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Unilabor Furniture

Brazilian

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. He was a cofounder of the furniture company Unilabor in 1954.

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 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 on the outskirts of São Paulo in the mid-1950s. 

As the chief designer at Unilabor, de Barros incorporated the concept of Concrete art into many of his pieces, particularly his armchairs. His dining room chairs, bookcases, coffee tables and desks were also designed with straight lines, sobriety and functionality in mind and made with natural materials such as rosewood, jacaranda and iron, while the doors of Unilabor cabinets and tables saw an integration of Formica.

Hallmarks of Brazilian mid-century design include the use of these native materials as well as smooth, sculptural forms, and the popularity of the region’s modernist furniture of the 1940s and ’50s has made household names of de Barros and designers such as  Oscar Niemeyer, Sergio Rodrigues and José Zanine Caldas

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

On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Unilabor furniture.

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Creator: Unilabor
Geraldo de Barros Midcentury Brazilian Coffee Table, 1960s
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
We work with artisans who masterfully restore typical pieces from each period of our history, valuing their different preservation techniques. Teamwork has built this pioneering comp...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Wood

Geraldo De Barrors Rolling Cart, Unilabor, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rolling cart designed by Geraldo de Barros (1933-1998) and produced by Unilabor (1954-1961) in São Paulo (Brazil). The cart is made of solid “caviuna” wood and white Formica. Really ...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Formica, Hardwood

Architectural Desk in Iron and Wood, by Unilabor, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Unilabor
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Unilabor was an important Brazilian furniture manufacturer during the mid-20th century, particularly known for its modernist designs and social business model. Founded in São Paulo b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Metal, Steel

Geraldo de Barros writing desk Unilabor Brazil 1956
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
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...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Tea Cart by Geraldo de Barros, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Tea Cart by Geraldo de Barros, 1950s Geraldo de Barros crafted an ingenious tea cart featuring a unique four-level structure. Made of wood with Formica tops, th...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Metal

Iron Armchairs by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil, 1955, Unilabor
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Houston, TX
Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) Set of two Iron armchair Manufactured by Unilabor Brazil, 1955. Iron frame, fabric upholstered. Measurements: 55 cm x 65 cm x 75 h cm 21.6 in x 25.59...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Iron

Bookshelf by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, 1950s, Mid-Century Modern
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Houston, TX
This bookshelf was designed in the 50s by Geraldo de Barros and produced by Unilabor. Its structure is made of iron, with storage compartments covered with Rosewood and Formica. ...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Iron

Geraldo de Barros Lounge Chair in Iron and Yellow Upholstery
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, armchair, fabric, iron, wood, Brazil, 1955 Crafted by the Brazilian modernist designer Geraldo de Barros, this lounge chair showcases the typical mat...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Iron

Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, Rosewood and Leather Chair
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Houston, TX
Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, This chair was designed in the late '50s. Unilabor was the first Brazilian labor cooperative. This chair presents a very minimal and discreet design, ...
Category

1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Suede, Rosewood

Set of 8 Unilabor Chairs MT 552, Geraldo de Barros, 1960s, Brazilian Design
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in New York, NY
This incredible set of eight MT 552 chairs designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor has a frame in solid rosewood with cane backrests and seats. Because...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Cane, Rosewood

Rare Brazilian Rosewood Armchairs by Geraldo De Barros, c. 1955, Brazil, Signed
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Los Angeles, CA
For the most refined collector, I can't think of anything better than this (very) rare pair of armchairs by famed Brazilian artist, designer and photographer Geraldo de Barros, circa...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Iron

Unilabor Rosewood Credenza by Geraldo de Barros, Brazilian Midcentury, c. 1954
By Unilabor, Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
This credenza was designed in the 1950s by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and produced by Unilabor. De Barros designed and projected furniture based on his constructive references rel...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Unilabor Furniture

Materials

Brass

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1950s Iron Chair by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
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1950s Chair by Geraldo de Barros, Iron and Off-White Linen for Unilabor, Brazil
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Pair of Nightstand Tables by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil, 1956
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1950s Model '1015' Desk in Iron and Rosewood by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil Modern
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
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The small '1015' desk is an iconic piece of Brazilian design, with striking contrast between the white Formica and the Iron - Rosewood. Brass feet and pulls complete the details of a...
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Iron Armchairs with Jacaranda by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil, 1955
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Houston, TX
Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) Iron single armchair Manufactured by Unilabor Brazil, 1955. Iron frame, fabric upholstered. Measurements: 55 cm x 65 cm x 75 h cm 21.6 in x 25.59 in x...
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Rosewood Desk by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, Brazil, 1956
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Unilabor furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Unilabor furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Unilabor furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Unilabor were created in the mid-century modern style in south america during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Rino Levi, Oca, and Geraldo de Barros. Prices for Unilabor furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,730 and can go as high as $45,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $20,000.

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