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.
Vintage Boho Carved Rock Crystal Skull
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Embrace the mystical allure and avant-garde aesthetic of the natural world with this impressive vintage hand-carved rock crystal skull. Hewn from a substantial block of clear quartz,...
Crystal
Three Modernist "Forato" Art Glass Vases by Jacqueline Terpins
By Jacqueline Terpins
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These vases comprise a set of three complimentary, organic, modernist vases by the noted Brazilian artist and designer Jacqueline Terpins. Each vase has a pierced center and an light, almost striated color distribution. The pierced center design strongly references the design of Fulvio Bianconi...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
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
Italian Murano Vanity Box Gold and Pink
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful hand-blown Italian Murano art glass and gold gilt metal vanity box, made in Italy. Murano glass exterior is matte in a pink grapefruit/blood orange hue, and lid is gold g...
Metal
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.25 in Dm 7.25 in
Seguso Murano Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Vanity Jewelry Powder Box
By Archimede Seguso, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and elegant, vintage Murano hand blown gold flecks Italian art glass vanity jewelry or powder box. The piece is attributed to designer Archimede Seguso. The entire piece is...
Gold Leaf
$3,400
Sugar Box Russia
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous box made of blue glass beautifully decorated with white details. Frame of brass. original lock and key. Made during 19th Century Russian Empire period. Small lockable boxes...
Brass
"Kelo" Art Glass Vase
By Timo Sarpaneva, Venini
Located in New York, NY
"Kelo" Italian art glass vase by Timo Sarpaneva for Venini & Co. Glass, clear, black, white and red. Marked: Venini 90 Sarpaneva (engraved).
Art Glass
Antique Baccarat Acid Etched Cameo Glass Box with Leaf & Vine Motif
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Baccarat acid etched cameo glass box with leaf & vine motif and bronze mounts. Circa 1890 - 1910.
Glass
Kyohei Fujita 'Dream' Blown Glass Box
By Kyohei Fujita
Located in New York, NY
Kyohei Fujita exquisite molded hexagonal Liuli blown glass box with gold and silver leaf inclusions, Japan, 1995. Etched signature 'Kyohei Fujita' to underside. Literature: Fin Lyn...
Glass
$1,292
H 4.75 in W 4.2 in D 2.6 in
Early 1900st Tanslucent Milk Glass Box, Handcrafted with Original Brass Mounts
Located in Lisse, NL
All handcrafted glass box, made in France. A beautiful and quietly confident milk glass box, early 20th century. The form is clean and well balanced, with softly edges and a calm, a...
Brass
René Lalique (1860-1945) « Panier de Roses » Box 1919
By René Lalique
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
René Lalique (1860-1945) « Panier de Roses » Box 1919 Two parts oval glass with a frosted basket of roses motif lid covering the clear bottom of the R. Lalique Box. White and blue ...
Glass
$206Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.5 in W 10 in D 10 in
Hoffmann and Schlevogt Art Nouveau Malachite Glass Trinket Box
By Curt Schlevogt
Located in Lucenec, SK
Fantastic example of a I. Heinrich Hoffmann Czech Art Deco malachite glass high relief reclining nude trinket box. It's done in beautiful green Czechoslovakian malachite glass with n...
Malachite
$152
H 6.7 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
Mid Century Vintage Purple Ingrid Glass Vase Rock Crystal, Germany, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Ingrid Glass, or rather Ingrid Glashutte, is a company based in Germany but with glassworks in Austria. Currently defunct, but operating from the earl...
Glass, Murano Glass
$4,850
H 4.25 in W 12.13 in D 3.13 in
Large Japonisme Moser-Type Bronze Mounted & Enameled Blue Glass Casket Box
By Moser Glassworks
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and very fine 19th century enameled glass casket or glove box. Typical of the enamel treatments by Ludwig Moser and reminiscent of Baccarat's Japonisme works. Likely Bohemian, the blue glass...
Enamel
Monumental Art Glass Vase by Luca Vidal, Murano
By Gianluca Vidal
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Monumental art glass vase by Luca Vidal, murano. A large art glass vase handmade by glass master Gianluca Vidal early 2000s. Free formed clear glass bo...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Silver Color Free Form Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form shaped glass bowl. Metallic silver interior with decorative chiseled rough edges gold in color. One of several Brazilian designed glass objects.
Glass
Thick Brown Glass Vase, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian thick brown glass vase. Oval Shape with flat top . Sits well with S6216.
Glass
Thick Brown Glass Slanted Top Vase, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian thick brown glass vase. Slanted top design.
Glass
Thick Emerald Green Glass Vase, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian thick emerald green glass vase. Oval shape with flat top. One of several pieces from a large collection of Brazilian...
Glass
Royal Blue Free Form Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form shaped glass bowl with royal blue interior and washed blue exterior. Decorative chiseled edge in gold. One of several pi...
Glass
Sold
H 6.5 in W 25 in D 25 in
Black High Gloss with Gold Edges Free Form Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form shaped high gloss black glass bowl. Chiseled rough edges in gold color. One of several pieces from a large collection of...
Glass
Opaque with Silver Edges Free Form Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form shaped opaque glass bowl. Rough chisel edge in silver. One of several pieces from a large collection of Brazilian desi...
Glass
Turquoise and Charcoal Grey Free Form Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form turquoise interior glass bowl. Charcoal exterior. Chiseled edge design. One of several pieces from a collection of Br...
Glass
Silver Color Free Form Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form shaped glass bowl. Metallic silver interior with decorative chiseled rough edges gold in color. One of several Brazilian ...
Glass
Gold Speckled Blown Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian blown glass bowl. Gold speckled design with decorative bubble designs throughout. Free form organic shaped opening. Sits well w...
Glass, Blown Glass
Thick Gold Speckled Glass Small Oval Shape Vase, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian thick glass vase with decorative gold speckled design. Oval shape.
Glass
Midcentury Pair of Brazilian Table Lamps in Milk Glass with Wood Accents
Located in Astoria, NY
A vintage pair of highly modernistic table lamps, produced in Brazil, circa 1960s, each with single sockets over stems in white milk glass, accented by wood banding and circular base...
Milk Glass, Wood
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A new show at Upstate New York’s Corning Museum of Glass shows off the best and brightest contemporary works of the last few years.