Percival Lafer Shelves
When it comes to mid-century furniture, the innovative work of the Brazilian Modernists has often been overlooked, including the designs of prolific maker Percival Lafer. Lafer studied architecture at São Paulo’s Universidade Mackenzie. After he graduated, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a furniture business that Lafer took over with his brothers.
Taking up the mantle, Lafer made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully designed pieces available at affordable prices. That year, Lafer introduced his supremely popular MP-1 chair, a plush piece of furniture made with iron and wood that he has riffed on throughout his entire career.
The silhouettes of Lafer lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating were distinct from streamlined American and European mid-century modernism, taking on casual, puffed forms thanks to his use of polyurethane layers as padding. He combined such contemporary industrial materials with local natural ones, namely Brazilian hardwoods, which delighted customers around the world as Lafer became one of the country’s leading exporters of furniture.
Lafer has continued to design furniture throughout his career, branching into sofas, tables and lighting. He was at the forefront of mechanical furniture movements, debuting the MP-7 sofa, which could turn into a twin bed, in 1965, the first such piece on the market. One of his most intriguing projects was the MP Lafer, a two-seat fiberglass roadster designed to emulate British sports cars. Some 4,300 units were produced over its 16-year manufacturing run in the ’70s and ’80s, with several ending up in the collections of major car museums.
Still, Lafer’s biggest claim to fame is his seating, which he continues to design, drawing inspiration from modern shapes and local materials. In 2017, a retrospective of his work was organized as part of the São Paulo Design Weekend.
Find vintage Percival Lafer furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Percival Lafer Shelves
Metal
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Percival Lafer Shelves
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Percival Lafer Shelves
Iron
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Percival Lafer Shelves
Beech, Teak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Percival Lafer Shelves
Cane, Rattan
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Percival Lafer Shelves
Brass
1960s Danish Vintage Percival Lafer Shelves
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Percival Lafer Shelves
Oak
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Percival Lafer Shelves
Glass, Teak
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Percival Lafer Shelves
Plexiglass, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Percival Lafer Shelves
Wrought Iron
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Percival Lafer Shelves
Chrome
1990s Swiss Minimalist Percival Lafer Shelves
Aluminum
Percival Lafer shelves for sale on 1stDibs.
- What is Percival Lafer?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Percival Lafer is a leading contemporary Brazilian furniture designer most famous for his Mid-Century Modern sofas and chairs constructed with hardwood and luxurious leather. Lafer is a pioneer of the Brazilian Modernist movement. On 1stDibs, find authentic Percival Lafer furniture from top sellers.