More often than not, vintage mid-century Brazilian furniture designs, with their gleaming wood, soft leathers and inviting shapes, share a sensuous, unique quality that distinguishes them from the more rectilinear output of American and Scandinavian makers of the same era.
Commencing in the 1940s and '50s, a group of architects and designers transformed the local cultural landscape in Brazil, merging the modernist vernacular popular in Europe and the United States with the South American country's traditional techniques and indigenous materials.
Key mid-century influencers on Brazilian furniture design include natives Oscar Niemeyer, Sergio Rodrigues and José Zanine Caldas as well as such European immigrants as Joaquim Tenreiro, Jean Gillon and Jorge Zalszupin. These creators frequently collaborated; for instance, Niemeyer, an internationally acclaimed architect, commissioned many of them to furnish his residential and institutional buildings.
The popularity of Brazilian modern furniture has made household names of these designers and other greats. Their particular brand of modernism is characterized by an émigré point of view (some were Lithuanian, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Portuguese, and Italian), a preference for highly figured indigenous Brazilian woods, a reverence for nature as an inspiration and an atelier or small-production mentality.
Hallmarks of Brazilian mid-century design include smooth, sculptural forms and the use of native woods like rosewood, jacaranda and pequi. The work of designers today exhibits many of the same qualities, though with a marked interest in exploring new materials (witness the Campana Brothers' stuffed-animal chairs) and an emphasis on looking inward rather than to other countries for inspiration.
Find a collection of vintage Brazilian furniture on 1stDibs that includes chairs, sofas, tables and more.
1950s Brazilian Bronze Souvenir Box with Inlaid Historic Coins by Alberti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Bronze Souvenir Box with Inlaid Historic Coins by Alberti, Brazil, circa 1950s Dimensions: 2.5" Diameter x 1.25" H A finely crafted mid-century bronze so...
Brass
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Large Pipe Holder in Hardwood, Jean Gillon, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Jean Gillon for WoodArt in the 1960s, this pipe holder reflects the sculptural clarity and material sensitivity that define the designer’s contribution to Brazilian moder...
Hardwood
$319Sale Price / item|20% Off
Late 20th Century Square Pewter Lidded Box with Christian motif
By John Somers
Located in Raleigh, US
John Somers – World-Renowned Manufacturer of Fine Pewter Special Offering: Ornamental Square Box Crafted by the esteemed pewter artisan John Somers, celebrated globally for exceptio...
Pewter
$892 / item
Mark Small Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Mark small box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 10 cm D 10 cm H 6.5 cm. Materials: black/brown bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a de...
Bronze
$1,677 / item
Box in Polished Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ashtray, box in polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 15.5 x D 15.5 x H 13 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$1,683 / item
Aretha Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Aretha box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 15 cm D 15 cm H 9.5 cm. Materials: black/brown bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a d...
Bronze
Mid Century Brazilian Rosewood Box
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
beautifully hand-turned Rosewood box crafted in Brazil during the 1950s, showcasing the elegance and richness of South American hardwoods. The form is both simple and sculptural—cla...
Rosewood
Small Walnut Trinket Box with Agate Inlay Lid
Located in San Diego, CA
Small walnut trinket box with agate inlay lid, circa 1990s. The box is in very good vintage condition and measures 3.75”D x 2”H. Made in Brazil. #3907
Agate
Vintage Handcrafted Wooden Accordion Sewing - Jewelry Box
Located in Delray Beach, FL
This exquisite sewing box is a testament to the artistry of woodworking and decorative painting. Crafted from wood and adorned with intricate inlaid designs. The centerpiece of the...
Art Glass, Wood
$150 / item
Finish Samples by Alessandra Delgado Design
By Alessandra Delgado
Located in Alto da Lapa, SP
Finishing options for Alessandra Delgado Design products. Choose the samples you want for finishing the product, and check with the store for the cost of sending the chosen samples....
Steel
Malachite Octagonal Box
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a vintage malachite and brass inlay octagonal box in good condition, no chips or cracks.
Malachite, Brass
Quitandeira, Traditional Fruit Box in Glass, by Tiago Curioni
By Tiago Curioni
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
To perpetuate the memorable wooden boxes at fairs in Brazil, the architect and designer Tiago Curioni, a Brazilian based in Portugal, recreated the glass boxes, in a limited series of 30 units. Named as Quitandeira, it has a system of glass rulers...
Glass
Brazilian Table Top Box in Rosewood
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A stunning mid-20th-century box veneered in rich Brazilian Rosewood, dating to circa 1940. The hinged lid is framed by a striking Dutch ripple-style molding, expertly carved from sol...
