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.
$1,977 / item
Brota 1, Soapstone Vase by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brota 1 - Soapstone vase by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: 28 (Ø) x 19 (H) ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist ...
Soapstone
$956 / 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
$593 / item
Marble Ginga Vase by Gustavo Dias
By Gustavo Dias
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of Ginga vases by Gustavo Dias Zara chair Wood: Different Woods are available Designer: Gustavo Dias Dimensions: Tall: 34 x 9 x 9 cm Short: 27 x 9 x 9 cm Available in wo...
Marble
$5,300
Sculpture by Jacque Faus
Located in São Paulo, BR
The shapes of Faus’s receptacles and recipients are, by themselves, objects of free assimilation, that comes into existence through a process of assemblage, rather than from a previo...
Ceramic
$611 / item
Gui Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Gui Candleholder by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 14 cm D 10.5 cm H 40.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on pr...
Bronze
Pitaya Sculpture by Pedro Ávila
Located in São Paulo, BR
In the collection Delicadeza e Brutalidade, the sculptural furniture explores the essential duality between romance and violence, beauty and aggression. Materials such as marble, sta...
Brass, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
$1,126 / item
Bowl, Large Quartz Points by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Bowl, large quartz points by Aver Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 14 cm Materials: Quartz, steel, polyvinyl chloride, resin.
Quartz, Steel
$1,222 / item
Cure Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Cure bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 19.5 cm D 19.5 cm H 3.5cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, ligh...
Bronze
$2,217 / item
Mariae Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Mariae bowl by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 40 cm D 13 cm H 8 cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighti...
Bronze
$1,138 / item
Etta Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Etta bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 56.5 cm D 16.5 cm H 5 cm. Materials: black/brown bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a ...
Bronze
$491 / item
Leo Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Leo candleholder by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 11 cm D 10 cm H 30.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Also available in dark bronze. Fakasaka is a design company focused on produc...
Bronze
$994 / item
Animal Vessel 01 by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Animal Vessel 01 by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 14 x W 17 x H 19 cm. Materials: Black low temperature clay with white grog. Reproduction is ...
Clay
Yutaka Toyota brazilian steel and wood wall sculpture 1982
By Yutaka Toyota
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible YUTAKA TOYOTA steel wall sculpture polychromed in blue in perfect conditions signed and dated 1982.
Steel
$395 / item
Selenite Candle Holder by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Selenite candle holder by Aver Dimensions: D 10 x H 14 cm Materials: Selenite, glass, steel, resin.
Quartz, Steel
$407 / item
Debbie Candlestick by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Debbie candlestick by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 6 cm D 5 cm H 24 cm each. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furnitu...
Bronze
Turner Card and Pen Holder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Turner card and pen holder by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 26.5 cm D 10.5 cm H 8 cm Materials: black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focuse...
Bronze
$5,596 / item
Hilda Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Hilda bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 78 cm D 41 cm H 12 cm. Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design compan...
Bronze
$5,596 / item
Black Bronze Hilda Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Black bronze Hilda bowl by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 78 x D 41 x H 12 cm Materials: Black bronze.
Bronze
$659 / set
Pair of Ginga Vases by Gustavo Dias
By Gustavo Dias
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of Ginga vases by Gustavo Dias Zara chair Wood: Different Woods are available Designer: Gustavo Dias Dimensions: Tall 34 x 9 x 9 cm Short 27 x 9 x 9 cm Available in wood...
Wood
Collection of 3 Natural Mineral Specimens
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A fascinating collection of 3 natural mineral specimens. Each presented on an exclusive small painted display plinth, this group contains a range of impressive cabinet specimens. T...
Natural Fiber
$18,705 / item
Vertigem Wall Separating + Sculpture by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Vertigem wall separating + Sculpture by Mameluca Material: Stainless Steel & Acrylic, Guitar strings Dimensions: D 130 x W 190 x H 50 cm The introduction of electric guitar in t...
