Forma began in São Paulo, under the leadership of Italian designer Carlo Hauner and Austrian architect and interior designer Martin Eisler. Hauner studied drawing and technical drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan. After participating in the Venice Biennale, he emigrated to São Paulo, where he established the furniture manufacturer Móveis Artesanal, for which Carlo and Martin — as well as Carlo’s brother Ernesto Hauner — would create a range of pieces for the home.
In 1936, Eisler earned a degree in architecture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he studied under Oskar Strnad and Clemens Holzmeister. With World War II looming, he left Austria immediately after graduating. He first went to Czechoslovakia, to which some of his family had already fled. In 1938, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and opened his interior design firm Interieur Forma.
Eisler relocated to Brazil in the early 1950s, where he met Hauner. At the time, Eisler had been looking for help producing furniture for his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf, and contacted Hauner. The two found that they had a shared vision, and with financial help from Wolf, they opened Galeria Artesanal as a storefront for Móveis Artesanal.
Looking to expand into international sales, the duo rebranded the company Forma. Sérgio Rodrigues, who helped launch a branch of Artesanal in Curitiba, was put in charge of interiors at Forma. That company soon became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture — it sold its own sculptural rattan lounge chairs, bookcases and other case pieces crafted with rosewood or jacaranda, and Forma was eventually distributing furniture licensed from iconic American manufacturer Knoll, thereby bringing works by noted designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian market.
Forma stands at the forefront of a revival of Brazilian modern furniture. Fashioned from high-grade regionally sourced hardwoods, leather and iron, even Forma's earliest creations have stood the test of time. The company’s alluring mid-century modern works appealed to homeowners at its peak, from the 1950s through the ’70s, and given the broadening interest in Brazilian furniture and the likes of designers such as Rodrigues, vintage Forma is making a major comeback today.
The Forma furniture company continued producing masterfully crafted furniture into the 1970s, until Eisler's death in 1977. Forma folded soon after, but Eisler's company in Argentina, Interieur Forma, is still in business today.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler furniture for sale.
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, Vintage Sofa for Forma, 1958, Brazil, Cream Fabric
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Sofa in Cream Fabric for Forma Brazil, 1958
Upholstery, Wood
Forma S.a Rare Sofa by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Ca 1954 Midcentury Brazil
By Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This rare sofa was designed in 1955 and produced by Forma, a company directed by Carlo Hauner (1927- 1996) and Martin Eisler (1913- 1977). This piece is an icon and illustrates some ...
Leather, Rosewood
"Concha" Sofa by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Modern Brazilian Design, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, modern Brazilian sofa, iron, and velvet. Brazil, circa 1950s. Shell or "Concha" sofa is made of iron and recently reupholstered in yellow velvet by the experienced craftsmen in our team. The upholstery was chosen considering the contemporary proposal of the piece. The sofa features a comfortable seat, clean design, and freedom of user movements and is constructed in a frame with metal rods elegantly positioned to give strength to the piece, a common trait of designers. The buttons velvet coated between seat and backs were used, by the designers, for an excellent velvet finish, and the restoration proposal was to maintain them. Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner were the primary designers for the iconic Brazilian furniture...
Iron
$12,536Sale Price|20% Off
Brazilian Design Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Costela Sofa, 1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Renens, CH
The Costela (Rib) chairs and sofas by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler became an instant success after their introduction in the Brazilian market, and it wasn’t for long that productio...
Metal
Brazilian Mid-Century Cream Sofa by Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner, Jacaranda wood
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
MArtin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Sofa (two units available) Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1955 Caviuna wood legs, velvet and cotton upholstery Measurements 240 cm x 77 cm x 72h cm. 94,48 in x 30,3 in x 28,3h in. Literature Casa & Jardim, 1956. Nº 92 Provenance: Private collection, Sao Paulo Bio: Beside Carlos Hauner, Martin Eisler (1913-1977) was the founder for the iconic Brazilian furniture company Forma. He was born in Vienna, Austria, and studied architecture in his country. In 1938 he moved to Buenos Aires. After meeting Carlos Hauner in Brazil, he started traveling there frequently to collaborate on designs and, they founded Forma to sell their own designs as well as pieces licensed from Knoll International. Eisler also opened Forma in Buenos Aires, along with partners Arnold Hakel and Susi Aczel...
Cotton, Velvet, Wood
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Brazilian Mid-century Design White upholstered Sofa
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler (1913-1977) and Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Sofa Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1950s Black painted metal, white/cream fabric upholstery...
Metal
Costela Sofa by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Red Lion, PA
Costela Sofa made out of wood with metal legs Comes with reupholstered cushions Very good condition Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma Brazil 1950s,
Metal
$22,901Sale Price / set|40% Off
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Sofa & Armchairs Lounge Set, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Whitstable, GB
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler midcentury sofa and armchairs; 1950s Sofa designed for their manufacturing company, Forma around 1955. This model is an icon of Brazilian midcentury design and was used to illustrate some advertisements for Forma in the 1950s. We offer the set of sofa and matching armchairs. They are stunning together. The set has been newly reupholstered in beautiful blue velvet, feet in imbuia wood, lacquered finish. Sofa Dimensions: H28.35, W76.78, D30.32 in H72, W195, D77 cm Armchairs Dimenions: H 28.35, W30.32, D30.32 in H72, W77, D77 cm The creative duo were the leading designers behind the Brazilian furniture company Forma, and produced many celebrated pieces of Brazilian midcentury design. Martin Eisler (1913-1977) was born in Vienna, and studied architecture in his country. Eisler left Europe in 1938 due to the rise of fascist regimes. He first lived in Buenos Aires, where he settled and worked as an architect and designer. There here...
