du fauteu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Mohair, Wood
Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Solid Cabreuva, Midcentury, Brazil, 1950s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Set with 6 dining chair with a delicately curved seat.
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Armchairs in Leather & Wood by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1955, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Mid-Century Modern armchair set in beige leather & hardwood designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in 1955 is a showstopper. Full stop.
The stately pair consists of a hardwood structure with ebonized feet, spring seat and backrest in leather. Both pieces have the "Tenreiro Arquitetura de Interiores SA" seal under the seat which can be seen by opening the zipper underneath the seat (as seen in the pics). The armchairs are very wide, making them not only super rare but very comfortable.
These Brazilian Modern gems effortlessly flex into any Mid-Century Modern, modern, Danish modern or contemporary environment. This piece would also look wonderful in a boho chic, or Hollywood Regency styled home or office as well.
During the restoration process, both armchairs where dissembled to understand their condition and to restore them following Tenreiro’s technique. Part of the process is shown in the last few images.
Back in the fifties, most of the high-end furniture was created as special requests by wealthy patrons. As such, this is the case of this set that belonged to a private residence in Teresopolis, a well-known city for modernist architecture, two hours away from Rio de Janeiro.
The mastery of the work is seen throughout the entire piece: The curved arms, joints and back sitting on a wide comfortable seat resting on Tenreiro’s iconic wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood, Ebony
Pair of L-Shaped Armchair, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Midcentury Brazilian Modern
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This pair of armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) around 1958 is an example of the reductiveness of forms explored by the artist and designer, achieved by using rectangular shapes and no armrests...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Rosewood, Fabric
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Leve”, Brasil, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs model “Leve”
Manufactured by Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda
Brasil, 1942
Jacaranda, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona
M...
Category
1940s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Jacaranda
Brazilian Modern Armchair in Hardwood & Velvet, Att. Joaquim Tenreiro, 1950s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This thick armchair is made with a wooden frame and a soft gray fabric. The legs of the chair are slim, which is a common theme in Brazilian modern armchairs. The cushions are super soft and make the chair very comfortable. This chair is very old but has been refurbished to look brand new. The frame of the chair was originally designed by Joaquin Tenreiro...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Armchair
Manufactured by Joaquim Tenreiro
Brazil, 1954 Peroba wood and leather upholstery
Measurements
61x53x42hcm|24x21x16,5hin
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
Curva Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This exquisitely crafted rosewood curved chair with stick back designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) in 1961/1962 evokes a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aes...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Rosewood
Iconic Leve Armchair in Pau Marfim, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1942, Midcentury Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
The Leve armchair is one of the fundamental pieces in Brazilian Modern design history. Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) in 1942, it is considered...
Category
1940s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Rosewood
Brazilian Mid Century Armchairs in Hardwood & Caning, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian pair of armchairs in Rosewood & Caning by Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950s, is nothing less than gorg...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood, Cane
Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Grey Velvet by Joaquim Tenreiro Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available right now, this very Brazilian Modern armchair pair in hardwood and gray suede designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the sixties is gorgeous!
The model is called “Concha” (Shell in Portuguese). The armchairs feature a hardwood structure upholstered in gray velvet and four toothpick legs. The back (the “shell”) is curved and ends in the arm rests.
What makes these armchairs so special is the beautiful design iconic from Joaquim Tenreiro (Publications attached also). The original upholstery was also suede so we decided to do something similar.
The furniture set photo showcases the armchairs with the matching “Concha” sofa (sold separately) and a Jean Gillon Rodeio...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood, Ultrasuede
Curva Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This exquisitely crafted rosewood curved chair with stick back designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) in 1961/1962 evokes a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aes...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Rosewood
Joaquim Tenreiro Armchair
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Washington, DC
Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos Brasil, 1954
Measurements 86 cm x 76 cm x 83 H cm
34 in x 30 in x 32.5 H in
Provenance Private collection...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Curva Armchair with Tubular Legs in Boucle, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960 - Lot 760
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Introducing the iconic Curva armchair, originally conceived in the 1960s by the renowned Joaquim Tenreiro for Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos. This timeless piece masterfully blends wid...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Leve”, Brasil, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs model “Leve”
Manufactured by Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda
Brasil, 1942
Jacaranda, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona
M...
