Joaquim Tenreiro: 8-chair set in solid wood. Laubisch & Hirth. 1940s / 50s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in São Paulo, SP
Elegant set of 8 dining chairs design attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro and produced by Laubisch Hirth & Cia. in Brazil in the 1950s. The pieces reflect Tenreiro’s refined approach ...
Faux Leather, Wood, Hardwood
Brazilian Modern Credenza, Attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro for Laubisch & Hirth
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this Brazilian Modern credenza, attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro in 1942 during his last year at Laubisch & Hirth, a high-end furniture firm in Rio de Janeiro, befor...
Brass
Joaquim Tenreiro, Side Table, Brazil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Formica, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Leve”, Brasil, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro, Set of Eight Dining Room Chairs, Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Cane, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Two Seats Bench, Brasil, 1958
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Cane, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Leve”, Brasil, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Side Table, Brazil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Glass, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Concha” Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro Three-Seat Sofa, Brazil, 1954
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Three-Seat Sofa, Brasil, 1954
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Single Armchair Model “Redonda”, Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Coffee Table, Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Marble
Joaquim Tenreiro, Set of 8 Chairs Variant of the “Cadeira baixa para quarto”
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Cane, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Wood Dining Chair Manufactured by Tenreiro Movèis, Brazil, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Coffee Table with Five Woods, Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Wood
Credenza in Cherry Wood, Joaquim Tenreiro for Laubitch & Hirth, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in 1942, this credenza dates to the designer’s final year at Laubisch & Hirth, a leading furniture manufacturer in Rio de Janeiro.
Hardwood, Cherry
Joaquim Tenreiro Rosewood and Cane "U" Chairs - Set of 8
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
In 1928 he moved to Brazil, where he began to work with Laubisch & Hirth and Leandro Martins, manufacturers that were specialized in European furniture.
Natural Fiber, Rattan, Rosewood
Unavailable
H 37.8 in W 27.96 in D 24.41 in
Joaquim Tenreiro Rocking Chair, Jacaranda Wood & Cane, Brazilian
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Veyrier du Lac, FR
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at 22 and began working at various furniture manufacturers including Leandro Martins, Fran...
Cane, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Curva Sofa
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 furni...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Curva Armchairs
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 furni...
Fabric, Jacaranda
1950's Joaquim Tenreiro Rare Coffee Table
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Upon immigrating to Rio de Janeiro in the late 1920s, he began honing his skills at the firm of Laubisch Hirth, laying the foundation for his illustrious career in furniture design.
Glass, Wood
Unavailable
H 17.72 in W 39.38 in D 39.38 in
Modernist Pair of Coffee Tables by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1967
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Paris, FR
He embarked on a career as a designer by working at various furniture manufacturers such as Leandro Martins, Francisco Gomes and Laubisch & Hirth, which catered to wealthy Brazilian ...
Copper
Sold
H 28 in W 79 in D 50 in
Credenza in Rosewood, Attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro for Laubisch & Hirth 1940s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro and produced in the 1940s during his formative years at Laubisch & Hirth, this exceptional credenza represents one of the earliest expressions of B...
Marble
Sold
H 5.19 in W 78.75 in D 17.72 in
Joaquim Tenreiro Buffet/Side Board, Jacaranda (rosewood) wood, Brazil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro, Poltrona Leve, Pau Marfim Ebonized, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Zürich, CH
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Upholstery, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro round dining table Brazil 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
In the late 1920s, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and started working for the company Laubisch Hirth. During the early 1940s, Tenreiro became one of the pioneering designers in ...
Glass, Rosewood
Sold
H 34.6 in W 15.7 in D 18.1 in
Brazilian Modern 4 Chair Set in Hardwood, Cane, Leather, Joaquim Tenreiro 1950s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 ...
Leather, Cane, Hardwood
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Rosewood and Cane U Chair, circa 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
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 fur...
Cane
Sold
H 31.5 in W 70.87 in D 29.14 in
Two Seater Sofa, wooden frame and upholsterd cushions, by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Whitstable, GB
In the late 1920s, he emigrated to Rio de Janeiro and began working for the firm of Laubisch Hirth. A decade later he founded Langenbach & Tenreiro, which would become renowned for i...
