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.
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
Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in New York, NY
A bar cart designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner in the 1950s and produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. It features a chrome structure and loose trays of solid Rose...
Chrome
Nomon Bar Cabinet with Marble Top by Andres Martinez
By Nomon, ANDRÉS MARTÍNEZ
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We create a space to enjoy a drink in good company. Marble top and suspended glasses from the Golden rods evoke classical bar cabinets. Available in: ...
Marble, Brass
$5,800 / item
H 35 in W 32 in D 19 in
Modern Bar Cabinet with Steel Frame, Oak Slats and Leather Top by KLEIN
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials - Steel, Oak Wood // Style - Sculptural Modern // Origin - USA // Condition - New, Made to Order Be it in the gentleman’s corner of your apartment or centre stage in your ...
Cut Steel
$62,827
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
$31,870
H 34.26 in W 86.62 in D 16.93 in
Sideboard - Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Forma Moveis, Brazil, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
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
Bronze Mirrored Bar Cabinet by Ello
By Ello Furniture
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A two-part mirrored cabinet on chest, perfect for a bar. Two mirrored doors above three mirrored drawers with modern inset brass campaign handles, on a brass base with brass sides. G...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart Edward Wormley for Dunbar C1953
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous bar cart/server with a drop down top which is 27 inches and 54 when raised, shelves for bottles, cupboard for glasses and other necessities. Model # 5433 created out of waln...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Italian Brass Bar Cart, 1970s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Midcentury brass bar cart, circa 1970s. It is versatile in size and can be used as a bar or serving cart or as an additional storage space in an office. It has four bottle holders at...
Brass
$55,000
H 29.53 in W 86.62 in D 35.44 in
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Dining Table, midcentury Brazilian modern design
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in São Paulo, SP
Elegant and rare dining table designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma in the 1950s, a striking example of Brazilian modernist design. Crafted in solid caviuna wood with ...
Cane, Glass, Wood, Hardwood
Italian walnut bar cabinet by Cova Milano
By Cova, Italy 1
Located in RIDDERKERK, NL
This Italian bar cabinet combines walnut wood and a tubular frame in a sleek, timeless design and was produced by Cova Milano around 1930. The piece of furniture features a warm waln...
Chrome
$15,706
H 45.67 in W 47.25 in D 17.92 in
Bar Cabinet with Tambour Doors in Rosewood and Glass by Kurt Østervig, 1960's
By Kurt Østervig
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Bar Cabinet with Tambour Doors in Rosewood, Brass and Glass by Kurt Østervig, 1960's Additional Information: Material: Rosewood, brass and glass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Pro...
Brass
$18,000
H 37 in W 39 in D 9 in
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Caviúna Bookcase with Sculptural Legs, Brazil, 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
An early and architecturally disciplined example of Brazilian modernism by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma S.A., executed in solid caviúna with caviúna veneer. Designed circ...
Rosewood
Bar Cabinet with illuminated compartments, 1940s
Located in Palermo, IT
Bar cabinet with illuminated compartments, 1940s Found in a noble apartment in my hometown, Palermo. Good condition, as per the descriptive photographs, with minor signs of aging. E1...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Frederick Weinberg Wire Horse Bar Cart
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Frederick Weinberg wire Horse bar cart.
Metal, Wrought Iron
$3,000
H 25.6 in W 21.7 in D 28.3 in
Brazilian Midcentury Bar Cart in Wood by Carlo Hauner for Moveis Artesanal, 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Produced in the 1950s by Movéis Artesanal—the workshop that would evolve into Forma under Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler—this bar cart reflects the experimental spirit that defined e...
Metal
Danish Modern Flip-Top Bar Cart
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish modern Flip-Top bar cart, Denmark, circa 1960s. Constructed of teak with a low maintenance black laminate top.
Laminate, Teak
Sold
H 28.9 in W 28.15 in D 17.92 in
Cane Bar Cart by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1950s, Forma S.A., Brazil
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in New York, NY
This Bar or tea cart is a rare and elegant piece designed by Martin Eisler (1913-1977) in the 1950s and produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. It presents a solid Rosewood...
Chrome
Sold
H 17.72 in W 43.31 in D 21.66 in
Carlo Hauner e Martin Eisler Modern Brazilian Wood Coffee Table by Forma, 1960s
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Coffee table produced by Forma Brazil Furniture design by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler The coffee table has been polished with shellac Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler were the l...
Wood