Just as emigrant Europeans — from Kem Weber and Paul Frankl to Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe — helped establish modernist design and architecture in the United States, so too did many of their peers foster the new design aesthetic in Brazil in the middle decades of the 20th century. Along with architect Lina Bo Bardi (from Italy) and Joaquim Tenreiro (from Portugal) — both of whom helped popularize Brazilian modern design and influenced today's generation of Brazilian designers — there was Jorge Zalszupin, who arrived from Poland in 1949 and created consistently sleek and elegant chairs, tables and case pieces using the South American country’s vibrantly grained tropical hardwoods.
Zalszupin was born in Warsaw (his given first name is Jerzy) and went on to study architecture at the École des Beaux Arts in Bucharest, Romania, graduating in 1945. Zalszupin moved to Paris but found few opportunities in the postwar City of Light. He was impressed by articles on the work of Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer that he saw in the André Bloc–edited magazine L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui (Architecture Today). And after sailing to South America, Zalszupin went to work with his fellow Pole and architect Luciano Korngold in São Paulo. Zalszupin began designing furniture as part of his architectural commissions and created several pieces for Niemeyer for use in the new capital city, Brasília. He opened his own design and manufacturing firm, L’Atelier, in 1959.
While Zalszupin cannot be said to have had a signature style, his furniture designs all share a characteristic simplicity and purity of line and form. His work is often compared to that of Danish designers, most especially in their shared commitment to quality construction. He was a master of many materials: travertine marble for tabletops, slung leather for seating, man-made fabrics for upholstery and — his forte — highly figured woods such as jacaranda and rosewood. The latter plays prominently in two of Zalszupin’s best-known lounge chairs: the Brasiliana, with its austere, angular wood frame, and the Presidencial, with its curved seating shell and slatted backrest. Both chairs feature deep cushions and generous proportions in deference to the Brazilian proclivity for long and languid conversations. Yet both pieces — like all Zalszupin designs — possess a striking, tailored grace that would be perfect in any environment.
Find vintage Jorge Zalszupin furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century Modern Buffet by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Buffet by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil, 1960s Fashioned by the talented Polish-Brazilian architect and designer, Jorge Zalszupin, this solid wood buffet...
Metal
Mid-century bamboo and cane Buffet - sideboard - 1960s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage bamboo and cane furniture Measures : 117x56cm H:89cm Materials : Wood - cane - bamboo - smoked glass This vintage 1960s sideboard, crafted from rattan and woven cane, appeal...
Bamboo, Cane, Smoked Glass, Wood
$26,000
H 31 in W 99 in D 19 in
Credenza in Solid Caviúna Hardwood by Forma, Brazilian Modern, Brazil, 1960s
By Forma Brazil
Located in New York, NY
Produced by Forma during the golden era of Brazilian Modernism in the 1960s, this exceptional credenza embodies the movement's commitment to sculptural simplicity, uncompromising cra...
Brass
$6,000
H 23.2 in W 18.1 in D 17 in
Jorge Zalszupin Two-Drawer Filing Cabinet, Brazilian Rosewood, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
A disciplined exploration of material intelligence and structural clarity, this two-drawer filing cabinet by Jorge Zalszupin distills the designer’s uniquely rigorous contribution to...
