Cuban-born mid-century furniture maker and interior designer Clara Porset is having a moment in museums such as New York’s Museum of Modern Art and beyond, with attention being paid not just to her designs for chairs, lamps and tables but to her life story, with its ties to feminism, modernization and the identification of value in indigenous materials and methods.
Born into a wealthy Cuban family, Porset studied at Columbia University, the Sorbonne and Black Mountain College in North Carolina, which she attended at the urging of Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius and where her teachers included Josef and Anni Albers.
A critic of Cuba’s right-wing government, she left her home country for Mexico, with its more simpatico regime, in 1935. With her Mexican husband, painter Xavier Guerrero, she threw herself into studying that country’s design traditions, and together the two were winners of MoMA’s Organic Design in Home Furnishings competition in 1941. (Porset was unfortunately not recognized at the time for her contribution but has since been credited alongside her husband for the entry.)
Like Porset, other designers of the mid-century era such as Cynthia Sargent, Don Shoemaker and the Bauhaus-trained architect Michael van Beuren who had relocated to Mexico found inspiration in their adopted country. Klaus Grabe, Morley Webb and van Beuren were also named among the Mexico-based winners of MoMA’s 1941 competition. (And van Beuren's furniture brand Domus produced Porset's designs in addition to his own.)
Fascinated by a Spanish-inflected Mexican wood-and-wicker chair called the butaque, Porset developed her own version by tweaking proportions and incorporating new materials.
According to art critic and curator Ana Elena Mallet, its design was “a manifestation of her profound engagement with Mexican craft traditions” at a time when “discussions surrounding the definition of Mexican identity were paramount within the larger political landscape.” In this view, “Porset’s Butaque becomes not merely a chair but a tangible expression of the socio-political discourse of its time,” she says. Or, as Paola Antonelli, MoMA’s senior curator of architecture and design, told the New York Times, “This is the Latin American chair.”
Porset designed many other chairs, some in collaboration with the preeminent Mexican architect Luis Barragán. She returned to Cuba in 1959, after Fidel Castro came to power, with high hopes, but when her plans to start a design school (under Che Guevara, Castro’s minister of industries from 1961 to 1965) foundered, she returned to Mexico, where she continued to promote design for the rest of her life.
Find vintage Clara Porset furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Clara Porset 'Butaque' Lounge Chair - II
By Clara Porset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Porset 'Butaque' lounge chair c.1940s, Mexico. The lounge chair features a curvaceous solid cypress wood frame with the original brown saddle leather sling seat. The leather is...
Leather, Cypress
Clara Porset's Mexican Walnut & Hemp Butaque Chair, licensed reedition by Luteca
By Clara Porset, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cuban-born Clara Porset was a pioneer for modern design in Mexico. Having studied architecture in New York and then Paris, she finally settled in Mexico devoting her life to champion...
Walnut, Hemp
Tropical Hardwood and Rattan, Butaque Chair, Outdoor Use, Licensed Reedition
By Clara Porset, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cuban-born Clara Porset was a pioneer for modern design in Mexico. Having studied architecture in New York and then Paris, she finally settled in Mexico devoting her life to championing her mutually enriching vision of modernity and tradition. A fierce proponent of historical craft traditions, Clara Porset created wholly contemporary versions of the classic Mexican vernacular forms including the colonial butaque chair...
Rattan, Hardwood
Clara Porset's Mexican Butaque Chair, licensed reedition by Luteca
By Clara Porset, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cuban-born Clara Porset was a pioneer for modern design in Mexico. Having studied architecture in New York and then Paris, she finally settled in Mexico devoting her life to championing her mutually enriching vision of modernity and tradition. A fierce proponent of historical craft traditions, Clara Porset created wholly contemporary versions of the classic Mexican vernacular forms including the colonial butaque chair...
Hide, Maple
Ricardo Legorreta 'Butaque' Armchair in Oak and Leather
By Clara Porset
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ricardo Legorreta, armchair “Butaque”, oak, leather, Mexico, 1997 This “Butaque” armchair was designed by Ricardo Legorreta and manufactured by Legorreta Arquitectos in 1997 for the...