Fabric, Hardwood
Sold
H 31.89 in W 20.48 in D 19.69 in
Four Brazilian Midcentury Dining Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Utrecht, NL
In the beginning he worked for various furniture companies like Francisco Gomes, Leandro Martins and Laubisch & Hirth, where he had to copy traditional European designs for their wea...
Cane, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro Bloch writing desk Brazil 1965
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
After graduating, he 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...
Rosewood
Sold
H 17.72 in W 17.72 in D 31.5 in
Three Mid-Century Modern Hardwood & Cane Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1950 Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 ...
Straw, Hardwood
Sold
H 28 in W 23.5 in D 23.6 in
Mid-Century Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & White Leather Joaquim Tenreiro Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 ...
Leather, Hardwood, Rosewood
Sold
H 30 in W 57 in D 28 in
Brazilian Modern Desk in Hardwood by Joaquim Tenreiro for Bloch, 1966, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 Brazilia...
Hardwood
Sold
H 32 in W 17 in D 18 in
Set of 6 Dining Chairs in Rosewood & Caning, Att. to Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
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 fu...
Cane, Hardwood
Sold
H 33.9 in W 17.3 in D 17.3 in
Set of 8 Brazilian Modern Chairs in Hardwood & Cane by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
In the late 1920s, he immigrated 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 fur...
Cane, Wood, Hardwood
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs, Brasil, 1954
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Born in Portugal to a family with a great tradition in furniture making, he moved to Brazil at the age of 22 and embraced a career as a designer by working at various furniture manuf...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 29 in W 64.5 in D 29.5 in
Brazilian Designer Joaquim Tenreiro Vintage Rosewood Desk with White Glass Top
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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 fur...
Rosewood
Joaquim Tenreiro Rosewood and Cane U Chair, circa 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
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 fur...
Cane, Rosewood
Sideboard by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, Circa 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Sideboard by Joaquim Tenreiro, a early piece in his production; 1942, indicated by the label of the factory : Laubisch-Hirth. After 1943, Tenreiro will run his own production factory.
Brass
Chaise Longue by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, circa 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Probably a unique piece, as it has never been seen another one on the market, made on the ealiest period of Tenreiro production. Laubisch and Hirth. The label under the seat indicate...
Upholstery, Jacaranda, Palisander
$82,000 / set
H 26.78 in W 35.44 in D 61.03 in
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" Sofa for De Sede, Brown Leather, 1974, Set of 4
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofas for De Sede, brown leather, Switzerland, 1974, set of four. Ubald Klug designed this rare modular DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofa as a real living landsc...
Leather
$65,000
H 15.25 in W 69.5 in D 31 in
George Nakashima, Freeform Coffee Table, English Walnut, Studio USA 1971
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in High Point, NC
A unique and sizable coffee / cocktail table in the "sled-shape" style. Produced by Nakashima Studio, New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States. Dated 1971 Executed in English Walnut...
Walnut
$990 / item
H 18.5 in Dm 17.7 in
IDE Travertine Stone Side Table, 17.7Ø"x18.5"H - Accent, End Table, Coffee Table
Located in St Petersburg, US
IDE Table: a stunning piece that embodies the natural elegance of travertine stone. This table is crafted with precision and attention to detail, making it a unique addition to any ...
Travertine, Stone
$2,750 / item
H 17.72 in Dm 14.97 in
Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Amber by Yiannis Ghikas
By Yiannis Ghikas, Miniforms
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Soda was born upside-down, with a puff of air. It weighs 20 kilos, and it is blown, drawn out and shaped by three master glassmakers. The result is a single volume of glass with thre...
Blown Glass
Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Monumental size Bamboo lamps. Crafted in Italy and made to order, these lamps are modern and chic. Production lead time 2-4 weeks. Base diameter 8 inches, hat diameter 20 inches, he...
Brass
$78,400 / set
H 36.62 in W 40.95 in D 26.97 in
Pair of Brasiliana Armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, 1965, Brazilian Midcentury
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Brasiliana is a series composed of a sofa and armchair designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) in 1965 and produced by his company, L'atelier. These rare pieces have molde...
Rosewood, Fabric
Tiled Mirror
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
TILED MIRROR, designed in 2025. This mirror is crafted with hand-built tiles that are available in customer's own choice of glaze. Crafted by skilled artisans in Northern Portugal....
Ceramic, Mirror, Walnut
Finn Juhl, Rare Sofa, Walnut, Fabric, United States, 1951
By Finn Juhl, Baker Furniture Company
Located in High Point, NC
A rare fabric and walnut sofa designed by Finn Juhl and produced by Baker, USA, 1950s. Fully restored, pre-restoration images available upon request. Overall Dimensions (inches): 4...
