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.
Brazilian Modern Credenza in Hardwood, Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923–1998) in the 1950s, this credenza exemplifies the structural clarity and graphic discipline that define his contribution to Brazilian modernism. R...
Hardwood
$34,991 / item
Geraldo de Barros MF-710 bookcases Unilabor Brazil 1955
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This rare pair of MF-710 bookcases, designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor, Brazil, in 1955, is an outstanding example of mid-century Brazilian modern...
Metal
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sideboard in Hardwood, Geraldo de Barros, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
The sideboard is crafted entirely from Brazilian Rosewood, known as Jacaranda, featuring three drawers adorned with brass handles, along with a single door, a shelf, and supported by...
Hardwood
Brazilian Modern Sideboard in Rosewood & Formica, Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Designed in the 1950s during Geraldo de Barros’ seminal period at Unilabor, this sideboard stands as a refined expression of Brazilian modernism at the intersection of art, industry,...
Metal
Geraldo de Barros Brazilian Modern Office Cabinet in Rosewood, Hobjeto, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
An architecturally disciplined Brazilian modern office cabinet designed by Geraldo de Barros for Hobjeto in the 1970s. Executed in richly figured jacaranda (Brazilian rosewood) venee...
Metal
Rosewood Credenza by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, Brazilian Midcentury, 1960s
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Previously Restored
Rosewood
Geraldo de Barros writing desk Unilabor Brazil 1956
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice minimalistic small writing desk designed by Geraldo de Barros and manufactured by Unilabor, Brazil 1956. The desk is made up of three main parts. The black iron frame, rosewood finished top and the drawer cabinet. The drawer fronts have the characteristic white laminated finish with metal handles. Unilabor could use these same parts to create different furniture designs, following the company's standards. This approach was part of a methodical way of making things, and the design style was common to other factories of that time. The most unique idea was how they thought about the production process in an organised way. In very good condition with beautiful grain to the rosewood. The chair on the pictures is not included. Literature; Brazilian Modern Design Alberto Vicente Marcelo Vasconcellos 2017, page 264-281 The most profound conceptual experience in the production of modern furniture in Brazil was led by Geraldo de Barros, a major artist of the Concrete Art movement in the country. Interested in new technologies and processes, Geraldo's career was consistently permeated with artistic experiments, particularly in photography and painting. His affiliation with design was influenced by the "gute form" principle advocated by Max Bill. Bill was the founder of the Ulm School...
Metal
Brazilian Modern Desk in Cerejera Hardwood, Geraldo de Barros, 1970s Brazil
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Geraldo de Barros for Hobjeto in the 1970s, this desk reflects the designer’s enduring commitment to rational construction and democratic modern design. De Barros—an infl...
Hardwood
Brazilian Modern Chest in Hardwood & Brass by Geraldo de Barros, 1950s, Brazil
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Mid-Century Modern chest of drawers made in Hardwood designed by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor in the fifties is a very rare FIND and is gorgeous! The chest...
Brass
Bookcase model "MF-710" by Geraldo de Barros
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Barcelona, ES
Bookcase model “MF-710” Manufactured by Unilabor Brasil, 1954 Jacaranda, formica, painted metal and brass Measurements 103 cm x 43,1 cm x 200h cm 44,5 in x 17 in x 78,7h in Literatur...
Metal, Brass
Buffet by Geraldo de Barros, 1956
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Barcelona, ES
Buffet Manufactured by Unilabor Brazil, 1956 Jacaranda wood Measurements 206 cm x 40 cm x 78h cm 81,1 in x 15,74 in x 30,7h in Literature Unilabor, by Mauro Claro. Brasil, 2004. Se...
Wood, Jacaranda
Leather sideboard by De Couro of Brazil - 1980s
By De Couro
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Sideboard - A Pair available - Vintage 1980s A Pair available : model without cable pass Rare and elegant, this Brazilian sideboard from the De Couro collection testifies to the refi...
Leather, Wood
$14,236
H 28.35 in W 74.81 in D 18.51 in
Arne Vodder Sideboard in Brazilian Rosewood for Sibast Møbler, Denmark, 1960's
By Arne Vodder
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Arne Vodder Sideboard in Brazilian Rosewood and Metal, Denmark, 1960's Sideboard designed by Arne Vodder, made in Denmark in the 1960's, with signature tambour doors that slide smoo...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Dark Walnut Credenza, C. 1950s
Located in Westport, CT
A very handsome credenza or sideboard executed in dark walnut, completely restored, circa 1950-1950. It features three sliding doors with cane details and brass sabots, each door ope...