Leather, Oak
Clara Porset 'Butaque' Lounge Chair - III
By Clara Porset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Porset 'Butaque' lounge chair c.1940s, Mexico. The lounge chair features a curvaceous solid cypress wood frame with the original brown saddle leather sling seat. The leather is...
Leather, Cypress
$15,000
Butaque Sofa by Clara Porset
By Clara Porset
Located in Danville, CA
Clara Porset Butaque sofa from an important architectural masterpiece designed by Ricardo Legarreta in Emeryville California. Part of a reception ...
Oak
$22,237 / set
Clara Porset Rare Lounge Chairs, 1950's
By Clara Porset
Located in Uccle, BE
Clara Porset (1895-1981) - Xavier Guerrero (1896-1974) Pair of armchairs Rope and lacquered metal Model created circa 1950 Measures: H: 79 x W 70 x D 69 cm This chair model is part of the selection of the 1950 international low-cost furniture...
Metal
Clara Porset Modernist CP3 Solid Walnut and Glass Coffee Table by Luteca
By Clara Porset, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cuban-born Clara Porset was a pioneer for modern design in Mexico. Having studied architecture in New York and then Paris, she finally settled in Mexico devoting her life to champion...
Glass, Walnut
$9,500 / set
Clara Porset Lounge Chairs
By Clara Porset
Located in Danville, CA
Pair of iconic arm lounge chairs by Clara Porset from an architect, really significant building designed by Ricardo Legarreta architect located in Emeryville, California.
Oak
Moderno: Design for Living in Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela, 1940-1978
By Lina Bo Bardi, Clara Porset
Located in New York, NY
Catalog of a traveling exhibition that opened at the America’s Society in New York in 2015. Published by America Society and Santillana. 4to, hardcover, 280 pages, with both full col...
Paper
Clara Porset 'Butaque' Lounge Chair - I
By Clara Porset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Porset 'Butaque' lounge chair c.1940s, Mexico. The lounge chair features a curvaceous solid cypress wood frame with the original brown saddle leather sling seat. The leather is...
Leather, Cypress
Clara Porset Butaque Lounge Chair, Cypress & Leather, Mexico, 1940s
By Clara Porset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Porset 'Butaque' lounge chair c.1940s, Mexico. The lounge chair features a curvaceous solid cypress wood frame with the original brown saddle leather sling seat. The leather is...
Leather, Cypress
Price Upon Request
Butaque Arm Chairs by Clara Porset
By Clara Porset
Located in San Francisco, CA
Large frame 'Butaque' oak armchairs upholstered in heavy tan leather with a rich, time-earned patina. The restored frames highlight the warmth of the wood, while the later-added bras...
Brass
Antique Petite Mexican Butaque in the Style of Clara Porset
By Clara Porset
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Antique Petite Mexican Butaque in the style of Clara Porset, circa 1960.
Wood
$2,422 / item
H 27.96 in W 19.69 in D 27.56 in
Contemporary Mexican Easy Chair in Walnut Wood and Natural Leather Seat
By Laura Noriega
Located in Guadalajara, Jal.
The “Your Skin” easy chair is a comfortable low chair with a solid and light structure perfect to accentuate with its impeccable and minimal aesthetics the decoration in every room o...
Leather, Walnut
$4,950 / set
H 38.19 in W 24.81 in D 30.71 in
Art Deco Armchairs In Oak Bentwood and New Upholstery, Austria 1930
Located in Almelo, NL
Art Deco Armchairs In Oak Bentwood and New Upholstery, Austria 1930 These are two Art Deco armchairs or lounge chairs that were made in Austria in the 1930s. They are made from Oak ...
Oak, Upholstery
French Reconstruction Lounge Chair
By Pierre Guariche, Jean Prouvé
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Presenting a remarkable armchair from the 1950s. Inspired by the timeless designs of mid-century masters, this chair pay homage to the iconic styles of renowned designers such as Pie...
Oak
Antique French Fine Walnut Side Chair, circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French fine walnut side chair, circa 1880.
