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.
Find vintage Forma seating, tables and storage pieces for sale on 1stDibs.
Pair Mid Century Modern Leather sling safari chairs Carlo Hauner Forma Italy
By Carlo Hauner, Forma
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair Mid Century Modern Leather sling safari chairs designed by Carlo Hauner for Forma Made in Italy. Pair of Brown leather and off white Lacquer painted wood frame low sling safari ...
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Safari Armchairs by Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1970s, set of 2
By Forma, Carlo Hauner
Located in bruxelles, BE
Pair of cognac leather and wood armchairs by Carlo Hauner. Seat height: 25 cm. Wear due to age and use. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE
Leather, Wood
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
Mid-Century Modern Slatted Bench from Forma Manufacture, Brazil, 1970s
By Forma
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Slatted bench produced in Brazil in the 1970s by Forma Manufacture. This beautiful piece's seating is composed of regularly arranged solid Brazilian hardwood slats, finished with n...
Wood
Martin Eisler Carlo Hauner, Lounge Chairs, Rattan, Steel, Forma, Brazil, c. 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of rattan and steel lounge chairs designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner and produced by Forma, Brazil, c. 1955. Seat Height (inches): 15" All items ship from High Poin...
Steel
Carlo Hauner. Suite of 4 Rattan chairs, c. 1950. Metal and Rattan
By Carlo Hauner, Forma
Located in PARIS, FR
The suite of 4 rattan chairs designed by Carlo Hauner, dating from about 1950, is a superb example of timeless design. Made from rattan and metal, these chairs combine elegance and d...
Metal
Pair of Rattan Armchairs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in New York, NY
Rattan and black-painted iron lounge chair designed by by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma, produced in Brazil, c. 1950s.
Iron
$19,285 / item
Reversivel chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Fauteuil Reversibel par Carlo Hauner et Martin Eisler pour Forma. Métal, laiton et textile Édition Forma Modèle créé vers 1955 H 68×L 103×P 71 cm Bibliographie : - M. Vasconcellos, ...
Metal, Brass
Armchair in Metal and Wood with ebony finish, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950
By Carlo Hauner, Forma
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for their company Forma, this armchair reflects a pivotal moment in Brazilian modernism during the country’s mid-century industrial expansi...
Metal, Iron
Carlo Hauner. Headboard (piece on order), c. 1950. Edition Forma
By Carlo Hauner, Forma
Located in PARIS, FR
Made of Caviuna wood, with a matching veneer and a delicate cane, this piece combines the robustness of the wood with the delicacy of the cane. The generous dimensions of 82 x 257 x ...
Straw, Laminate, Hardwood
Carlo Hauner. Pair of "Concha" armchairs, c. 1950. Metal and fabric
By Forma, Carlo Hauner
Located in PARIS, FR
Carlo Hauner (1927-1996) Pair of "Concha" Armchairs, c. 1950 Metal and fabric Dimensions: 78 x 62 x 78 cm (30 71/100 x 24 41/100 x 30 71/100 in) This pair of iconic "Concha" ...
Metal
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Rattan Lounge Chairs Brazil 1955
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A beautiful pair of lounge chairs in rattan by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, made by Forma Móveis in Brazil in 1955. The chairs are in fully original condition and have never been ...
Metal
Pair of “Pollock” Armchairs by Forma, Aluminum & Leather, Brazil, 1970s
By Forma
Located in New York, NY
A striking pair of “Pollock” armchairs produced by Forma in the 1970s, reflecting Brazil’s embrace of international corporate modernism. With polished aluminum bases and generously u...
Aluminum
Pair of "Concha" Armchairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, Brasil, 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Echt, NL
Set of beautiful ‘Concha’ chairs in very good condition. Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler in 1955 Manufactured by Forma Moveis, Brazil The ch...
Metal
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofa in White Boucle, Forma Brazil, 1960s
By Forma
Located in New York, NY
Manufactured by Forma in the 1960s, this sofa reflects the studio’s commitment to refined modern forms and high-quality materials during a formative period of Brazilian mid-century d...
Fabric, Hardwood
Brazilian Modern Red Synthetic Rope and Iron Armchair, Forma, Brazil, 1950s
By Forma
Located in New York, NY
A refined expression of Brazilian mid-century experimentation, this 1950s armchair by Forma was originally conceived for outdoor use—where industrial materials met open-air living. T...
Iron
$22,795Sale Price / set|40% Off
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Sofa & Armchairs Lounge Set, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Whitstable, GB
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler midcentury sofa and armchairs; 1950s Sofa designed for their manufacturing company, Forma around 1955. This model is an icon of Brazilian midcentury design and was used to illustrate some advertisements for Forma in the 1950s. We offer the set of sofa and matching armchairs. They are stunning together. The set has been newly reupholstered in beautiful blue velvet, feet in imbuia wood, lacquered finish. Sofa Dimensions: H28.35, W76.78, D30.32 in H72, W195, D77 cm Armchairs Dimenions: H 28.35, W30.32, D30.32 in H72, W77, D77 cm The creative duo were the leading designers behind the Brazilian furniture company Forma, and produced many celebrated pieces of Brazilian midcentury design. Martin Eisler (1913-1977) was born in Vienna, and studied architecture in his country. Eisler left Europe in 1938 due to the rise of fascist regimes. He first lived in Buenos Aires, where he settled and worked as an architect and designer. There here...
Velvet, Hardwood
$5,100
H 12.4 in W 57.1 in D 23.5 in
Brazilian Modern Slatted Bench in Rosewood (Jacaranda), Brazil, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
This Brazilian Modern bench, produced in Brazil during the 1960s, exemplifies the era’s rigorous exploration of structure, material honesty, and architectural restraint. Crafted enti...
