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.
$1,990 / item
D33, Vase by Cultivado Em Casa
Located in Geneve, CH
D33 - vase by Cultivado Em Casa Dimensions: 20 x 63 x 53 cm Materials: D33 foam, acrylic paint, acrylic resin, carbon steel. Also Available: different colors The D33 collecti...
Resin
$2,304 / 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
$2,258 / item
Bowie Vase by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Bowie vase by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 34 cm D 8 cm H 17.5 cm Materials: dark bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, lighting, d...
Bronze
$384 / 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
$1,583 / item
Candlestick in Polished Bronze by FAKASAKA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Candlestick in Polished Bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 20 x D 19 x H 30.5 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$5,785 / item
Round Vase in Dark Bronze by FAKASAKA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Round Vase in Dark Bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 35.5 x D 15 x H 41 cm Materials: Dark bronze.
Bronze
$1,618 / item
Box, Ashtray in Polished Bronze by FAKASAKA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Box, ashtray in polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 28 x D 12 x H 10 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$1,408 / 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
$2,258 / item
Vase in Dark Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Vase in dark bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 34 x D 8 x H 17.5 cm Materials: Dark bronze.
Bronze
$2,397 / item
Long Vase in Dark Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Long vase in dark bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 19 x D 12 x H 41.5 cm Materials: Dark bronze.
Bronze
$1,618 / item
Ashtray, Box in Polished Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ashtray, box in polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 26 x D 14 x H 9 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$7,601 / 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
$5,436 / 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
$10,872 / set
Set of 2 Bronze Hilda Bowl by FAKASAKA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 bronze Hilda bowl by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 78 x D 41 x H 12 cm Materials: Polished and black bronze.
Bronze
Pair of Centerpieces Bowls in Polished Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of centerpieces bowls in Polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 36 x D 30 x H 7 cm Materials: Polished bronze.
Bronze
$1,687 / 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
$1,315 / item
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee bookend by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm Materials: polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, ...
Bronze
$2,037 / item
Alexia Bar Tray by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Alexia bar tray by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 42.5 cm D 29 cm H 4 cm Materials: black/brown bronze. Alexia tray / bar tray / centerpiece / candle tray ...
Bronze
$1,198 / 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
$779 / item
Tomw Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Tomw bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 19 cm D 19 cm H 8.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze. TOMW BOWL / ASHTRAY / CENTERPIECE / CANDLEHOLDER FAKASAKA is a design company ...
Bronze
$395 / 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
$1,257 / item
Charlie Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlie bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 22 cm D 22 cm H 4 cm. Materials: polished bronze. CHARLIE BOWL / ASHTRAY / CENTERPIECE / CANDLE HOLDER / CARD HOLDER FAKASAKA i...
Bronze
$1,245 / item
John Lee 2 Bookend with Onyx base by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm, base D 14cm. Materials: polished bronze, onyx base. JOHNLEE BOOKEND / DOOR HOLDER...
Onyx, Bronze
$1,315 / item
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm Materials: black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furnitur...
Bronze
$1,687 / 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
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
$1,641 / 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
$1,583 / item
Alexia Candleholder by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Alexia candleholder by Fakasaka design. Dimensions: W 20 cm D 19 cm H 30.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze. Fakasaka is a design company focused on production of high-end furnit...
Bronze
$232 / item
Horn 1 Sculpture by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Horn 1 sculpture by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 8 cm D 6 cm H 7 cm Materials: polished bronze. Horn 1 Paper weight / sculpture FAKASAKA is a de...
Bronze
$838 / 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
$1,408 / 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
$1,618 / 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
$1,210 / 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
$616 / 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: polished bronze Also available in black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on pro...
Bronze
$256 / item
Brutalist Coaster 2 by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutalist coaster 2 by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 11.5 cm D 11.5 cm H 0.8 cm. Materials: black/brown bronze Also available in polished bronze. ...
Bronze
$5,436 / 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
$989 / item
Taylor Pencil Holder I by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Taylor pencil holder by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: Ø 8.5 cm H 13 cm Materials: dark bronze. Also available in polished bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production o...
Bronze
$2,304 / 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
$5,785 / item
Supert Vase by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Supert vase by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 35.5 cm D 15cm H 41 cm. Materials: Dark bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on product...
