Although best known for his photography, Geraldo de Barros was an important contributor to the canon of mid-century modern furniture design and was one of Brazil’s most influential multidisciplinary artists.
Born in 1923 in Chavantes, São Paulo, de Barros began his artistic career as a painter before discovering a passion for photography in the 1940s. In 1950, he found fame with his successful “Fotoformas” exhibition held at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, which led to a scholarship from the French government to study in that country.
In the early 1950s, de Barros traveled throughout Europe, including Switzerland, where he met Bauhaus graduate Max Bill. At the time, Bill was collaborating with the Scholl Foundation on developing a design institute in Ulm, Germany, that combined Bauhaus tradition with emerging technical elements in design practice. Bill invited de Barros to visit the institute, where he became influenced by Bill’s philosophy of Gute Form — the belief that carefully designed objects could bring artistic values into homes.
Upon his return to São Paulo, de Barros delved into furniture design. Along with engineer Justino Cardoso, metalworker Antônio Thereza, and a Dominican priest, Friar João Batista Pereira dos Santos, he founded the furniture company and Christian cooperative Unilabor, in 1954, on the outskirts of São Paulo.
As the firm’s chief designer, de Barros incorporated the concept of Concrete art into many of his pieces, particularly his armchairs. His dining room chairs, bookcases, coffee tables, cabinets and desks were also designed with straight lines, sobriety and functionality in mind and made with natural materials such as rosewood, jacaranda and iron. Given that it was more of a cooperative with a social mission than it was a manufacturer, Unilabor paid well and offered innovative modular furniture by way of de Barros-designed components that were produced serially to be used in the construction of complete furnishings.
Despite Unilabor’s success, the company ran into economic difficulties and eventually closed. Undaunted, de Barros founded another furniture company in 1964 — Hobjeto Indústria e Comércio de Móveis — where he focused on progressive furniture design with more geometric shapes.
During the 1960s, de Barros continued with furniture design and, as a painter, became interested in Pop art and abstract movements, founding influential groups such as Grupo 15, Galeria Rex and Grupo Ruptura.
In the 1990s, de Barros returned to his career as a photographer until his death in 1998. De Barros’s furniture was shown at several exhibitions during the 1950s and 1960s, including the Exposição Nacional de Arte Concreta in São Paulo in 1956 and the Konkrete Kunst exhibition in Zurich in 1960. His photographs and paintings have also been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Geraldo de Barros seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Pair of chairs by Geraldo de Barros for Hobjeto, Brazil, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Brasília, BR
Pair of chairs designed by Geraldo de Barros for Hobjeto in the 70s. Made from black lacquered veneer plywood. Fully restored and upholstered in a beige bouclé fabric. SEATING PAI...
Fabric, Wood
$5,329 / item
14 Chairs by Geraldo de Barros
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Brazil, 1954 Manufactured by Unilabor Iron tubular structure, fabric upholstery Literature: Mo´vel Brasileiro Moderno, FGV Projetos, Rio de Janeiro, 2012, p. 186-187; Nadia Simo...
Iron
Set of 6 mtf600 Chair, Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, Brazilian Midcentury, 1960s
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in New York, NY
Original Condition
Iron
$23,685 / set
Pair of chairs by Geraldo De Barros
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of chairs Manufactured by Unilabor Brazil, 1955 Iron, fabric upholstered Measurements 40 cm x 43 cm x 82h cm 15,78 in x 16,9 in x 32,28h in Literature Unilabor, by Mauro Claro...
Iron
Set of Six Brazilian Modern Chairs in Hardwood by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This rare set of six dining chairs, designed by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor in the late 1950s, represents one of the most rigorous and intellectually driven expressions of Brazili...
Leather, Hardwood
Set of 6 Unilabor Chairs MT 552, Geraldo de Barros, 1960s, Brazilian Design
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This incredible set of six chairs designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor has a frame in solid rosewood with cane backrests and seats. Because it is a ...
Cane, Rosewood
Set of Six Chairs in Rosewood, Model 4015 by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This chair designed by Geraldo de Barros has a light structure in solid rosewood, a characteristic of Unilabor's production, which used fine shapes in its designs for better use of i...
Leather, Rosewood
Set of Four Rosewood Chairs Model 4015 by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, 1960
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This chair designed by Geraldo de Barros has a light structure in solid rosewood, a characteristic of Unilabor's production, which used fine shapes in its designs for better use of i...
Leather, Rosewood
$7,500 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.33 in D 20.87 in
Set of 4 Dining Chairs in Brazilian Hardwood by Novo Rumo — Brazil, 1960s
By Novo Rumo
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Set of 4 Novo Rumo Dining Chairs in Brazilian Hardwood and Suede, Brazil, 1960s This exquisite set of four dining chairs was crafted by Novo Rumo, a distinguished Brazilian design h...
Suede, Hardwood
Set of 6 Unusual French 1960s Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of Six French Mid-Century Dining Chairs with tapered mahogany legs, a cut-out back and brass details. (end caps protection of back legs are removable)
Brass
$7,563 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
Set of Eight MidCentury Butterfly Chairs, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Dining chair called "Butterfly" with dark brown walnut stained beech legs and fully upholstered seat and back in beautiful italian fabric. This chair can be customized to your specifications or COM. Wood, stain, finish, fabric and custom dimensions options are available. Check the last pictures with color samples. This is vintage chair after professional renovation. Designed in 1960s in Poland. About the fabric used in this option: A linen fabric, whose pictorial personality is defined by the printed reproduction of a 17th century design, which transforms into a contemporary tapestry to revive one of the noblest forms of the textile tradition, thanks to a modern-day sensitivity. An ideal solution for curtains or seating of medium-intensive use. Dedar Schwarzwald...