Hardwood
Mid Century Modern Walnut Slat Bench Coffee Table
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century modern slat bench / coffee table features hardwood construction, original walnut finish, and tall tapered legs. Unlike many of these slat benches on the market this ...
Walnut
$2,316Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 26 in D 26 in
1960s Arne Norell Rosewood Leather Sling Sirocco Safari Lounge Chair Mid-Century
By Arne Norell, Scanform
Located in Hyattsville, MD
The Sirocco safari chair designed by Arne Norell in 1966. This example is in camel-colored leather; with two cushions and slings with brass fittings. Designed to breakdown for flat p...
Leather
$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
$35,000 / set
H 27.16 in W 30.31 in D 29.52 in
Rare Forma armchairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in São Paulo, BR
This particular piece showcases a rare design crafted by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma in 1955. Though Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler are primarily known for their well-s...
Wood
$6,900 / set
H 29.5 in W 27 in D 27 in
Set of 2 Mid Century Angel Pazmino Hand Tooled Leather Sling Safari Chairs
Located in Lutz, FL
Set of 2 Hand Tooled Leather Sling Safari Lounge Chairs by Angel Pazmino, Ecuador, c. 1960's, original metal tags on front cross stretcher and paper tags on underside of leather seat...
Leather, Fruitwood
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slat 60" Bench/Coffee Table B
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid-Century Danish Modern Walnut Slat Bench/Coffee Table B Offered is a vintage mid-century modern walnut side table. This table is an outstanding representation of the Modern era. ...
Walnut
$6,400 / set
H 28 in W 28 in D 32 in
Pair of Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Frames Leather Sling Seat Lounge Chairs
By Durland, Dux of Sweden
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Danish modern beige sling upholstery lounge chairs. Very comfortable sling seats.
Leather, Teak
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slat Bench
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic mid-century slat bench crafted in solid walnut, showcasing a streamlined form and beautiful natural grain. Its versatile design allows it to function as seating, a coffee tab...
Walnut
$2,650 / set
H 27.75 in W 24 in D 24 in
Mid-Century Modern Chrome and Leather Safari Lounge Chairs - A Pair
Located in Esperance, NY
This is a great unique set of vintage Mid-Century Modern Chrome and Leather Safari Lounge Chairs. These are very unusual and are very comfortable.
Metal
Mid Century Dutch Modern Solid Large Teak Brutalist Slatted bench
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare Dutch Modern Solid Large teak Brutalist Slatted bench. Nice solid wood Bench great Dutch woodworking. Great for entryway hallway or bedroom. Shows normal wear from use and age. ...
Teak
Sold
H 32.68 in W 27.56 in D 31.5 in
Costela Lounge chairs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in bruxelles, BE
2 Costela lounge chairs in wood, metal legs and curly fabric cushions by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner. Seat height: 48 cm. Wear due to time and age of the lounge chairs. FOR SHIPP...
Metal
Reversivel chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Fauteuil Reversibel par Carlo Hauner et Martin Eisler pour Forma. Métal, laiton et textile Édition Forma Modèle créé vers 1955 H 68×L 103×P 71 cm Bibliographie : - M. Vasconcellos, ...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Brazilian Design Costela Lounge Chairs by Hauner & Eisler for Forma, 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Renens, CH
The Costela (Rib) chairs and sofas by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler became an instant success after their introduction in the Brazilian market, and it wasn’t for long that productio...
Metal
Eisler & Hauner ‘Bone’ Bench/ottoman in Imbuia wood and Fabric
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in amstelveen, NL
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner for Forma, bench model 'Bone', Imbuia, Brazil, 1960s. This ‘Bone’ bench is designed by Brazilian designer duo Eisler and Hau...
Fabric, Imbuia
Pair of Armchairs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, Brazil 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of “concha” (shell) armchair designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, manufactured by Forma in Brazil in the earlies 1950. The structure is made of solid steel, the ergonomic...
Steel
Sold
H 35.44 in W 35.44 in D 27.56 in
Carlo Hauner Wingback Wrought Iron Lounge Chair, Brazilian Modern, Early 1950s
By Carlo Hauner, Forma
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Rare and beautiful lounge chair, designed by Carlo Hauner for Móveis Artesanal in the early 1950s. Sharing some particularities with other prototypical designs from his early day...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 28.35 in W 40.95 in D 26.78 in
"Reversivel" Armchair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1960's
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in PARIS, FR
An iconic piece of Brazilian modernism, "Reversivel", the reversible armchair, is made of tubular metal that forms the innovative, lightweight structure. The originality of this pie...
Metal
Martin Eisler for Forma Pair of Bar Stools in Red Leather
By Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Martin Eisler for Forma, pair of bar stools, brass, metal, leather, Brazil, 1950s. Pair of bar stools by Martin Eisler in the 1950s. The pair of bar stools has a conspicuous form,...
Metal, Brass
Concha Lounge Chairs Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1950
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning and fully original pair of 'Concha' (shell) lounge chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma Moveis, Brazil 1950. These chairs have a solid...
Metal
Sold
H 35.44 in W 70.87 in D 26.38 in
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Attributed Garden Chairs, Brazil, 1960
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning pair of lounge chairs attributed to Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, manufactured by Forma, Brazil 1960. These solid steel lounge chairs were originally white painted and rep...
Steel
Eisler and Hauner Costela Lounge Chairs Forma, Italy, 1960
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful and iconic 'Costela' lounge chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma, Italy 1960. This is the European version of the Costela chairs, man...
Metal, Brass
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Wooden Costela Chairs for Forma
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner, Forma
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Costela chairs designed by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for Forma (Brazil, 1950). Seating with a structure in lacquered iron and solid wood. Two chairs are available.
Iron