The Campana Brothers were among Brazil’s foremost contemporary furniture designers. Inspired by their country’s vernacular culture, Humberto and Fernando Campana (b. 1953; 1961–2022) combined everyday objects in unexpected ways — often waste materials like rope, cardboard, plastic tubing, and aluminum wire — to make their singular chairs, decor, lighting and other items. Their designs have been manufactured by such companies as Alessi, Swarovski and Cappellini. And they received numerous honors, including being named Designer of the Year both at Design Miami in 2008, and by Maison & Objet in Paris in 2012.
Humberto Campana was born in Rio Claro in 1953 and earned a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of São Paulo. Fernando was born in 1961 in Brotas, and graduated from the São Paulo School of Fine Arts with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.
The Campana brothers started working together in 1983, crafting furniture using their signature method of adaptive reuse. Their pieces frequently refer to Brazilian social and cultural traditions and entities. Among these are the country’s favelas, or shantytowns, that have grown up around major cities. An homage to the resourcefulness with which the residents of São Paulo’s favelas make use of the materials at hand, repurposing cast-off objects in ingenious designs and constructions, their Favela armchair is made of cast-off strips of wood (the first one was made from discarded slats from a fruit market), which are glued and nailed together seemingly at random. The end result, however, is a compact, solid and well-proportioned chair.
By 1997, some of the Campanas’ pieces were being produced and sold in Italy, including the Edra Vermelha armchair, constructed of cord handwoven around a steel frame. In 1998, the brothers became the first Brazilian designers to have their work exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Today their furniture is included in MoMA’s permanent collection and in those of numerous other major institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Vitra Design Museum.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Campana Brothers armchairs, case pieces and other furniture.
Edra Aster Papposus Sofa by Fernando & Humberto Campana, Italy, 2006
By Campana Brothers, Edra
Located in Antwerp, BE
The Aster Papposus sofa is an iconic sculptural seating piece designed in 2006 by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra. Composed of two complementary, intertwined volumes, it has n...
Velvet, Foam, Down, Feathers
$100,000
H 25.6 in W 137.8 in D 74.81 in
Monumental “Boa” Sofa by Fernando and Humberto Campana — Brazil, 2002
By Fernando and Humberto Campana
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
A striking icon of contemporary Brazilian design, the “Boa” sofa, created by celebrated designers Fernando and Humberto Campana in 2002, stands as a bold testament to the Campana Bro...
Velvet
Pair of Chairs by the Campana Brothers for Edra, 'Jenette'
By Campana Brothers, Edra
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of Chairs by the Campana Brothers for Edra, 'Jenette' Pair of Red Jenette chairs by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra, Italy, 21st century. ...
Metal
Corbeille Leather Sofa by Francesco Binfare for Edra
By Edra, Francesco Binfaré
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A post modern "Corbeille" Sofa by Francesco Binfare for Edra. Eight leather cushions are are held in place by an accordion style tubular metal frame. Original leather upholstery. Sou...
Metal
Red Mid-century 3-seater Leather Sofa by Edra, Italy 2000
By Edra
Located in Meulebeke, BE
A bold and sculptural seating piece, this 2000 Italian sofa by Edra brings together the brand’s unmistakable design language with a nod to mid‑century modern aesthetics. Upholstered ...
Leather
Fellini Italian Leather Sectional Sofa with 3 Reclining Seats
Located in New York, NY
Fellini leather sectional sofa with 3 reclining seats with soft motion of the head, back and leg rest. 1x Arm seat with motion (electric) 1x Armless s...
Stainless Steel
$38,000
H 25.6 in W 141.74 in D 70.87 in
Boa Living Sofa Lounge by Humberto & Fernando Campana for Edra
By Edra, Campana Brothers
Located in Aachen, NW
Amazing Boa sofa living lounge by the Campana Brothers Humberto & Fernando and produced by Edra in Italy. The Boa sofa comes out of a Belgian castle. The 120m long snake tubular str...
Fabric
$12,283Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 34.26 in W 129.14 in D 40.95 in
Edra Grande Soffice Sofa and Footstool
By Francesco Binfaré, Edra
Located in Rochester, England
Introducing the Grande Soffice Sofa and Footstool by Edra, a luxurious addition to any living space. The sofa boasts a soft and inviting design, with plush cushions filled with goose...
Fabric, Foam
$5,268
H 29.53 in W 37.41 in D 27.56 in
Verhelma chair by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra, Green Rope, Aluminium
Located in Brecht, BE
rare find in this green color the Vermelha chair by the brothers Campana, love the design, faded color but still in very good vintage condition ...
Aluminum, Steel
2 Piece Sectional Sofa made in Italy by Saba Italia
By Saba Italia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
2 piece sectional sofa designed and manufactured in Italy by Saba Italia. The sofa has a chrome base with removable cushions and it comes with 2 pillows, ...
Chrome
$2,950 / item
H 44.1 in W 96.46 in D 31.5 in
'Veranda' 3-Seater Fabric Sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Italy, 1980s
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Almelo, NL
This multicolored and adjustable sofa was designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, circa 1980s. This smart and highly desirable Italian design features seats that are upholstered wi...
Steel
Vermelha Armchair by Fernando & Humberto Campana
By Fratelli Campana
Located in Doral, FL
Vermelha Armchair by Fernando & Humberto Campana 1993 - 98 / 2014 Edra Steel frame epoxy lacquered. Seat in cotton and acrylic rope. Feet in brushed aluminum. 500 meters of rope wo...
Aluminum, Steel
$4,750
H 26 in W 47 in D 32 in
Clear Anemone Chair by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra, Italy 2001
By Edra, Fernando and Humberto Campana
Located in New York, NY
Clear Anemone Chair by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra, Italy 2001. Made of translucent hollow plastic tubes which are hand woven methodically to create a comfortable seat th...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Fernando and Humberto Campana “Boa” Sofa for Edra, Italy, 2002
By Campana Brothers, Edra
Located in Miami, FL
Excellent example of the creative talents of the Campana Bros. The Boa sofa, a woven nest constructed of 120 meters of polyurethane and goose feather tubing ...
Velvet, Foam, Down, Feathers