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.
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
$68,900
H 33.08 in W 30.12 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
This chaise Lounge is one of the fantastic designs by Martin Eisler (1913-1977) and produced by Móveis Artesanal and then Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. Galeria Artesanal, the first showroom that presented the furniture and objects created by Moveis Artesanal and HG Ceramica, used to sell this design. The traditional chaises...
Iron
$17,564
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
$5,068 / set
H 26.78 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Safari Armchairs by Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1970s, set of 2
By Carlo Hauner, Forma
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
$13,800 / set
H 35.5 in W 18 in D 24 in
Carlo Hauner Attribution, Dining Room Chairs, Wood, Mohair, Brazil, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in High Point, NC
A set of 6 dark-stained wood and beige mohair dining room chairs attributed to Carlo Hauner for Forma, Brazil, c. 1950s. Compare form to dining room chairs in interior Forma created...
Mohair, Wood
$8,900 / set
H 31 in W 27.5 in D 28 in
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
$10,500
H 31.5 in W 26.25 in D 29.5 in
Carlo Hauner Attribution, Lounge Chair, Wood, Brass, Fabric, Italy, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in High Point, NC
A wood, brass and light pink fabric lounge or slipper chair attributed to Carlo Hauner, Italy, c. 1950s. Light discoloration to wooden legs. Reupholstered in brand new fabric. Over...
Brass
$5,000 / set
H 27 in W 28 in D 28 in
Pair Mid Century Modern Leather sling safari chairs Carlo Hauner Forma Italy
By Forma, Carlo Hauner
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
$3,250
H 30 in W 21.3 in D 15.7 in
Armchair in Metal and Wood with ebony finish, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950
By Forma, Carlo Hauner
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 Martin Eisler Concha Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1950
By Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler
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
Carlo Hauner, Lounge Chair, Iron, Fabric, Brazil, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in High Point, NC
A black-painted iron and grey fabric lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and produced by Forma S.A. Brazil, 1950s. Moderate oxidation to iron legs. Fabric in fair condition, likel...
Iron
$10,000
H 24.41 in W 29.93 in D 23.63 in
Pair of Armchairs by Carlo Hauner, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This refined pair of armchairs illustrates Carlo Hauner’s facility with sculptural line and ergonomic comfort. The chairs feature a continuous metal sled base that gives the silhouet...
Metal
$31,150
H 27.96 in W 91.34 in D 29.53 in
Forma S.a Rare Sofa by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Ca 1954 Midcentury Brazil
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This rare sofa was designed in 1955 and produced by Forma, a company directed by Carlo Hauner (1927- 1996) and Martin Eisler (1913- 1977). This piece is an icon and illustrates some ...
Leather, Rosewood