Velvet, Hardwood
Price Upon Request
Rare credenza by Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, England
Extremely rare bench credenza by Martin Eisler c. 1950 for Moveis Artesanal.
Hardwood, Cane
Price Upon Request
Pair of Rare slatted bench by Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, England
Extremely rare bench created by Martin Eisler c. 1950 for Moveis Artesanal.
Hardwood
$17,961
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 33.08 in
Brazilian Lounge Chair Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner - "Costela" Forma, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Rosendahl, DE
This rare Costela Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, produced by Forma in the 1950s, features solid wood ribs paired with a vintage leopard-patterned teddy fabric. A tru...
Steel
$40,600
H 29.3 in W 28.35 in D 31.5 in
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner "Costela" Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece. It was designed by Martin Eisler (1913 - 1977) in 1953 and manufactured by the c...
Steel
$68,900
H 33.08 in W 30.12 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This chaise Lounge is one of the fantastic designs by Martin Eisler (1913-1977) and produced by Móveis Artesanal and then Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. Galeria Artesanal, the first showroom that presented the furniture and objects created by Moveis Artesanal and HG Ceramica, used to sell this design. The traditional chaises...
Iron
$16,800
H 31.03 in W 26.78 in D 29.73 in
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner "Costela" Lounge Chair, Midcentury Brazil, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece. It was designed by Martin Eisler (1913 - 1977) in 1953 and manufactured by the companies Móveis Artesanal and Fo...
Fabric, Hardwood
$7,500
H 29.5 in W 59.1 in D 33.5 in
Brazilian Modern Set of Four Chairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, c. 1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian Modern Set of Four Chairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, c. 1960s is nothing less than gorg...
Fabric, Cane, Hardwood
$35,000 / set
H 27.16 in W 30.31 in D 29.52 in
Rare Forma armchairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in São Paulo, BR
This particular piece showcases a rare design crafted by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma in 1955. Though Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler are primarily known for their well-s...
Wood
$5,800
H 31 in W 28 in D 30 in
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, Lounge Chair, Iron, Rattan, Brazil, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in High Point, NC
An iron and rattan lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler and produced by Forma S.A., Brazil, 1950s. Heavy oxidation to metal legs. Overall Dimensions (inches): 31” ...
Iron
$4,701
H 31.5 in W 28.35 in D 28.35 in
'Concha' Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1950's
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Uithoorn, NL
'Concha' Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1950's This lounge chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler was produced in Brazil in the 1950's by Forma. The chair...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Sofa by Carlo Hauner, Brazil, 1960s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Sofa by Carlo Hauner, Brazil, 1960s Sofa with wooden stick legs and fabric-covered frame.
Fabric, Wood
$4,701
H 35.04 in W 26.38 in D 26.78 in
PL22 chair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for OCA, Brazil 1960s.
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, OCA Brazil
Located in Landgraaf, NL
PL22 chair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for OCA, Brazil 60s. Solid tropical hardwood frame and reupholstered in cow hide leather. Frame has a nice patin...
Cowhide, Hardwood
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Concha Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1950
By Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning and comfortable ‘Concha’ (shell) lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma Moveis, Brazil 1950. This chair has a solid steel structur...
Metal
$36,400
H 33.47 in W 25.2 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Modern Single Armchair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1955
By Carlo Hauner, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous armchair was designed by Martin Eisler and produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in 1955. Featuring a slender iron structure with brass tips, the piece is com...
Iron
Sold
H 24.41 in W 104.34 in D 27.56 in
Sofa with integrated tabletop by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for forma, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Brussels, BE
Sofa with integrated tabletop by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for forma, 1950s Carlo Hauner was an Italian-born Brazilian designer and architect, widely recognized for his work in t...
Fabric, Wood
White Fabric Sofa by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Martin Eisler (Vienna, 1913 – Brasile, 1977) & Carlo Hauner (Brescia, 1927 – Isola di Salina, 1997) European by birth and Brazilian by adoption, Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner began...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 33.08 in W 54.73 in D 27.56 in
Mid-Century Modern Sofa Model "Costela" by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Brussels, BE
Sofa Model "Costela" by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma Brazil, 1950s New Upholstery.
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 32.68 in W 55.12 in D 33.47 in
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Midcentury Costela Sofas for Forma Brazil, 1950s
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Couple of brasilian sofas model Costela designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma Brazil with varnished tubular steel, curved dark wood veneered plywood, a...
Metal
Sold
H 24.41 in W 27.56 in D 104.34 in
Brazilian Midcentury Bench by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1950s
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Extremely rare bench by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma, Brazil, 1950s. Made from fine solid Brazilian walnut with a beautiful grain and black metal legs. The backrest can b...
Hardwood