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.
1940'S BRAZILIAN INLAID WOOD TRAY WITH REAL MORPHO BUTTERFLY WiNGS
Located in Pulborough, GB
We are excited to present this vintage Brazilian inlaid wood tray with real Morpho butterfly wings. This vintage tray features a geometric pattern m...
Walnut
Silver Flower Basket Place Card Holders Set of 6
Located in Stamford, CT
1950s Brazilian 900 silver basket place card holders. Each holder features a “bouquet” of semi precious stones. Twisted round silver holder. Each hol...
Multi-gemstone, Silver
Stylish Set of 12 Brazilian Silverplate & Porcelain Demitasse Cups & Saucers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stylish set of 12 demitasse cups and saucers having a mix of silver plate and white porcelain. Cups are 2" round while saucers are 3.25 square. We love the fabulous sophisticated des...
Silver Plate
Contemporary Hand Carved Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Leaf Tray
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful hand carved leaf tray in natural, clear rock crystal quartz. Finely carved from a super clear quality of rock crystal and polished to a brilliant high gloss finish. A stu...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Contemporary Hand Carved Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Leaf Tray
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful hand carved leaf tray in natural, clear rock crystal quartz. Finely carved from a super clear quality of rock crystal and polished to a brilliant high gloss finish. A stu...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Set of 8 J. E. Caldwell Sterling Silver Bread or Cake Plates
By J.E. Caldwell & Co.
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A set of 8 sterling silver reticulated 6.5 inch bread plates. The elaborate pierced borders retailed by J. E. Caldwell and attributed to Gorham. Good weight not stamped but cast.
Sterling Silver
$600 / item
H 4.75 in W 17.5 in D 7.5 in
Contemporary Black Copper Bai He Tray by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bai He tray Black copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief o...
Copper
Set of 12 Porcelain Shells by Giovanni Garibaldi for Richard-Ginori
By Giovanni Gariboldi
Located in New York, NY
In the 1920s Gio Ponti, who defined 20th century Italian design, was the art director of Richard-Ginori, a venerable porcelain company established in the 18th century. When Ponti moved on in 1930, his protégé Giovanni Gariboldi, who also designed furniture and interiors, filled the vacated position. It would seem that Gariboldi found his model for these shell-shaped dishes in nature, but this is not the case. Rather, he channeled the essence of “shellness," and endowed his design with the faux verisimilitude of delicate ribbing along the scalloped edge. Yet he had them glazed in improbable candy-like pastel colors of pink, yellow, and blue. Originally used principally as ashtrays, no doubt, they could also be put to use as serving dishes for nuts and candies, or as decorative tabletop objects...
Porcelain
$3,249
H 5.12 in W 13 in D 7.49 in
Cup Cooler, with Marks, Royal Porcelain Factory of Buen Retiro, Madrid
By Real Fábrica del Buen Retiro
Located in Madrid, ES
Soft white paste, circa 1784-1803. Piece of tender pasta with wavy edges used to hold the tops of the cups in them and cool them when filling the ice container or similar. On the outside, it has two handles in the shape of plant elements and small reliefs on the fronts (also enhanced by the gold) which frame floral bouquets with colored leaves. It is possible that the piece belongs to the second period or intermediate stage of the Real Fábrica de Porcelana del Buen Retiro...
Other
$141Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.79 in Dm 8.47 in
French Barbotine Enameled Plates Birds in Vine, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
French plate, enameled barbotine Birds in vine Some very light chips on the edges of the plate (please see photo). Comes with the plate holder if you want to hang it on the wall. Goo...
Enamel
Unavailable|$690 / item
H 1.97 in W 31.5 in D 10.63 in
Mendoza Rectangular Large Tray, Recycled Barrel Wood & Alpaca Silver
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The unique and intense color of the Malbec wine represents us. The old storing barrels coated with its characteristic burgundy dye is the inspiration for our...
Metal
12 Sterling silver bow-shaped place-card holders
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
12 sterling silver bow-shaped place-card holders. Italian work, circa 1970. Length: 3.5 cm; width: 3 cm; height: 1.6 cm; total weight: 80 grams Hallmarked 800 silver.
Sterling Silver
Pair of French Silverplated Bronze Swans
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French silverplated bronze swans, each one a heavy, realistically cast and modeled of a swimming swan, one slightly larger. Large swan 8" W x 3 D x 6" H Smaller swan 7.5"W ...
Bronze
Antique Fine Irish Belleek Porcelain Demitasse Cup and Saucer
By Belleek Pottery Ltd.
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Fine Irish Belleek Demitasse Cup and Saucer basketweave shamrock eggshell antique porcelain Saucer 4.5 Cup 2.5 x 2h maker stamp present hand painted original estate preowned vintage ...
Porcelain
Art Deco Sterling Silver Table Basket on Pedestal Base
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco, sterling silver table basket on pedestal base, American, circa 1930s. Measures: 8 1/4 inches high (to top of handle) x 7 inches wide (at widest point) x 5 inches deep (at d...
