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.
Mid-Century Modern Set of 5 High Stools, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner, Forma Brazil
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Martin Eisler and produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in 1955, this set of five high stools is an example of mid-century Brazilian design. Each piece features...
Iron
$21,265
H 66 in W 71 in D 102 in
Martin Eisler & Carlos Hauner Model "Reversible" modern Brazilian armchair 1955
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler(1913-1977) & Carlos Hauner (1927-1997) Armchair model “Reversible” Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1955 Iron structure, brass, cotton upholstery Measurements: 10...
Iron
Armchairs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, Brazil 1950s.
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of armchairs designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, manufactured by Forma S/A in Brazil in the earlies 1950. The structure is made of solid painted steel. The characteristi...
Iron
$28,524 / set
H 28.35 in W 30.32 in D 30.32 in
Martin Eisler & Carlos Hauner Pair of Modern Brazilian Armchairs wood and velvet
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlos Hauner (1927-1997) Pair of armchairs Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1955 Caviuna wood legs, velvet and cotton upholstery Measurements: 77 cm x 77 cm x 72 H cm. 30.3 in x 30.3 in x 28.3 H in. Literature: Casa & Jardim, 1956. Nº 92 Details: Belonging to a three pieces set of sofa and two armchairs.
Upholstery, Wood
$24,000
H 14.97 in W 122.05 in D 23.63 in
Mid-Century Modern Curved Bench by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for Forma, 1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern CurvedBench by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for Forma, 1960s This curvaceous bench was done in a beautiful solid wood, and it has a natural finish that mainta...
Metal
$5,000 / set
H 19 in W 17 in D 14 in
Pair of Brazilian Modern Stools in Rosewood & Metal, att. to Carlo Hauner
By Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of Brazilian modern stools attributed to Carlo Hauner, produced in Brazil circa the 1950s. Crafted in rosewood veneer with slender iron legs and cross-bracing, these stools...
Metal
$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 Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
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
$10,000 / set
H 34.5 in W 25 in D 18 in
Brazilian Modern Armchairs & Stools Set in Cane & Iron Att. Carlo Hauner, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this spectacular set of two Mid-Century Modern armchairs with stools in cane and iron attributed to Carlo Hauner is nothing less than gorgeous. The armchairs featur...
Steel
$6,500
H 29.5 in W 23.88 in D 27.75 in
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Mid-Century Brazilian Rosewood Lounge Chair, Brazil
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in Oakland, CA
Mid-century modern lounge chair designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, produced by Forma, São Paulo. The chair features a solid Brazilian rosewood frame with beautifully figure...
Wool, Rosewood
$9,508 / set
H 29.93 in W 29.93 in D 28.35 in
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler pair of High Back Armchairs blue upholstery
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Forma Pair of High Back Armchairs Wood, Upholstery 1955
Wood
$3,600Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 18.9 in W 18.51 in D 12.6 in
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Pair of Stools
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Washington, DC
Beautiful and interesting pair of iron and cane stools by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler. Can also be used as side tables.
Metal
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Concha Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1950
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
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
$13,905
H 30.71 in W 29.14 in D 30.52 in
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Brazilian Lounge Chair Model "Shell" White
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Armchair model “Shell” Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1955 Black painted metal, white fabric upholstery. A Mid-Century modern Brazilian Armchair by Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner designed in 1955. The chairs are upholstered in a cream/white fabric with black painted metal legs. Measurements 74 cm x 77,5 cm x 78h cm. 29,1 in x 30,5 in x 30,7h in. Literature Móvel moderno Brasileiro, Marcelo Vasconcellos, Aeroplano, P. 201 Desenho da Utopia, Brazilian Modern Furnitures...
Metal
Martin Eisler for Forma Coffee Tray Table
By Martin Eisler, Forma Brazil
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Martin Eisler for Forma, 1452 trolley table, stained beech, brassed metal, Formica, circa 1960. This small elegant coffee table and bar trolle...
Metal
Sold
H 17.72 in Dm 15.75 in
Side Table Iron and Glass by Warren Platner for Knoll Inc., Brazilian Production
By Warren Platner, Knoll, Forma Brazil
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Classic Platner side table, produced in Brazil by Forma S/A under license of Knoll Inc, circa 1960. Original glass top has a small chip, iron is in great shape and shows age. Can ...
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