Stainless Steel, Other
$647 / item
Selenite Candle Holder by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Selenite candle holder by Aver Dimensions: D 14 x H 20 cm Materials: Selenite, steel.
Quartz, Steel
$203 / item
Stringray Coaster 2 by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Stringray coaster 2 by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 10.7 cm D 10.7 cm H 0.5 cm Materials: polished bronze. Also available in dark bronze. Stringray coaster 2 Cup coaster...
Bronze
$491 / item
Brutalist Coaster 1 by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutalist Coaster 1 by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 17 cm D 17 cm H 0.9 cm. Materials: polished bronze Also available in black/brown bronze. BRUTALIST COASTER 1 CUP COASTER / BOTTLE COASTER / CANDLE...
Bronze
$1,486 / 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
$1,857 / item
Candleholder in Polished Bronze by FAKASAKA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Candleholder in Polished Bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 13.5 x D 13.5 x H 41.5 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$3,519 / item
Libidonoso Object #1 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Libidonoso object #1 by Mameluca Material: marble, gold-plated metal Dimensions: D 15 x H 5.5 cm In reference to Paul Nacke’s states about Narcissism, being an attitude of a per...
Marble
$70,142 / item
Symbiotic Wall by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Symbiotic wall by Mameluca Material: Brazilian woods cedar, jequitibá rosa Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 350 cm With this goal, we created an intersection line that 'separates' ...
Wood
$35,077 / item
João Do Pau Nest Wall Separating + Sculpture by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
João do Pau Nest wall separating + sculpture by Mameluca Material: Vime Branches, Pallets, others Dimensions: D 300x H 250 cm Birds build huge nests with twigs (reason of common...
Other
Set of 3 Nest Wall Separatings + Sculptures by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 nest wall separatings + sculptures by Mameluca Material: Vime Branches, pallets, paper, fishing net, coconut fiber, clay & carboard others Dimensions: D 300x H 250 cm "...
Other
Infinito Soapstone and Nickel Sculpture by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Infinito Soapstone and Nickel Sculpture by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone and nickel. Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 45 cm. One counter stool, one screen, one coffee table, two wall sco...
Soapstone, Nickel
$9,768 / item
Verdaço, Bench Sculpture by Cultivado Em Casa
Located in Geneve, CH
Verdaço - Bench sculpture by Cultivado Em Casa Dimensions: 197 x 79 x 133 cm Materials: Stainless steel and wood A tangle chaotic and, at the same time, systematic, meticulous. ...
Stainless Steel
$593 / item
Marble Ginga Vase by Gustavo Dias
By Gustavo Dias
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble Ginga vase by Gustavo Dias Wood: Different woods are available Designer: Gustavo Dias Dimensions: Tall: 34 x 9 x 9 cm Short: 27 x 9 x 9 cm Available in wood and marble ...
Marble
Pair of Marble Ginga Vases by Gustavo Dias
By Gustavo Dias
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of Ginga vases by Gustavo Dias Zara chair wood: Different woods are available designer: Gustavo Dias Dimensions: Tall: 34 x 9 x 9 cm Short: 27 x 9 x 9 cm Available in wo...
Wood
$5,069 / item
Dear Sonia Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dear Sonia bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 36 cm D 30 cm H 7 cm. Materials: Polished Bronze + Onyx Transluced Marbled Fakasaka is a design company focused on production...
Onyx, Bronze
$2,025 / item
Page Vase by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Page vase by Fakasaka design. Dimensions: W 16 cm D 16 cm H 35.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze. Fakasaka is a design company focused on product...
Bronze
$1,462 / item
Rod Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Rod bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 19.5 cm D 19.5 cm H 3.5cm. Materials: dark bronze. Rod bowl / ashtray / centerpiece / candle holder / ca...
Bronze
Pair of Boxes, Ashtrays in Dark Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of boxes, ashtrays in dark bronze by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 28 x D 12 x H 10 cm. Materials: dark bronze.