Brass
Colonial Brazilian Rosewood Miniature Chest
Located in Essex, MA
Portugese Colonial dwarf chest used for valuables. Raised panels with brass hardware. Six small drawers. Bun feet.
Brass
1970’s Mid Century Egg Shape Coffee Storage Container With Coffee Beans Cover
By Arthur Arbesser
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique Egg Shape with a coffee bean cover - probably to store coffee grains or anything you feeling to put inside. That unique object will have your guest talking about it. Brought i...
Lucite
$13,259 / set
Set of 2 Casulo Cubes #2 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Casulo cubes #2 by Mameluca Material: electrostatic sluminum paint, recycled rubber blanket. Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 90 cm Opening a cube and transforming it into a...
Aluminum
$951 / item
Florence Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Florence box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 10 cm D 10 cm H 9 cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of...
Bronze
$1,475 / item
Dido Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dido Box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 15.5 cm D 15.5 cm H 9 Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighting, ...
Bronze
$892 / item
Mark Small Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Mark small box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 10 cm D 10 cm H 6.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Also available in black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is...
Bronze
$856 / item
Joan Small Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Joan small box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 10 cm D 10 cm H 6.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Also available in black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a de...
Bronze
$1,654 / item
Pearl Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pearl box by Fakasaka design. Dimensions: W 26 cm D 14 cm H 9 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Fakasaka is a design company focused on production of hig...
Bronze
$6,976 / item
Casulo Cube #2 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Casulo Cube #2 by Mameluca Material: Electrostatic Aluminum paint, recycled rubber blanket. Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 90 cm Also available in different dimensions. Opening a ...
Aluminum
$6,976 / item
Casulo Cube #3 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Casulo cube #3 by Mameluca Material: Electrostatic Aluminum paint, recycled rubber blanket. Dimensions: D45 x W90 x H45 cm Also available in different dimensions. Opening a cub...
Aluminum
$1,725 / item
Ava Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ava box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 16 cm D 16 cm H 28.5 cm Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighting,...
Bronze
$1,725 / item
Ava Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ava box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 16 cm D 16 cm H 28.5 cm Materials: black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighti...
Bronze
$1,677 / item
Aretha Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Aretha box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 15 cm D 15 cm H 9.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Also available in black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a d...
Bronze
$1,487 / item
Natalie Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natalie box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 15.5 cm D 15.5 cm H 9.5 Materials: polished bronze, agate. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture...
Bronze
$1,677 / item
REM Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
REM box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 15.5 cm D 15.5 cm H 13 cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighti...
Bronze
$1,654 / item
Gilmour Box by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Gilmour Box by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 28 cm D 12 cm H 10 cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighting, ...
Bronze
$125
H 0.5 in W 2.25 in D 2.25 in
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century. This Empire style box makes a wonderful addition to a collection of these classic brass boxes. This box is ve...
Brass
Silver Plated Metal 1960s Bowl & Box by Christofle
By Christofle
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 2 silver plated metal decorative objects: a "leave" bowl and an "apple" box from the '60s. Pretty good condition: the bowl show light defect on one side as showed in the pictu...
Silver Plate, Brass
Antique American Enameled Glass Ladies Footed Dresser Jar or Jewelry Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique pressed glass jewelry casket or jar is unsigned but presumed to have been made in the United States in circa 1880 in the period Vict...
Brass
1950s Anglo Indian Micro Sadeli Mosaic Inlaid Jewelry Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1950s Anglo Indian Micro Sadeli Mosaic Inlaid Jewelry Box. DIMENSIONS: 7ʺW × 7ʺD × 2.5ʺH. Indo Persian Moorish style micro mosaic inlaid jewelry box with lid. Intricate inlaid Anglo ...
Bone, Fruitwood
Moorish Inlaid Jewelry Box, Micro Mosaic Fruitwood, Lebanon, 1950s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Micro Mosaic Persian Islamic Moorish Inlaid Jewelry Pen Box. 1950s Middle Eastern Moorish Inlaid Jewelry Trinket Mosaic Box. Handcrafted mar...
Fruitwood
1950s by Piero Fornasetti Midcentury Italian Design Box
By Fornasetti
Located in Brescia, IT
Serigraphy on metal, wood box Excellent condition.
Metal
Handcrafted Cherry Wood Lidded Box, 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Handcrafted Cherry Wood Lidded Jewelry Box, 20th Century.
