Sergio Gutierrez

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.

An alluring sitting area doesn’t have to be in the exact center of the room, but an antique or vintage center table is a great tool to partition off such an area.

By definition, a center table is a piece of furniture that is placed in the center of a room. Initially these appeared in the foyer or entryway before making their way into the living room. While one might keep seating furniture such as sofas against the walls to avoid limiting movement and closing off space, a center table in the living room can fill this central space without restricting the flow of the room.

One of the purposes of a center table is to anchor the rest of the furniture. It draws the eye to a specific area and invites guests to sit down. When thinking about how you’ll arrange your furniture, a good rule of thumb is to set tables an arm’s length away from seating. For instance, place a coffee table about 18 inches from a sofa so that it is within reach but not too close. In more modern layouts, tables are sometimes placed to the side to leave a large open area for foot traffic.

Because of its central position, a center table is one of the first things people will notice when entering a room. It’s important to consider how a center table can add to a room, as it’s a crucial element for defining the feel and theme of a room. Some center tables are mainly for decor, while others can be a great place to sit around over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Center tables are perfect for displaying decorative objects, floral arrangements, books or a cluster of prized antique vases given the prominent position of your table and the attention it will get.

The clean lines and organic forms that we typically associate with mid-century modern center tables means that they will bring a dose of sophistication to a space, and examples from the era can be found in square and round shapes. Wood tables were popular with furniture makers of the period, but versions in glass and marble are also widely available. Because Art Deco designers frequently incorporated ornamental embellishments such as exotic animal hides and veneers in their seating, case pieces and other furniture, your Art Deco center table will likely make a strong statement in any room. Alternatively, if you’re searching for something small and unassuming, Regency tables could be an option for your space.

Find a growing collection of antique and vintage center tables on 1stDibs today.