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.
Geraldo De Barros, Console, Wood, Brazil, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in High Point, NC
A small wall-mounted console or wall shelf designed by Geraldo De Barros and produced by Hobjeto, Brazil, 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.7...
Wood
“MF 710” Modular Bookshelf in Hardwood & Metal, Geraldo de Barros, Brazil, 1956
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Designed in 1955 by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, the MF 710 bookshelf stands as one of the most refined expressions of Brazilian post-war modernism, where industrial rigor meets h...
Brass, Iron
Geraldo De Barros, Console, Wood, Brazil, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in High Point, NC
A small wall-mounted console or wall shelf designed by Geraldo De Barros and produced by Hobjeto, Brazil, 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.7...
Wood
Geraldo De Barros, Console, Wood, Brazil, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in High Point, NC
A small wall-mounted console or wall shelf designed by Geraldo De Barros and produced by Hobjeto, Brazil, 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.7...
Wood
$1,256 / set
H 13.78 in W 11.82 in D 31.5 in
Marcello Siard for Kartell Set of 6 Black Plastic Shelves, Italy 1970s
By Kartell, Marcello Siard
Located in Naples, IT
Set of six shelves with asymmetrical plastic profile in black, designed by Marcello Siard for Kartell in the 1970s, are of two sizes 4 small (cm.35x44x30) and two large (cm. 35x80x30...
Plastic
$1,898 / item
H 3.15 in Dm 21.66 in
Tableau Wall Decoration Shelf Designed by Sara Ferrari for Mingardo
By Mingardo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tableau is a functional painting, a wall decoration designed to frame everyday objects. Materials: Iron with brassed details Dimensions: Ø 55 cm.
Brass, Iron
$1,652Sale Price|44% Off
H 11.82 in W 11.03 in D 9.85 in
18th Century French Gilt Wood Sculptured Wall-Consoles
Located in Sofia, BG
18th century wall suspended consoles from France. Beautifully constructed in gilt wood and ornamented with a Rococo influence. The quality of th...
Giltwood
Set of Sixteen Museum Display Holders Made of Plexiglass
Located in Doornspijk, NL
These 16 beautifully shaped display holders were used in the anatomical department of Het Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden (the Museum of Cultural Anthropol...
Copper
1970s Sculptural Rattan & Glass Etagere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1970s sculptural rattan & glass etagere The case with continuous book-matched rattan The upper section measures 24.5" W x 43" H, fitted with two 2...
Rattan, Glass
$1,930 / set
H 18.9 in W 24.81 in D 12.6 in
21st Century Verter Turroni White Fibreglass Modular Bookshelf Shelf Shelving
By Verter Turroni, Imperfettolab
Located in Longiano, IT
Favo bookshelves and containers, modular wall elements in fibreglass. The individual modules can be juxtaposed, turned around and multiple, 2 elements but various combinations of shapes. Favo positioned in a seemingly casual pattern allows everything to find its ideal place. Designer: Verter...
Fiberglass
$2,200
H 9.5 in W 11 in D 6.5 in
American Studio Hand-Sculpted Walnut Waterfall Shelf by Roger Sloan, circa 1970
By Roger Sloan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning, petite American Studio Craft wall shelf with a floating, sensually carved concave back supporting a wedge-shaped ledge by American craftsman, Roger Sloan. A work of art o...
Walnut
$3,883
H 74.81 in W 38.59 in D 7.49 in
Brutalist Oak Asymmetrical Shelving Unit or Bookcase, The Netherlands, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A Dutch brutalist shelving unit produced in the 1970s, crafted from solid oak. The piece is defined by its open, architectural construction, with ve...
Oak
Italian large bookcase, 1970s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian large bookcase, 1970s. Dimensions: H= 200 cm; W= 325 cm; D= 52 cm.
Metal
Important Benjamin Baldwin Burl Wood Shelf or Wall Console
By Benjamin Baldwin
Located in Chicago, IL
Benjamin Baldwin custom wall-mounted console in burled elm, from the C.F. Murphy Jr. residence, Chicago. Hidden bracket for Minimalist look secures to wall. Woodwork Corporation of A...
Burl
Wall Mounted Secretary Desk Cabinet by Charles Webb, Circa 1970s
By Charles Webb
Located in Peabody, MA
A wall mounted secretary desk, commissioned from the Cambridge, MA maker Charles Webb in the late 1970s. Fashioned in a glowing maple, it features a drop down writing surface support...
Maple
Mohs Small Tabernacle by Studio Intervallo
Located in Geneve, CH
Mohs Small Tabernacle by Studio Intervallo Dimensions: W 30 x D 53 x H 75 cm Materials: Wooden structure, covered with marbled cotton paper. Mohs is a special element, which ari...
Wood
Space Age Modular Wall or Ceiling Panels, 1970s, Set of 4
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Striking 1970s Space Age-style panels originally used as decorative ceiling elements in a Danish design store, complete with integrated lighting. These modular pieces are highly vers...
Plastic
$1,570 / set
H 22.05 in W 40.56 in D 13 in
21st Century Verter Turroni White Fibreglass Modular Bookshelf Shelf Shelving
By Verter Turroni, Imperfettolab
Located in Longiano, IT
Favo bookshelves and containers, modular wall elements in fibreglass. Available in 2 different designs and sizes. The individual modules can be juxtaposed, turned around and multiple, 2 elements but various combinations of shapes. Favo positioned in a seemingly casual pattern allows everything to find its ideal place. Designer: Verter Turroni...
Fiberglass
Dorothee Becker & Ingo Maurer, Uten.Silo, 1970s
By Dorothee Becker
Located in London, GB
Make the most of your wall space with the classic plastic, wall storage unit. This iconic design is versatile and practical, perfect for all homes. Designed by Dorothee Becker, this system was first produced and launched on the market in 1969 and a smaller version was issued in 1970 (Uten Silo...
Plastic