Bronze
$2,397 / item
Garrym Vase by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Garrym vase by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 19 cm D 12 cm H 41.5 cm. Materials: Dark Bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on produc...
Bronze
$558 / 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: polished bronze. Also available in dark bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused o...
Bronze
$1,245 / item
John Lee 2 Bookend with Onyx Base by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee bookend by Fakasaka Design. Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm. Materials: dark bronze, onyx base. Johnlee Bookend / door holder / sculpture. ...
Onyx, Bronze
$307 / 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
$1,233 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 07 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Soapstone Amorfo 07 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 7 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist and des...
Soapstone
$1,664 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 01 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Amorfo 01 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 17 x H 25 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist and designer, and Ma...
Soapstone
$1,315 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 02 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Amorfo 02 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 15 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos...
Soapstone
$1,664 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 09 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Soapstone Amorfo 09 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 15 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Sus...
Soapstone
$2,002 / item
Soapstone Amorfo 10 by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Soapstone Amorfo 10 by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: Ø 30 x h 25 cm ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Sus...
Soapstone
$2,537 / item
Ita 1, Soapstone Vase by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ita 1 - Soapstone vase by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone, brass Dimensions: 22 (Ø) x 32 (H) ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist...
Soapstone
$1,932 / item
Ita 3, Soapstone Vase by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ita 3 - Soapstone vase by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone, solid wood, Dimensions: 24 (Ø) x 32 (H) ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, ...
Soapstone
$1,792 / item
Brota 3, Soapstone Vase by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brota 3 - Soapstone vase by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: 15 (Ø) x 40 (H) ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist ...
Soapstone
$1,792 / item
Brota 2, Soapstone Vase by Alva Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brota 2 - Soapstone vase by Alva Design Materials: Soapstone Dimensions: 20 (Ø) x 30 (H) ALVA is a furniture and objects design office, formed by brothers Susana Bastos, artist and ...
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
Contemporary Turned Wood Vase by Etel Carmona
By Etel Carmona
Located in London, England
With numbered tag and 'ETEL' with logo Note: Etel Carmona's ethos of ecological responsability is evident in her designs using sustainable timbers whose natural flaws are embraced. ...
Wood
$3,060 / set
Tag Collection, Nude Concrete 5 Pot Set
By Luiz Costa e Rodrigo Irffi
Located in Santa Edwiges, MG
TAG COLLECTION "My time has become scarce to debate labels. I want the essence. My soul is in a hurry. " Rubem Alves For many, too much simplicity lacks subtitles. Why is it so c...
Concrete, Steel
Tag Collection, Black and White Concrete 5 Pot Set
By Luiz Costa e Rodrigo Irffi
Located in Santa Edwiges, MG
TAG COLLECTION "My time has become scarce to debate labels. I want the essence. My soul is in a hurry. " Rubem Alves For many, too much simplicity lacks subtitles. Why is it so c...
Concrete, Steel
$1,510 / set
Kyoto Collection, Aluminium and Wood 4 Pots Set
By Luiz Costa e Rodrigo Irffi
Located in Santa Edwiges, MG
KYOTO COLLECTION Lift up your gaze and you will see no boundaries. (Japanese proverb) When we learn from our precepts, we are capable of writing new stories. Looking ahead and do...
Aluminum
$1,080 / set
Kobe Collection, Aluminium and Wood 3 Pots Set
By Luiz Costa e Rodrigo Irffi
Located in Santa Edwiges, MG
KOBE COLLECTION "The distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion". We must not forget what we have lived, stories and traditions, so that w...
Aluminum
Arturito Collection, Concrete Paperweight Set (5 pieces)
By Luiz Costa e Rodrigo Irffi
Located in Santa Edwiges, MG
ARTURITOS COLLECTION Whether in Tokyo, Denver or Moscow, printing ideas requires organization. Taking chaos out of the box and turning it into facts requires hard work, care, attent...
Concrete
$840 / item
Babel Collection, PLA N2 Organizer
By Luiz Costa e Rodrigo Irffi
Located in Santa Edwiges, MG
BABEL COLLECTION Nothing beats the way creativity molds itself to everyday needs, as well as the sudden abstract contour of fascination. Brazil's power to create unimaginable inve...
Steel
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.