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.
Sideboard - Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Forma Moveis, Brazil, 1950s
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Rosendahl, DE
A rare and exquisite four-door buffet designed by Martin Eisler and Carlos Hauner, founders of the iconic Brazilian furniture company Forma Móveis. Crafted in Brazil in the 1950s, th...
Cane, Wood
$63,948
H 31.89 in W 105.52 in D 16.93 in
Carlos Hauner & Martin Eisler, Buffet, Caviuna Wood, Cane, Brazil, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Carlos Hauner & Martin Eisler Buffet with five doors Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1950 Caviuna wood, cane From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona Measurements 268 cm x 43 cm x 81 H cm 105.52 in x 16.92 in x 31.88 H in Literature Brasilian modern: The rediscovery of 20th century Brazilian furniture. Aric Chen. Brasil, 2016 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...
Wood
$13,260
H 35.44 in W 36.82 in D 19.3 in
Mid-Century Modern Record Player Cabinet by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1955
By Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in New York, NY
A Caviúna record player produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s, with designs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler. This record player has two hanging doors...
Hardwood
$60,250
H 32.29 in W 78.94 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Credenza by Carlo Hauner And Martin, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
A Caviúna credenza designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s. Credenzas are traditionally used in dining rooms for storage and...
Rosewood
$14,533
H 33.27 in W 98.63 in D 19.69 in
Sculptural Credenza-Sideboard by Giuseppe Scapinelli , Brazil 1950s
By Jean Gillon, Sergio Rodrigues, Jorge Zalszupin, Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Den Haag, NL
Sculptural Credenza-Sideboard by Giuseppe Scapinelli , Brazil, 1950s The elegant base and finish of detail are quality. The knobs on the doors are made of brass. It has four doors ...
Wood
$6,394
H 45.28 in W 35.44 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Semainier Dresser by Hauner & Eisler for Forma, 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roma, RM
A refined mid-century semainier dresser designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for their influential furniture company Forma, dating from the 1950s–1960s. Hauner and Eisler play...
Brass
Brazilian Designer, Sideboard, Wood, Cane, Brass, Brazil, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A sizable wood, cane and brass sideboard or cabinet designed and produced in Brazil, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 32.25"H x 86.25"W x 20.0"D All items ship from High Poin...
Brass
$13,500
H 18 in W 71 in D 15 in
Brazilian Modern Floating Bar / Sideboard in Hardwood by Carlo Hauner, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Designed in the 1950s by Carlo Hauner, this rare floating bar or sideboard showcases Hauner’s early mastery of proportion, material, and refined detail. Executed in richly grained Br...
Brass
Móveis Paschoal Bianco, Sideboard, Wood, Brazil, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A sizable wood sideboard or cabinet produced by Móveis Paschoal Bianco, Brazil, c. 1950s. Minor wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 35.9"H x 98.75"W x 21...
Wood
Brazilian Modern Caviúna Sideboard by Cimo Moveis, Brazil, 1960s
By Moveis Cimo
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional Brazilian Modern sideboard produced by Cimo in the 1960s, masterfully crafted in richly figured caviúna wood and elevated on a distinctive architectural base. Showcasi...
Brass
$41,600
H 45.95 in W 50.01 in D 38.82 in
Bar Cabinet with Footrest by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, c. 1955, Forma S.A
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Home Bar in Brazilian Caviuna wood was manufactured in c. 1955 by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte, a company with designs and creative direction by Carlo Hauner (19...
Brass
$11,000
H 17.7 in W 49.2 in D 31.5 in
Brazilian Modern Sideboard in Caviuna Wood by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
A masterwork from the formative years of Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler’s collaboration, this important sideboard was produced for Móveis Artesanais, the designers’ first enterp...
Hardwood
$72,000
H 59.26 in W 118.12 in D 18.12 in
Rare and Large Martin Eisler Sideboard for Forma in Brazilian Walnut and Cane
By Benno M. Forman, Martin Eisler
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Martin Eisler for Forma, sideboard, Brazilian walnut, glass, brass, cane, leather, Brazil, 1950s Rare Brazilian sideboard by Martin Eisler for Forma. This refined piece is composed ...
Brass
Sold
H 26.38 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Small Cabinet in Wood by Forma Manufacture, Brazil 1970s
By Forma Brazil
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Small Cabinet in Wood by Forma Manufacture, Brazil 1970s. 1970's Small vintage wood cabinet by the Brazilian Forma Manufactur...
Wood, Glass