Category
1940s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Jacaranda
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Pair of Mid-Century Modern armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil 1960s
This pair of square armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro is a stunning examp...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Plywood
Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Chenille by Joaquim Tenreiro 1958
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this Mid-Century Modern armchairs in hardwood & chenille by Joaquim Tenreiro are gorgeous!
These elegant low armchairs consist of a hardwood structure with re-upholstered loose cushions. Besides the small marks of time, the piece is in excellent condition. Also, very comfortable.
Owning a piece designed by Joaquim Tenreiro is not just about acquiring a beautiful piece of furniture; it's also about possessing a part of Brazilian design history and culture. These set is a testament to Tenreiro's futuristic vision about Modernism and it would make an excellent addition to any interior space that values and appreciates the significance of this design.
This model is called “L-shape” and is a great example of Tenreiro’s modernistic approach towards simplifying shapes, contrary to elaborate European standards, still in fashion during the fifties in Brazil. He achieves this by using rectangular shapes and no armrest...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Linen, Hardwood
Mid-Century Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & White Leather Joaquim Tenreiro Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this beautiful pair of Brazilian Modern armchairs are made of ebonized Pau Marfim hardwood & white leather in buttone style.
The structure is composed of curved arms & feet, and were designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the 1940’s. The wood joints are composed of delicate wood pins in Pau Marfim also, which were typically used by the artist at the time. Sold as set of two.
For the restoration process, both armchairs where dissembled to understand their condition and to restore them following Tenreiro’s technique. This is shown in the last 3 images. The set comes from a private residence in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.
This mid-century modern pair would look incredible in any modern, mid-century modern, boho chic or contemporary environment.
Joaquim Tenreiro (1906–1992) was among the leading furniture designers and visual artists in mid-20th century Brazil. Tenreiro was born in Melo, Gouveia Municipality, Portugal into a family of woodworkers and carpenters. In the late 1920s, he emigrated to Rio de Janeiro and began working for the firm of Laubisch & Hirth.
In the early 1940s, Tenreiro was among the first designers in the Brazilian furniture industry to adopt a European modernist vernacular. His initial efforts, including the 1942 "Poltrona Leve," met with considerable success, and in 1943 he established his own firm with factories in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. However, it was not until the 1950s that he began to be recognized as a master furniture designer in Brazil. His design philosophy found a great response with architects who supported modernism.
A forerunner in the use of rediscovered raw materials (like cane and jacaranda -Brazilian Roswood) as well as the creator of a new formal language in 20th-century Brazilian furniture design, he drew on the lessons of past furniture-making as a vital source, not only in the mastery of technical and constructive solutions but also in the aesthetic experience, craftsmanship, and the cultural meaning of his production. As a result, his exquisitely crafted pieces evoke a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aesthetics, firmly bound to the Brazilian cultural milieu.
Literature:
• Arquitetura e Decoracao, no. 12, Jul-Aug 1955
• Tenreiro book...
Category
1940s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Rare et très élégante paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro, vers 1950.
Edité par Tenreiro moveis e decoracoes.
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Rattan, Imbuia
Joaquim Tenreiro Single Armchair Model “Redonda”, Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Single armchair model “Redonda”
Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçoes
Brasil, 1950
Jacaranda wood, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelo...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro, Pair of Armchairs, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of armchairs
Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos
Brasil, 1950
Upholstery, jacaranda legs
Measurements:
67 cm x 89 cm x 73 H cm
26.38 in x 35.04 in x 228.75 H in...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Concha” Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs model “Concha”
Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos
Brasil, 1950
Pau marfim wood, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barce...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Manta Solta Armchairs, Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazilian Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Radical in concept and precise in execution, the Manta Solta set embodies Joaquim Tenreiro’s disruptive vision for modern furniture design in mid-20th-century Brazil. Crafted in 1955...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Pair of Armchairs by Joaquim Tenrei
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
Iconic armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in 1958.
These armchairs have been sourced directly from a private collection in Rio de Janeiro.
Photos of them in their original ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Hardwood
Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro were created in the mid-century modern style in south america during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, José Zanine Caldas, and Percival Lafer. Prices for Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,850 and can go as high as $38,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $21,800.
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