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 Sérgio Rodrigues, vintage Forma is making a major comeback today.
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.
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, explore Forma seating, tables and storage pieces.
Brazilian Modern Chair in Cane & Iron by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950s
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This Brazilian modern chair was designed by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler and is absolutely beautiful. The structure is made with an iron frame and the seat is made with cane. The leg...
Iron
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Brazilian Design Pink Silk Wood Dining Chair, 1950
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Dining chairs 2 available. Manufactured by Forma Moveis, Brazil, 1950 Wood, cane and silk upholstery Measurements 40 cm x 50 c...
Silk, Cane, Wood
$17,609
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
$88,100
H 31.11 in W 28.75 in D 28.75 in
Rare 'Costela' Lounge Chairs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, Brazil, 1954
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in Antwerp, BE
These extraordinary lounge chairs represent an original and very rare piece of Brazilian design history. Designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner in 1954 for the renowned company F...
Steel
$24,000 / set
H 31.75 in W 18.25 in D 20 in
Brazilian Modern Dining Chairs in Rosewood by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Troy, MI
Exceptional and rare set of dining chairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte Brazil circa 1956 Sculpted Brazilian rosewood frames w...
Cane, Rosewood
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
$11,500
H 22.84 in W 24.41 in D 19.69 in
Low Armchair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma S.A Móveis e Objetos de Arte in circa 1960. A modern Brazilian armchair made in the curved iron structure and recently upholster...
Iron
$11,700
H 31.7 in W 18.9 in D 21.97 in
Mid-Century Modern Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1950's
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Crafted from solid Brazilian Caviuna with a cane seat, this elegant chair was produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s. The piece exemplifies the refined work a...
Cane, Wood
$93,600 / set
H 32.87 in W 19.93 in D 20.87 in
Mid-Century Modern Set of 6 chairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
A set of six chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma Móveis Artesanal, founded in 1950. The studio operated as a contributor to the Brazilian Mid-Century Modern m...
Upholstery, Wood
$18,200 / set
H 34.26 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Chairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
A chair designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Móveis Artesanal in the 1950s. Recognized as one of the studio's most emblematic creations, this model was chosen to illustrate...
Iron
$6,945 / set
H 32.29 in W 18.9 in D 17.72 in
Italian Midcentury Chairs Attributed to Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roma, IT
A midcentury Dining Chairs Set attributed by several Italian auction houses to Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler. These Vintage chairs were made in Italy by "Forma" during the 1960s in...
Wool, Teak
$18,000
H 32.68 in W 51.19 in D 26.38 in
"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
$4,618
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
Sold
H 31.5 in W 26.8 in D 23.6 in
Brazilian Modern Chair in Cane & Iron by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1955
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner, Forma Brazil
Located in New York, NY
This Brazilian modern chair was designed by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler in 1955. The frame is made with a black iron structure that supports t...
Iron
Sold
H 25.99 in W 40.16 in D 27.96 in
Reversible Chair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for Forma Moveis, Brazil, 1955
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, GB
The Reversible chair was designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, an Italian-Austrian duo based in Brazil. They co-founded the company Forma Moveis and...
Metal
Sold
H 30.71 in W 29.14 in D 30.32 in
Pair of Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Shell Chairs for Forma, Brazil, 1950s
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, GB
The emerging interest in Brazilian design and manufacturing is palpable across both contemporary and midcentury design. The Shell lounge chair is establishing itself as an icon of th...
Metal
Sold
H 25.99 in W 40.16 in D 27.96 in
Reversible Chair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for Forma Moveis, Brazil, 1955
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, GB
The Reversible chair was designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, an Italian-Austrian duo based in Brazil. They co-founded the company Forma Moveis and...
Metal
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Shell Chair
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, GB
The emerging interest in Brazilian design and manufacturing is palpable across both contemporary and mid-century design. The Shell lounge chair is establishing itself as an icon of t...
Metal
Rib Lounge Chair by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma Brazil
By Carlo Hauner, Forma Brazil, Martin Eisler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare lounge chair designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma Brazil, in teak and black-lacquered iron, with cream velvet cushions.
Iron