Bronze
$898 / 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
$790 / item
Osborne Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Osborne bowl by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 35 cm D 10 cm H 3.5 cm. Materials: black/brown bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on pr...
Bronze
$575 / item
Adri Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Adri candleholder by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 12.5 cm, D 10 cm, H 36.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on ...
Bronze
$606 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 06 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Soapstone Amorfo 06 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 11 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist and de...
Soapstone
$1,102 / item
Candle Holder, Large Quartz Points by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Candle holder, Large Quartz Points by Aver Dimensions: D 14 x H 28 cm Materials: Quartz, Steel, Polyvinyl chloride, Resin.
Quartz, Steel
$203 / item
Stringray Coaster 2 by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Stringray coaster 2 by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 10.7 cm D 10.7 cm H 0.5 cm Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. Stringray coaster 2 Cup coaster...
Bronze
$491 / item
Brutalist Coaster 1 by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutalist coaster 1 by Fakasaka design. Dimensions: W 17 cm D 17 cm H 0.9 cm. Materials: black/brown bronze. Also available in polished bronze. Bru...
Bronze
$1,222 / item
Clash Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Clash bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 19.5 cm D 19.5 cm H 3.5cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lig...
Bronze
$1,833 / item
Teresa Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Teresa bowl by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 32.5 cm D 25.5 cm H 6 cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, li...
Bronze
$2,372 / item
Dear Celia Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dear Celia bowl by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 36 cm D 30 cm H 7 cm. Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, li...
Bronze
$5,069 / item
Dear Sonia Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dear Sonia bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 36 cm D 30 cm H 7 cm. Materials: polished bronze + onyx transluced marbled FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production...
Onyx, Bronze
$1,450 / item
Dark Bronze Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dark bronze candleholder by FAKASAKA Design. Dimensions: W 9.5 x D 5.5 x H 29.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze.
Bronze
$1,186 / item
Hun Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Hun Candleholder by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 9 cm D 6 cm H 33 cm. Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a desig...
Bronze
$7,825 / item
Polished Bronze Bar Tray by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Box, ashtray in polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 63 x D 37 x H 7 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$1,246 / item
Janis Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Janis candleholder by Fakasaka design. Dimensions: W 8 cm D 8 cm H 41 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Fakasaka is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, ...
Bronze
$862 / 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
$1,450 / item
Heather Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Heather candleholder by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 9.5 cm D 5.5 cm H 29.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. Fakasaka is a design company focus...
Bronze
$1,234 / item
Apple Vase by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Apple vase by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 11 cm D 11 cm H 18.5 cm Materials: polished bronze. APPLE VASE / PEN CUP FAKASAKA is a design company focu...
Bronze
$316 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 05 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Soapstone Amorfo 05 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 35 x H 6 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brother...
Soapstone
Rock Crystal Fish Sculpture on Acrylic Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rock crystal fish sculpture on acrylic base. Made in Brazil (c. 1980s) Dimensions: Sculpture with base: 16" H x 17" W x 7" D Sculpture without...
Rock Crystal
'Paleae Brasilis' Fruit Tray by Brunno Jahara, Brazilian Contemporary Design
By Brunno Jahara, Ana Voss
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Brunno Jahara, contemporary Brazilian design, Wicker and Brass. Brazil, 2018. The Fruit tray is made of wicker, in the form of a hat, referring to the Brazilian interior tradition and the frequent use of this accessory by rural workers. Made of brass, the continuous structure forms at the top, a handle and at the bottom, feet suspending the fruit tray above the surface. Paleae Brasilis is a collection of tropical objects and accessories done in partnership with fashion designer Ana Voss, that created together using straw...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Tray, Brazil, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden wall unit "Extenso" by Amma, Italy, 1970s.
Wood
The French sculptor shaped dense blocks into tactile forms meant to be used and held.
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.