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Branco & Preto Center Tables

Brazilian

Six young architects joined forces in the 1950s to create Branco & Preto in São Paulo. Together, they created high-end modern furniture inspired by the spirited reinvigoration of art and architecture in Brazil.

The six founders — Miguel Forte, Jacob Ruchti, Plínio Croce, Roberto Aflalo, Carlos Millan and Chen Y Hwa — all attended Mackenzie Architecture University, a school led by architect and modernist critic Cristiano Stockler das Neves who prioritized neoclassicism. As progressive students, the founders rebelled against this status quo in their work.

During the 1950s, there were few designers of modern furniture based in Brazil aside from Brazilian furniture firm Mòveis Artisticos Z and Portuguese-born furniture designer Joaquim Tenreiro. Branco & Preto helped fill a wide gap in the market.

Brazilian modernist pioneers Rino Levi and Gregori Warchavchik were important early connections. Through them, Ruchti and Forte met American architect Philip Johnson and German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe; meanwhile, Croce, Alfalo and Millan drew inspiration from the works of Austrian-American architect Richard Neutra and Hungarian-American architect and furniture designer Marcel Breuer.

As a proponent of “Rio modernism,” Branco & Preto often combined glass, iron and calacatta marble with Brazilian woods like jacaranda and caviuna to make its handcrafted furnishings. Free from plywood and screws, this furniture required the expertise of skilled woodworkers, especially for the MF5 armchair and slatted coffee table. Both designed by Millan, they are among Branco & Preto’s most recognized works.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Branco & Preto tables, seating and case pieces and storage cabinets.

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Creator: Branco & Preto
Branco e Preto 'Carlos Milan' Brazilian mid-century coffee table jacaranda, 1950
Branco e Preto 'Carlos Milan' Brazilian mid-century coffee table jacaranda, 1950

Branco e Preto 'Carlos Milan' Brazilian mid-century coffee table jacaranda, 1950

$21,778

Branco e Preto 'Carlos Milan' Brazilian mid-century coffee table jacaranda, 1950

By Carlos Milan, Branco & Preto

Located in Barcelona, ES

Branco e Preto (Carlos Milan). Coffee table. Manufactured by Mahlmeister & Cia, Brazil, 1950s. Solid jacaranda, ebonized wooden structure. Measurement...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Branco & Preto Center Tables

Materials

Jacaranda

Mid-Century Modern Center Table by Estúdio Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s
Mid-Century Modern Center Table by Estúdio Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s

Mid-Century Modern Center Table by Estúdio Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s

$9,000

Mid-Century Modern Center Table by Estúdio Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s

By Branco & Preto

Located in Deerfield Beach, FL

Mid-Century Modern Center Table by Estúdio Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s Center table structured in solid wood, with a nested glass top. A classic design by Estúdio Branco &...

Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Branco & Preto Center Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

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Branco & Preto center tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Branco & Preto center tables 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 Branco & Preto center tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original center tables by Branco & Preto 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 center tables by Sergio Rodrigues, Jorge Zalszupin, and Giuseppe Scapinelli. Prices for Branco & Preto center tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $9,656 and can go as high as $21,150, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $20,610.

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