Fabric, Bouclé, Beech
$3,309 / set
H 33.47 in W 24.41 in D 19.69 in
Set of Four Midcentury Cesca Rattan Chairs, Marcel Breuer, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful midcentury rattan, velvet and wood chair. The wonderful and world-famous Cesca chair designed in the 1920s by Marcel Breuer. The Cesca chair is produced by, among other...
Beech, Rattan
$36,000 / set
H 33 in W 17 in D 17 in
Brazilian Modern Set of 8 Dining Chairs in Rosewood & Cane, Geraldo de Barros
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
A disciplined study in proportion, material intelligence, and early Brazilian Modern ideology, this rare set of eight “MT 552” dining chairs was designed by Geraldo de Barros and pro...
Hardwood, Cane, Rosewood
$7,090 / set
H 31.5 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Set of Ten Midcentury Light Bouclé Heart Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A set of 10 chairs type A5828. Colloquially called "heart". The furniture was designed by Helena and Jerzy Kurmanowicz. They were produced in Radomsko Woodworking Factory and we thoroughly renovated them. The construction is made of beechwood dyed with water stain brown. The chairs are protected with acrylic varnish with a satin glow. The upholstery fabric was produced in the Clean boo technology and has water-repellent properties. This means that the fabric limits the absorption of liquids. Spilled liquid on the surface will form balls. The chairs have undergone a complete carpentry and upholstery renovation. Seats covered with high-quality light bouclé fabric (color 01). ABRASION RESISTANCE Category A (60,000 cycles). We can prepare also smaller or bigger sets of 2, 4, 6, 12, 16 or more chairs in different wood and bouclé color...
Velvet, Beech
$3,552 / set
H 31.5 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Set of Six Midcentury Mixed Blue Denim Heart Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Chair type A5828. Colloquially called "heart". The furniture was designed by Helena and Jerzy Kurmanowicz. They were produced in Radomsko Woodworking Factory in 1960s and we thorough...
Velvet, Beech
$23,045 / set
H 33.47 in W 16.54 in D 15.75 in
Geraldo de Barros, Set of Six Rosewood Dining Chairs, Brazil, 1960s, Mid-Century
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Geraldo de Barros MT-552 Dining Chairs Set of Six Wood & Cane 1960s
Cane, Hardwood
Geraldo de Barros, Bench, Wood, Metal, Brazil, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in High Point, NC
A slatted wood bench designed by Geraldo de Barros and produced by Hobjeto, Brazil, c. 1970s. Light scratching and discoloration on top. Dimensions: 12.75” H x 78” W x 22.65” D 10...
Metal
$3,600
H 35.25 in W 22.55 in D 23 in
Geraldo De Barros Attribution, Armchair, Iron, Wood, Fabric, Brazil, 1960s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in High Point, NC
An iron, wood and light grey fabric armchair or side chair attributed to Geraldo De Barros Heavy oxidation present throughout metal frame. Overall Dimensions (inches): 35.25"H x 22...
Iron
Geraldo de Barros Bench
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Washington, DC
Long bench designed by Geraldo De Barros, considered one of the most important artists and designers In Brazilian Modernism.
Wood
$6,500
H 25.5 in W 36.5 in D 15.5 in
Brazilian Modern Bench with drawer in Hardwood & Steel, Geraldo de Barros, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Geraldo de Barros during his time at Unilabor in the 1950s, this telephone bench reflects a moment when domestic life was reshaped by new technologies and modern design r...
Metal
Sold
H 33.47 in W 16.54 in D 19.49 in
Set of 8 Unilabor Chairs MT 552, Geraldo de Barros, 1960s, Brazilian Design
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in New York, NY
This incredible set of eight MT 552 chairs designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor has a frame in solid rosewood with cane backrests and seats. Because...
Cane, Rosewood
Sold
H 32.29 in W 15.36 in D 16.93 in
1950s Iron Chair by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This is the most common version of the Unilabor iron chair, an iconic piece of Brazilian Design. This chair has been repainted and had the feet caps polished but not lacquered. Nem f...
Iron
Sold
H 32.29 in W 15.36 in D 16.15 in
1950s Chair by Geraldo de Barros, Iron and Off-White Linen for Unilabor, Brazil
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This chair from 1958 is a rare variation of the iconic chair by Geraldo de Barros for his Unilabor company. The back slats for this chair descend below the seat to give even more ele...
Sold
H 27.96 in W 25.6 in D 23.63 in
Pair of Brazilian Midcentury Rosewood Minimalist Armchairs, Geraldo de Barros
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This pair of minimalist jacaranda rosewood armchairs was produced by Geraldo de Barros, one the greatest designers of the Brazilian midcentury, but also an acclaimed painter and phot...
Jacaranda
Sold
H 33.08 in W 15.75 in D 16.93 in
1950s Brazilian Rosewood Chair for Unilabor by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil Modern
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
First chair designed and produced by Unilabor, a cooperative conceived and created by Geraldo de Barros. All solid Rosewood, great condition. Cotton linen fabric is new, has great ru...
Rosewood