Cherry
$380
H 1.93 in W 3.93 in D 5.31 in
Astonishing Onyx Jewelry Box, Mid-Century Modern, Made in Italy, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing box in onyx. Made in Italy. This box is amazing and in excellent condition. Dimension: 5,31 x 3,93 x 1,93 H inches 13,5 x 10 x 5 H cm
Onyx
$180
H 4.75 in W 4.13 in D 3 in
Gorgeous Cathedral Cologne Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box Antique, German, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful souvenir trinket box made of metal. A beautiful nice addition to your vanity room or your collection of Grand Tour items.
Metal
$300
H 1.89 in W 4.53 in D 3.55 in
Vintage Seashell-Encrusted Jewelry Box with Floral Motif, 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Vintage Seashell-Encrusted Jewelry Box with Floral Motif, 20th Century Description: Wooden base completely covered in a variety of small, natural seashells. Intricate handmade mos...
Shell, Wood
$2,149Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.75 in W 4 in D 2.63 in
Intricate Carved French Fruit Wood Trunk, Perfume Box, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous example of a French fruitwood box carved beautifully carved into the form of a trunk. Look closely at the amazing detail, the side handles, the leather stitching, the l...
Fruitwood
Italian Leather Jewelry Box, Small
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Italian red burgundy leather jewelry box in a demi-lune (half-moon) shape, hand-applied gold embossing/tooling on top/lid, circa early to mid-20th century, Italy. Shown hol...
Foil
Brazilian Green Agate Onyx and Wood Box, Brazil 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A Brazilian hardwood and agate onyx round jewelry or trinket box, in the Modern style or Post-Modern period, circa late-20th century, 1980s to early 1990s, Brazil. Box is a hardwood ...
Agate, Onyx
18th Century Silver Clad Box / Chest
Located in New York, NY
Our unique 18th century silver clad wooden chest, 9 by 10 by 14 inches, comes from South America, likely Brazil, and features elaborate vines and flowers and fruit in the Baroque sty...
Silver
Mid-Century Brazilian Modern Resin and Patinated Bronze Jewel Box
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Brazilian modern green resin box with patinated bronze inlay circa 1970s.
Bronze
Brazilian Wood and Black Agate Onyx Round Box, Brazil 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A Brazilian hardwood and black and white agate onyx round jewelry or trinket box, in the Modern style Post-Modern period, circa, late-20th century, Brazil, 1980s, early 1990s. A hardwood round box with a black and white agate onyx lid. A great piece for a desk, vanity, nightstand table area to hold small items or jewelry, etc. Dimensions: 4.38" Diameter White German porcelain tray...
Onyx, Agate
Sold
H 4.25 in W 8 in D 5.5 in
Studio Maison Nurita Large Clear Quartz / Rock Crystal Box with Aventurine Frog
Located in Toronto, ON
This gorgeous clear quartz/rock crystal box with a green aventurine carved frog lid by Studio Maison Nurita is an exceptionally unique and whimsical piece....
Quartz
Contemporary Medium Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Box with Lid
Located in Toronto, ON
A stunning contemporary medium clear quartz rock crystal box. Beautifully carved by hand in an exceptional quality and clarity of rock crystal. Newly produced in the gem rich city of...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Brazilian Agate Onyx and Wood Round Jewelry or Trinket Box, Brazil, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A Brazilian wood and agate onyx round jewelry or trinket box, in the Modern style/Post-Modern period, circa late 20th century, 1980s, Brazil. Agate is a light grey hue. Piece would s...
Agate, Onyx
Agate Onyx Geode and Wood Round Jewelry or Trinket Box, Brazil, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A wood and agate geode round jewelry or trinket box, circa late 20th century, Brazil. Agate is a red burgundy hue, with white. Piece would suffice for a desk, vanity, nightstand tabl...
Agate, Onyx
1960s Jean Gillon Jacaranda Rosewood Ice Bucket Brazilian Modern
By Jean Gillon
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Brazil Ice Bucket Jean Gillon Jacaranda Rosewood Small Safe Box Ice Bucket. Made in Brazil, Circa the 1960s. Dimensions: 15.5" H X 10" D X 7" W Very...
Rosewood
Box in Polished Bronze by FAKASAKA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ashtray, box in polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 15.5 x D 15.5 x H 13 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
Agate Onyx Geode and Wood Round Jewelry or Trinket Box, Brazil, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A wood and red burgundy and white agate onyx geode round jewelry or trinket box, circa 1990s, late 20th century, Brazil. A great piece for a desk, vanity, nightstand table area to ho...
Agate, Onyx
Unique Brazilian Inlaid Marquetry Wood Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Very unique Brazilian inlaid marquetry box made of a number of hardwoods. Wonderful handmade piece with a great symmetrical design.
Hardwood