Walnut
$4,650
H 44.5 in W 42 in D 38 in
Mid-Century Gerard van den Berg White Rattan and Leather Swivel Lounge Chair
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg designed, Mid-Century swivel lounge chair for highly acclaimed Dutch furniture manufacturer Montis. Van den Berg stands as one of Holland's most innovative and pr...
Chrome
$9,500
H 38 in W 33 in D 30.5 in
Janine Abraham and Dirk Jan Rol Sculptural Rattan Lounge Chair, France, 1950s
By Edition Rougier, Janine Abraham / Dirk Jan Rol
Located in New York, NY
Janine Abraham and Dirk-Jan Rol for Edition Rougier sculptural woven rattan lounge chair on black enameled steel frame and tripod legs with round ivory bouclé cushion, France, 1950s....
Steel
1960s Pair of Italian Rattan Woven Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lovely pair of woven chairs from Italy, 1960s. Light woven wicker scoop seats with rattan and bamboo frame. Original finish shows nice age and patina.
Rattan, Bamboo
Italian Lounge Chair, 1970s
By ISA Bergamo, Sergio Rodrigues
Located in bruxelles, BE
Lounge chair with cowhide and leather cushion and wooden frame. Reversible cushion. Seat height: 38 cm. Wear due to time and age of lounge chair. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE...
Leather, Wood, Cowhide
$4,020 / set
H 35.44 in W 23.63 in D 21.66 in
Pair Charles Dudouyt "Ladder Back" Armchairs in Oak and Rush Seat, France, 1940s
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Almelo, NL
Charles Dudouyt "Ladder Back" armchairs In oak and rush seat, France 1940s This very comfortable ladder back chairs with armrests were crafted in Normandy, France circa 1940. Buil...
Rush, Beech, Oak
$3,700
H 30.32 in W 36.23 in D 35.44 in
Swedish Mid-Century Lounge Armchair in Blond Oak and Canvas, 1950s
By Arne Norell
Located in Almelo, NL
Sculptural Swedish lounge chair in blond oak and natural canvas, Sweden, 1950s — a timeless example of Scandinavian modern design. This sculptural Swedish lounge armchair was manu...
Canvas, Oak
$1,200Sale Price / set|59% Off
H 30.5 in W 22.5 in D 30.5 in
Matching Pair of Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in Lafayette, IN
Charming pair of streel-frame arm chairs built in 1965 by Steelcase Inc. Chairs feature angular, black-painted steel frames, walnut armrests and new saddle-brown vinyl embossed with a classic, western-inspired, paisley motif. With their architectural lines, unique upholstery...
Metal, Steel
Clara Porset 'Butaque' Lounge Chair
By Clara Porset
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Porset 'Butaque' lounge chair c.1940s, Mexico. The lounge chair features a curvaceous solid cypress wood frame with the original brown saddle leather sling seat. The leather is...
Steel
Sold
H 10.75 in W 7.75 in D 1 in
Moderno, Design for Living in Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela, 1940-1978
By Clara Porset
Located in New York, NY
Catalog of a traveling exhibition opening at the America’s Society in New York in 2015. Published by Santillana. 4to, hardcover, 280 pages, with both full color and b/w illustrations, including a section of plates dedicated to the exhibit. With incisive essays by Gabriela Rangel, Jorge Rivas Perez, Lourdes Blanco, Ana Elena Mallet, Christina L. De Leon, Maria Cecilia Loschiavo Dos Santos, and Luis Canstaneda, along with historical texts by Clara Porset, Lina Bo Bardi and others, plus designer biographies. An important contribution to the understanding of Latin American postwar modernism...
Paper
Clara Porset Steel Desk for DM Nacional
By Clara Porset
Located in Mexico City, MX
Made in Mexico the 1950s for the Office steel furniture company DM Nacional Company. Attributed to Clara Porset.
Cut Steel
Clara Porset Steel Desk for DM Nacional Company
By Clara Porset
Located in Mexico City, MX
Cuban-born furniture and interior designer Clara Porset is best known for Modern designs inspired by the local traditions of Mexico, her adopted homeland. Educated in New York at ...
Steel
Clara Porset Lounge Chairs
By Clara Porset
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare form from Cuban-born designer, Clara Porset. Woven rush seat and back on wood frame.
Cord, Wood