Brass
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
By Arne Vodder, Sibast
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Low Rosewood sideboard, 1960s Beautiful Danish Modern low sideboard in minimalistic style attributed to Danish designer Arne Vodder for Sibast. Front with...
Rosewood
Danish Midcentury Sideboard in Rosewood, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking sideboard in rosewood designed and made in Denmark, 1960s. Great original condition.
Rosewood
$2,562Sale Price|28% Off
H 29.53 in W 79.53 in D 18.12 in
Vintage Retro Teak large Sideboard Credenza by Tom Robertson for McIntosh, 1960s
By Tom Robertson, A.H. MacIntosh & Company
Located in Markington, GB
Vintage 1960s McIntosh sideboard by Tom Robertson. It has three drawers, cupboard space, and a drinks section with a useful pullout shelf. Credenza is in very good original condition...
Teak
$2,390
H 30 in W 36 in D 18 in
Stunning Brazilian Rosewood Cabinet made in Denmark attrib. to Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Danish Modernist Rosewood cabinet with stunning book-matched doors revealing an interior of mahogany with adjustable shelf. Minimal design with mitered corners and unusual al...
Aluminum
$2,859
H 32.29 in W 47.25 in D 16.93 in
Danish Rosewood Sideboard Model 4 by Gunni Omann for Edmund Jorgensen, 1960s
By Edmund Jorgensen, Gunni Omann
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish design sideboard A timeless piece, this palissander model #4 credenza designed by Gunni Omann for Edmund Jorgensen. Superb level of quality and use of high end materials on to...
Rosewood
$1,794
H 31.89 in W 38.98 in D 15.75 in
Cabinet Credenza Sideboard with Sliding Door by Ico Parisi for MiM, Italy 1960s
By MIM Roma
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning small sideboard with sliding doors in wood and aluminum designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MiM Roma in Italy during the 1960s. The sideboard is signed inside. In amazin...
Metal, Aluminum
Willy Rizzo Bar Cabinet in Rosewood and Marble, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in PARIS, FR
Willy Rizzo Bar Cabinet in Rosewood and Marble, Italy, 1970s Exceptional bar cabinet designed by Willy Rizzo, crafted in Italy in the 1970s. ...
Marble
$5,202
H 27.37 in W 90.95 in D 19.69 in
French Mid-Century Modern Teak Sideboard with Leather Handles, 1950s
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Elegant French sideboard from the 1950s, crafted in rich teak with beautiful natural grain. This piece features five doors with distinctive leather-wrapped handles in the style of F...
Teak, Leather, Glass
De Coene Display Cabinet or Book Shelf, Belgium, 1970s
By De Coene Frères
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage early 1970s bookshelf or display cabinet by De Coene, Belgium. This three door cabinet is made of solid wood with clear glass. The doors have magnetic closures. Moveable shel...
Wood
Geraldo de Barros Wall Unit in Rosewood and Steel
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Geraldo de Barros, wall unit MF 710 bookshelf, iron, plywood veneered with white Formica and rosewood, Brazil, 1954. Slender wall unit by the Brazilian modernist designer Geraldo de Barros. This playful design has two doors and three drawers. This well-proportioned book...
Steel
Sold
H 28 in W 70 in D 17 in
Brazilian Mid-Century Credenza in Hardwood by Geraldo de Barros, c. 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian Mid-Century Credenza in Hardwood by Geraldo de Barros, c. 1970s, is nothing less than gorgeous!...
Hardwood
Sold
H 28 in W 70 in D 17 in
Brazilian Mid-Century Credenza in Hardwood by Geraldo de Barros, c. 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian Mid-Century Credenza in Hardwood by Geraldo de Barros, c. 1970s, is nothing less than gorgeous!...
Hardwood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 16.54 in D 40.95 in
Geraldo de Barros – Unilabor. Bookcase MF 710, 1954. Iron, Rosewood and Formica.
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Curitiba, PR
Geraldo de Barros – Unilabor. Bookcase MF 710, 1954. Iron, Rosewood and Formica. The restoration process only needed refinishing, which was done by our team at the finest details an...
Iron
Sold
H 79.14 in W 61.03 in D 16.74 in
Brazilian Rosewood Bookshelf by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, 1950s, Mid-Century
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This bookshelf was designed in the 1950s by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and produced by Unilabor. He designed and projected furniture based on his constructive references related t...
Iron