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.
Brazilian Modern Lidded Tobacco Jar in Jacaranda by Jean Gillon, 1970s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sculptural lidded tobacco jar carved from solid Brazilian rosewood (jacaranda), designed by Jean Gillon and produced in Brazil during the 1970s. The piece exemplifies Gillon’s refine...
Jacaranda, Rosewood
1960s Jean Gillon Tobacco Jar for Italma Wood Art Brazil
By Jean Gillon
Located in London, GB
Cigar humidor or tobacco jar from the 1960s. This iconic piece from the Italma Wood Art collection was created by Brazilian designer Jean Gillon. Very well crafted from the finest st...
Wood
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Pipe Holder in Hardwood, Jean Gillon, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Produced by WoodArt in Brazil during the mid-century period, this pipe holder reflects the company’s commitment to sculptural form and material integrity. Conceived as both a functio...
Hardwood
Dunhill Cork and Leather Tobacco Jar
By Dunhill
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome cork and leather tobacco jar from London. Beautiful patina to the cork and leather. Jar can be used as a tobacco, weed, or stash jar. Cork is a clas...
Leather, Cork
$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
$380
H 1.57 in W 3.93 in D 5.51 in
1960s Mid-Century Modern Onyx Jewelry Box, Made in Italy, Excellent
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing box in onyx. Made in Italy. This box is amazing and in excellent condition. Dimension: 5,51 x 3,93 x 1,57 H inches 14 x 10 x 4 H cm
Onyx
$1,600
H 2 in W 15 in D 4 in
Decorative Tray with Three Compartments in Brazilian Rosewood, Jean Gillon, 1958
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural study in utility and form, this rare three-compartment decorative tray by Jean Gillon embodies the architect-designer's enduring fascination with organic geometry and th...
Rosewood
Aldo Londi Bitossi Ceramic Box, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Bitossi Ceramic Box, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1960s. Small scale Mondrian box decorated with rectangles and lines and glazed in red, yellow, and black. Signed faintly on...
Ceramic, Clay
$225Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.34 in Dm 3.78 in
Turned Wood Hardwood Lidded Box Chess Figurine Style Mid Century Modern c 1960s
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A lovely small turned hardwood lidded box with a chess style shaped finial, made in Europe probably in the 1960s.
Wood, Hardwood
Longchamp Leather Pipe Cigarette Dispenser, 1960s France
By Longchamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare mid-century cigarette holder in the whimsical form of a smoking pipe. Crafted with a rich brown leather wrapped body, glossy black handle, and a warm brass lid that lifts to ...
Brass
19th Century Treenware Walnut Tobacco Jar
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand turned treen tobacco box made from walnut. The lid is expertly turned and is topped with a finial over a fabulous hand turned base. The walnut is a handsome color...
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Onyx Jewelry Box, Made in Italy, 1960s Design
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous Box in Onyx. Made in Italy. This box is in excellent condition. Dimensions: 5,31 x 3,74 x 1,96 H inches 13,5 x 9,5 x 5 H cm
Onyx
Brass Tobacco Box Holder. walnut wood Italy 1970s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Walnut wood tobacco box. brass lid .
Brass
$500
H 1.19 in W 4.93 in D 13.19 in
Brazilian Jacaranda Wood Tray Designed by Jean Gillon for Wood Art
By Jean Gillon
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Brazilian Jacaranda wood tray designed by Jean Gillon, circa 1960. Excellent vintage condition, very minor scratches on underside consistent with age and use. Includes ...
Jacaranda
Brass Tobacco Jar with Hand Painted Blue Delft Lid
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Small container for cigarettes or tobacco. Its made from Solid patinated brass and its screw-of lid is decorated with a small hand-painted porcelain pl...
Brass