Fabric, Walnut
Jorge Zalszupin Carrinho de Chá Rosewood Bar Cart Trolley
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Oakland, CA
Jorge Zalszupin Carrinho de Chá bar cart crafted of Jacaranda Rosewood with solid brass wheels and carved removable tray. Measurements 19.66''W x 44.25"D x 27.25''H Bottom shel...
Brass
$150,000 / set
H 31.25 in W 22.5 in D 19.25 in
Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto Set of Twelve Africa Walnut Dining Chairs 1975
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto extraordinary set of twelve dining chairs model 'Africa' with sculptural frames in walnut including ebony with seats in saddle or cogn...
Brass
$18,069 / set
H 32.29 in W 40.16 in D 33.47 in
Rare Pair of Authentic 1950s Roberto Menghi Hall Chairs, Italy, New Pure Mohair
By Roberto Menghi, Arflex
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original pair of Roberto Menghi Hall chairs, produced by Arflex, Italy, 1950s. Newly upholstered in a premium yellow gold pure mohair fabric. The metal frames have been restored ...
Steel
$42,000 / set
H 25.01 in W 33.86 in D 33.86 in
Mid-Century Modern Cube Armchairs by Brazilian Designer Jorge Zalszupin, 1970s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous pair of Cube Armchairs is a statement for itself. The Cube collection is a creation by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020), designed c. 1970, and it still leaves us breathless....
Velvet, Wood
Custom Made Model 54 Mohair Velvet Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design Model 54 lounge chair A custom made lounge chair developed and hand-made using the highest quality materials. The 54 chair is a contemporary update of an obscure desi...
Sheepskin, Beech
$26,000
H 29.9 in W 39.4 in D 37.4 in
“Moleca” Lounge Chair with Ottoman in Rosewood & Leather, Sergio Rodrigues, 1963
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in New York, NY
An exceptionally rare example of the Moleca lounge chair and ottoman, designed by Sergio Rodrigues in 1963 and produced exclusively that year. The model represents a pivotal moment ...
Leather, Hardwood, Wood
$46,000
H 11.82 in W 113 in D 23.63 in
Vintage Mucki Bench in Rosewood by Sergio Rodrigues, 1958, Brazilian Midcentury
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in New York, NY
Designed in 1958 by Sergio Rodrigues (1927-2014) and manufactured by Oca, the Mucki bench is an incredible and versatile piece – ideal for different kinds of ambiances, indoor and ou...
Hardwood
$60,250
H 32.29 in W 78.94 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Credenza by Carlo Hauner And Martin, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
A Caviúna credenza designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s. Credenzas are traditionally used in dining rooms for storage and...
Rosewood
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.
More often than not, vintage mid-century Brazilian furniture designs, with their gleaming wood, soft leathers and inviting shapes, share a sensuous, unique quality that distinguishes them from the more rectilinear output of American and Scandinavian makers of the same era.
Commencing in the 1940s and '50s, a group of architects and designers transformed the local cultural landscape in Brazil, merging the modernist vernacular popular in Europe and the United States with the South American country's traditional techniques and indigenous materials.
Key mid-century influencers on Brazilian furniture design include natives Oscar Niemeyer, Sergio Rodrigues and José Zanine Caldas as well as such European immigrants as Joaquim Tenreiro, Jean Gillon and Jorge Zalszupin. These creators frequently collaborated; for instance, Niemeyer, an internationally acclaimed architect, commissioned many of them to furnish his residential and institutional buildings.
The popularity of Brazilian modern furniture has made household names of these designers and other greats. Their particular brand of modernism is characterized by an émigré point of view (some were Lithuanian, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Portuguese, and Italian), a preference for highly figured indigenous Brazilian woods, a reverence for nature as an inspiration and an atelier or small-production mentality.
Hallmarks of Brazilian mid-century design include smooth, sculptural forms and the use of native woods like rosewood, jacaranda and pequi. The work of designers today exhibits many of the same qualities, though with a marked interest in exploring new materials (witness the Campana Brothers' stuffed-animal chairs) and an emphasis on looking inward rather than to other countries for inspiration.
Find a collection of vintage Brazilian furniture on 1stDibs that includes chairs, sofas, tables and more.