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.
$1,860 / 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
$1,860 / 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
$4,630 / set
Pair of Monumental Marajoara Urns, Brazil, 1970s
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Pair of Monumental Marajoara Urns, Brazil, 1970s Standing an impressive 95 cm high, this rare pair of monumental urns embodies the enduring spirit of Marajoara art, one of the most ...
Ceramic
$2,990 / item
Cup Vase in Dark Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Cup vase in dark bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 16 x D 16 x H 35.5 cm Materials: Dark bronze.
Bronze
$6,425 / 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
$2,602 / 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
$3,401 / 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
$2,134 / 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
$2,134 / 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
Unavailable|$799
H 4.5 in Dm 5 in
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
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
Pair Monumental Neoclassical Carved White Marble Urns
Located in New York, NY
Pair of finest quality monumental 19 century Italian neoclassical carved white marble urns each measuring 39 1/2 inches tall. Signed Firenze (for Fl...
Marble
Small I Cinesi Vase in Dark Red by Carlo Moretti
By Carlo Moretti
Located in IT
By putting three layers of glass on one another in three distinct moments colored opaque glass, clear crystal and colored crystal one achieves the amazing effect of a material that p...
Crystal
Beige Resin Terrazo Bathroom Set by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Terrazzo bathroom set handcrafted in resin and marble. This unique mix of materials creates trendy pieces that will add visual interest to your bath space, and the minimalist design brings modern touch to any space. This set includes everything you need to upgrade the look and feel of your bathroom, helping you maintain a clean and organized space. Light colors provide a clean look that mixes easily with existing decor. The set can be customized, please contact us for further information. Set includes: 1 Round toothbrush holder 1 Round Liquid soap dispenser...
Marble
Pair Of Moroccan Urns
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Moroccan Urns. Offered is a large matching pair of vintage Moroccan incised terracotta urns. These Moorish urns have a subtle color tone that will work in a variety of interi...
Terracotta
$1,181Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 11.82 in W 7.88 in D 9.85 in
Moorish Heads Vases "Catania Bronze", Handmade in Italy, 2019, Unique Design
By Mosche Bianche
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Gold Leaf
$2,850 / set
H 28 in Dm 10 in
Pair of Monumental John-Richard Verdigris Patinated Art Deco Style Lidded Urns
By John-Richard 1
Located in Morristown, NJ
Striking pair of monumental decorative lidded urns by celebrated American luxury furnishings company John-Richard, executed in a richly textured verdigris-style patinated metal with ...
Metal
Standard I Cinesi Vase in Dark Red by Carlo Moretti
By Carlo Moretti
Located in IT
By putting three layers of glass on one another in three distinct moments colored opaque glass, clear crystal and colored crystal one achieves the amazing effect of a material that plays with the light and changes thickness, consistency and chromatic effect. Two-colored objects...
Crystal
Antique Moser Lidded "Ruby Cabochon" Pattern Gilt Glass Box
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A circular faceted box with hinged lid, circa late 19th century. Overall gilt patterned decoration with raised ruby tone glass panels. The domed lid with f...
Brass
Art Deco Half Doll Porcelain Vanity Powder - Trinket Box, 1930's
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this very attractive and totally original 1930's Art Deco ladies powder/ trinket box. Made from porcelain with a vibrantly colored painted finish. Highly fu...
Porcelain
Large I Cinesi Vase in Dark Red by Carlo Moretti
By Carlo Moretti
Located in IT
By putting three layers of glass on one another in three distinct moments colored opaque glass, clear crystal and colored crystal one achieves the amazing effect of a material that p...
Crystal
$581
H 3.94 in W 7.49 in D 7.49 in
Brazilian Amazonian Marajoara Style Art Pottery Vessel Brazil R Cardoso
Located in London, GB
Brazilian Amazonian Marajoara Style Art Pottery Vessel Brazil R Cardoso An original signed work by R. Cardoso, produced in the renowned ceramic center of Icoaraci, Pará. This hand-c...
Pottery
Art Deco Porcelain Flapper Powder, Trinket Box, c1930s
Located in Devon, England
Striking and quite rare is this 1930s Art Deco ceramic powder box which depicts a stylized female dancer sat on the lid of a porcelain box. Beautiful colouring and detailing. A rare ...
Porcelain
$795Sale Price|38% Off
H 7 in Dm 3 in
Jon Sauer California Modernist Studio Exotic Woods Betel Nut Lidded Box
By Jon Sauer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Zig zag patterned cocobolo, blackwood and betel nut lidded box created by Jon Sauer of San Francisco, California. Box measures 7" in height by 3" in diameter. In excellent vintage co...
Cocobolo
Pair of Rock Crystal Decorative Small Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of rock crystal decorative small urns, from Brazil hand carved.
Rock Crystal
Brazilian Rock Crystal Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Great quality Brazilian rock crystal vase.
Rock Crystal
Pair of Brazilian Rock Crystal Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Splendid pair of Brazilian rock crystal urns with gilt finials.
Rock Crystal
Large Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rock Crystal Quartz Urn Form Cassolettes
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful large pair of Mid-Century Modern rock crystal / quartz urn form Cassolettes, Since these are natural quartz the color tone of them do vary. The top lid is removable and...
Rock Crystal
19th Century Painted Clay Country Pot from Brazil
Located in Wainscott, NY
19th century painted clay country pot from Brazil Beautiful example of pottery from the countryside Worn rim adds to the beauty of this piece as does th...
Clay
Pair of Modern Rock Crystal Urns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of modern rock crystal pedestal urns. The rock crystal is extremely high quality. The base measurement is 5 inches. The price below is for a pair but there are others available.
Rock Crystal