Sterling Silver
$595 / set
H 2.5 in Dm 4.63 in
Set of 2 Signed Richard Klemm Dresden Porcelain Demitasse Cups & Saucers
By Dresden Porcelain, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 2 Dresden porcelain demitasse cups and saucers. By Richard Klemm. The cups with slightly tapered sides and a flattened c-shaped handle. The saucer with a broad rim an...
Porcelain
Mid Century French Wood Marquetry Tray with Bamboo Handles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French wood marquetry tray with bamboo handles makes for the perfect service item or wonderful addition to any coffee table Natural color variations throughout Rounded bamboo trim and curved half moon...
Bamboo, Wood
Agate Coasters Brazilian
Located in New York, NY
A set of Brazilian neutral agate stone wine, champagne or cocktail coaster set, Postmodern design, circa late 20th century, Brazil. Set includes six (6) round agate stone and rosewoo...
Onyx, Agate
Sold
H 0.8 in W 17.3 in D 7.9 in
Midcentury Brazilian Modern Charcuterie Platter in Hardwood, Jean Gillon, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Midcentury Brazilian Modern Charcuterie Platter in Hardwood by Jean Gillon, is gorgeous! Handcrafted from hard rosewood (also known as Jacaranda), this charcuterie platter features clean lines with elegant curves and two carved circles. The rosewood has two rich tones with stunning natural wood grain on both sides. Pieces like this, with a minimalist aesthetic, are iconic from Brazil in the sixties, and were catered not only for domestic, but for international markets as well. This platter will look awesome as a centerpiece on a table or sideboard. The wood has been refinished and besides minor marks of age, the piece is in excellent condition. Jean Gillon was a Brazilian furniture designer born in Romania in 1919. He studied at the Architecture and fine arts Schools at the National University. He founded his first company Fábrica de Móveis Cidam in 1961 after emigrating to São Paulo, Brazil in 1956. Gillon's firm designed many luxury hotels throughout Brazil and homes and stores. He was known for his one of a kind tapestries. His second furniture company, WoodArt, produced full lines of Brazilian rosewood furniture...
Hardwood
Contemporary Hand Carved Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Shell Tray
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful hand carved shell tray in natural, clear rock crystal quartz. Finely carved from a super clear quality of rock crystal and polished to a brilliant high gloss finish. A st...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Contemporary Hand Carved Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Shell Tray
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful hand carved shell tray in natural, clear rock crystal quartz. Finely carved from a super clear quality of rock crystal and polished to a brilliant high gloss finish. A st...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Sold
H 2.5 in W 19 in D 11.5 in
Contemporary Large Scale Hand Carved Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Leaf Tray
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful large scale hand carved leaf tray in natural, clear rock crystal quartz. Finely carved from a super clear quality of rock crystal and polished to a brilliant high gloss f...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Midcentury Brazilian Modern Plate in Hardwood by Tropic Art, 1960s, Brazil
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this midcentury Brazilian Modern Rosewood decorative plate was designed by Tropic Art and made in Brazil circa 1960. Handcrafted from hard ...
Hardwood
Sold
H 1.2 in W 17.7 in D 5.5 in
Midcentury Brazilian Modern Cheese Platter in Hardwood by Jean Gillon, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this midcentury Brazilian Modern Rosewood decorative Cheese Platter was designed by Jean Gillon for WoodArt and made in Brazil circa 1960. Handcrafted from hard Rosewood (known as Jacaranda), the platter features clean lines with elegant curves. The rosewood is a deep, dark, rich tone with stunning natural wood grain. Size: H1.2, W17.7, D5.5 (in) H3, W45, D14 (cm) The same platter is featured in Jean Gillon’s book on page 119 (image attached) Jean Gillon was a Brazilian furniture designer...
Hardwood
Bronze Color Free Form Shape Glass Bowl, Brazil, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brazilian free form shape glass bowl with rough, jagged edges in gold. Bowl is bronze in color with interior "splatter" design. One of several pieces for a collection ...
Glass
Midcentury Brazilian Modern Jean Gillon Wood Art Jacaranda Trays
By Jean Gillon, wood art
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of Brazilian Modern Jean Gillon Wood Art solid Jacaranda trays. Retains the original labels. 1960s, Brazil.
Wood, Jacaranda
Contemporary Hand Carved Rock Crystal Clear Quartz Shell Tray
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful hand carved shell tray in natural, clear rock crystal quartz. Finely carved from a super clear quality of rock crystal and polished to a brilliant high gloss finish. A st...
Quartz, Rock Crystal
Agate Drink or Cocktail Coasters, Set of 6
Located in New York, NY
A set of six (6) agate onyx and wood drink, Champagne and cocktail coaster set, circa late-20th century, Brazil. Dimensions: .38" height x 3.63" diam...
Agate, Onyx
Sofo Tea Trolley in Freijo Wood with Black Glass Tray
By Gisela Simas
Located in Petrópolis´, RJ
Practical, simple and elegant. The Sofo tea cart, made of wood and finished with brass wheels, is a perfect accessory for any modern environment. Sofo also has two wood and glass rem...
Wood