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.
Costela Sofa by Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner, Brazil, 1950s–1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in Wien, AT
This iconic “Costela” sofa, designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, was most likely produced in the late 1950s or early 1960s and is considered one of the most important and reco...
Metal
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Brazilian Mid-century Design White upholstered Sofa
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
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
Sofa in White Boucle, Forma Brazil, 1960s - Lot 51
By Forma Brazil
Located in New York, NY
This sofa, made by Forma in the 1960s, retains its original structure and has been reupholstered in a White boucle. The legs, crafted from Caviuna wood, add a touch of elegance and d...
Bouclé, Hardwood
$17,658
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 33.08 in
Brazilian Lounge Chair Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner - "Costela" Forma, 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
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
$36,400
H 29.33 in W 28.74 in D 34.64 in
Mid-Century Modern Costela Armchair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
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 and Carlo Hauner in 1953 and manufactured by the companies Forma S.A. Móveis e ...
Stainless Steel
$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
$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
Brazilian Designer, Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Marble, Brazil, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood, brown fabric and marble sofa designed and produced in Brazil, c. 1960s. Vintage fabric in fair condition, reupholstery recommended. Overall Dimensions (inches): 24.75"H x 9...
Marble
$32,000
H 28.75 in W 65.75 in D 29.93 in
Vintage 'Mole' Sofa by Sergio Rodrigues, 1960s, Midcentury Brazilian
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Mole sofa is Sergio Rodrigues' signature piece designed between 1956 and 1957, giving rise to the famous and award-winning Mole armchair. In Portu...
Leather, Wood
$26,800Sale Price|21% Off
H 29.5 in W 75 in D 36 in
'Mole' Brazilian Rosewood Sofa by Sergio Rodrigues for OCA Brazil, 1960s, Signed
By OCA Brazil, Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare signed example of the 'Mole' sofa by Sergio Rodrigues, produced by OCA Brazil in the 1960s (see image gallery for a photo of the OCA stamp). This Mole sofa has an expansive am...
Rosewood, Leather
$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
$21,000
H 29.93 in W 88.9 in D 31.5 in
Brazilian Rosewood Sofa by Celina Decorações, Midcentury Brazilian Design, 1960s
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
This sofa was produced by the Brazilian company Celina Decorações in the 1960s. The sofa is made of solid Rosewood, with seats and backs upholstered with a gorgeous fabric 100% Organ...
Silk, Rosewood
$17,900
H 37.41 in W 32.29 in D 88.98 in
Sergio Rodrigues “Tonico” Sofa, Brazil, 1960s – Original Upholstery
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Curitiba, PR
An iconic example of Brazilian modern design, the Tonico sofa by Sergio Rodrigues embodies the warmth, comfort, and sculptural presence that define his work. Designed in the 1960s, t...
Leather, Hardwood
Curved Sofa by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Midcentury, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) designed and produced the Curved Sofa in circa 1960, commercializing it in his company Tenreiro Móveis e Decorações – with stores in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. A wooden frame comprises a shell-shaped piece with soft nubuck leather upholstered padding and cushions. Tenreiro's design choice for the feet contrasts with the curved upholstery, bringing four rectangular legs made of solid Brazilian...
Leather, Rosewood
'Móveis Cimo' Sofa 1960s, Brazil Mid-Century Modern
By Moveis Cimo
Located in Curitiba, PR
Beautifully crafted by Móveis Cimo in Brazil during the 1960s, this elegant sofa exemplifies the timeless appeal of Brazilian modern design. The piece features a solid hardwood frame...
Fabric, Hardwood
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 Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
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 Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
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