Martin Eisler was an influential figure in mid-century modern furniture design, particularly within the Brazilian design movement. Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1913, Eisler was part of a generation of European architects and designers whose work and lives were profoundly affected by the upheaval of the Second World War. His father was the art historian Max Eisler, a founding member of the Austrian Werkbund, which likely influenced Eisler's early exposure to design and architecture.
It was in Brazil that Eisler's design sensibilities fully blossomed. He met Carlo Hauner, with whom he would form a formidable partnership, founding the iconic Brazilian furniture company Forma. Their designs are celebrated for integrating Brazilian materials and craftsmanship with modernist design principles, creating furniture that was both accessible and aesthetically sophisticated.
Eisler's furniture designs, such as the Reversível and Costela chairs, are lauded for their innovative use of materials and form. His work often featured Brazilian woods and thin tubular frames, showcasing a finesse in blending structure with visual lightness. The collaboration between Eisler and Hauner was marked by a shared vision that helped define Brazilian mid-century modern design, making it distinctive and sought after globally.
Find vintage Martin Eisler furniture on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Herança Cultural)
Expandable Dining Table in Caviuna by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, circa 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler are most known for well-shaped armchairs made in iron, but the production is far more complex, handcrafted, and extensive. The wood pieces produced by ...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Dining Table by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler in the 1950s, this table was conceived to maximize space and functionality, assuming two distinct configurations. In its standard position,...
Rosewood
Dining Table with Cane Top by Carlo Hauner, Brazilian Midcentury, 1950s
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler's pieces of furniture are highly designed and well-executed, with ingenious constructive details – very distinctive of any production of the time in Br...
Wood, Cane
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler coffee table by Forma Italy 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
The Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler versatile table for Forma Italy in 1955, is a piece of furniture that embodies both functionality and style. With its adaptable design, this table seam...
Rosewood
Italian Midcentury Extendable Dining Table by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Dassi Mobili Moderni, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Stylish Italian Mid-Century Modern dining table designed by Vittorio Dassi and produced by Dassi Mobili Moderni in 1950-1960. The table is extendable, adding one or two leaves and su...
Teak
Italian Mid-Century Dining Table Attr. to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant dining table, Paolo Buffa, 1950s. The piece is really rare and important. The marble top is supported by a center column on four bronze finished feet. Available as well the ...
Walnut
Italian Vintage Dining Table with Glass Top, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Hellouw, NL
This Italian vintage dining table brings the refined aesthetic of the 1950s into contemporary interiors. A sophisticated blend of form and material, this piece encapsulates the grace...
Glass, Mahogany
Lazy Susan Round Dining Table Very Rare Brazilian Rosewood Top
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Early, rare rosewood lazy susan dining table designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. The center white laminate area is a lazy susan so it turns in a circular motion. This is the...
Steel
$3,294
H 30.32 in W 62.21 in D 31.11 in
Dining table by Carlo Ratti made by Industria Legni Curvati, 1950s, Italy
By Carlo Ratti, Industria Legni Curvati
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This Italian dining table was designed by Carlo Ratti in the 1950s. The table was manufactured in Milan by the company Industria Legni Curvati. The wooden table legs are encased in ...
Metal, Brass
$14,707
H 28.35 in W 55.52 in D 55.52 in
Quatour Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa, Mid-Century Modern, Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Berlin, DE
The Quatour Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa is a stunning example of the Italian architect’s mastery of form and material. This version features a matte black oil finish with a subtle b...
Wood
Carlo Hauner, Side Tables, Iron, Rosewood, Brazil, 1960s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of black-painted iron and rosewood side tables designed by Carlo Hauner, Brazil, c. 1960s. Provenance: Adesso, Los Angeles
Iron
$14,000
H 30.32 in W 53.15 in D 37.41 in
3 in 1 Extendable Dining Table in Caviuna Wood by Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Designed in the 1950s by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, this rare 3-in-1 extendable dining table exemplifies the intelligence and refinement that defined early Brazilian Modernism. ...
Hardwood
Italian Midcentury Dining Table by Pier Luigi Colli
By Pier Luigi Colli
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant dining table designed by Pier Luigi Colli with finely carved and painted legs decorated with acanthus leaves. Dark red glass top. The same set ...
Wood
$8,200
H 33.08 in W 25.6 in D 18.9 in
Carlo Hauner for Forma S/A – Three-Tier Tea Trolley in Caviúna and Glass, Brazil
By Carlo Hauner
Located in Curitiba, PR
Elegant and functional tea trolley designed by Carlo Hauner for Forma S/A, Brazil, 1960s. Executed in solid caviúna wood with three tiers and glass trays, this piece reflects the ref...
Glass, Hardwood
$2,823
H 17.72 in W 43.31 in D 21.66 in
Coffee Table, attr. Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma, Italy 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Greding, DE
Rectangular coffee table with a practical magazine shelf and a drawer, supported by sleek tapered legs. The design is further enhanced by additional storage compartments above the dr...
Wood