Hardwood, Leather
$6,000
H 25 in W 20 in D 18 in
Brazilian Modern Filing Cabinet / Side Table on Casters, Jorge Zalszupin, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
A refined study in mobility, material richness, and architectural restraint, this two-drawer filing cabinet by Jorge Zalszupin exemplifies the designer’s uniquely intellectual contribution to Brazilian modernism. Conceived during a period when workplace furniture in Brazil was evolving alongside the country’s rapid modernization, the piece reflects Zalszupin’s ability to transform functional storage into an object of enduring sculptural presence. Executed in richly figured Brazilian rosewood (jacarandá), the cabinet is composed in Zalszupin’s distinctive patchwork configuration — an approach that elevates material economy into visual composition. Carefully assembled sections of rosewood, each with its own grain movement and tonal variation, create a deeply animated surface that shifts subtly with light. Rather than masking these variations, the composition celebrates them, emphasizing the natural intelligence and expressive depth of old-growth jacarandá. The professionally restored satin-matte finish preserves the tactile authenticity of the wood while revealing exceptional grain clarity and tonal warmth. Structurally, the cabinet is disciplined and compact: a clean cubic volume framed by solid cylindrical legs and fitted with discreet casters, introducing a sense of lightness and mobility uncommon within case furniture of the period. The wheels allow the piece to transition effortlessly between functions and environments — equally compelling as a traditional filing cabinet, mobile office storage, or sculptural side table within a living room or bedroom setting. Positioned beside a sofa, lounge chair, or desk, the cabinet reads less as purely utilitarian furniture and more as a refined architectural object integrated into contemporary living. Exposed metal fasteners along the side panels reinforce the cabinet’s structural honesty, while leather-wrapped pulls provide a restrained material contrast against the density of the rosewood. These subtle details reflect Zalszupin’s characteristic balance between industrial pragmatism and artisanal refinement — never decorative for its own sake, but always intentional. The drawers retain smooth functionality, and the proportions remain remarkably versatile: compact enough for urban interiors while substantial enough to anchor a vignette visually. In contemporary spaces, the piece transitions naturally from executive office furniture...
Metal
$7,000 / set
H 23.23 in W 18.12 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Rosewood Nightstand Design by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazilian Design
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The tables can also be used as nightstand piece.
Rosewood
$22,000
H 27.5 in W 75.25 in D 16 in
Jorge Zalszupin Rosewood Mid-Century Credenza for L'Atelier, Brazil, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin, L'Atelier San Paulo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This iconic stunning rosewood credenza from the Componivel series was designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) and manufactured by his own company, L'Atelier, in the 1960s. It's inst...
Rosewood
$42,000
H 28.12 in W 78.94 in D 15.75 in
Jorge Zalszupin, Rosewood Patchwork Credenza, Brazilian Midcentury Design, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
This Rosewood Credenza, designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) and manufactured by L'Atelier in the 1960s, is a great way to have the diversity of different tones of Rosewood in j...
Rosewood
$68,600
H 54.34 in W 78.94 in D 15.75 in
L'Atelier Bookcase in Brazilian Rosewood by Jorge Zalszupin, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin, L'Atelier San Paulo
Located in New York, NY
This Rosewood Bookcase, designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) and manufactured by L'Atelier in the 1960s, is a great way to have the diversity of different tones of Rosewood in jus...
Hardwood, Cork
$18,000
H 29.5 in W 80.7 in D 15.7 in
Mid Century Modern Credenza in Brazilian Hardwood by Jorge Zalszupin, 1960
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922–2020) in the 1960s, this credenza reflects the designer’s refined approach to proportion, material richness, and functional clarity within Brazilian...
Metal
$2,180
H 27.17 in W 47.25 in D 17.33 in
Mid-Century Modern, Danish Oak Buffet, Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
Charming Danish oak buffet or sideboard made in the style of Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, circa 1960s. Crafted from beautifully grained oak, the piece showcases a warm and characterful...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Sculpted Walnut Buffet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elevate your space with this stunning Mid-Century Modern sculpted walnut buffet, a timeless statement piece that embodies the clean lines, organic forms, and exceptional craftsmanshi...
Walnut
$8,000 / set
H 23.23 in W 18.12 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Rosewood Nightstand Design by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazilian Design
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
A drawer cabinet with three drawers and chrome handles designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his company, L'Atelier. The piece is entirely covered with rectangular pieces o...
Rosewood
Sold
H 18.51 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Brasiliana Armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil, 1960
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Brasiliana Armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil, 1960 Designed in 1965, the “Brasiliana” armchair pays homage to Brasíl...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Buffet by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Buffet by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil, 1960s Fashioned by the talented Polish-Brazilian architect and designer, Jorge Zalszupin, this solid wood buffet...
Wood
Sold
H 23.23 in W 138.59 in D 15.75 in
Jorge Zalszupin Modulated Units Sideboard, Rosewood, Brazilian Design, 1960s.
By Jorge Zalszupin, L'Atelier San Paulo
Located in New York, NY
The modulated units were designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) during the 1960s. The piece remained in the designer's possession, for over four decades, in his personal residence....
Rosewood