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.
Wauja. Contemporary Native Ceramics "Kulupienê, Yanumaka, Temepiyana", 2022
Located in PARIS, FR
Taukana Regui Wauja / Wauja People, Upper Xingu (Brazil) Ceramic Vessel, 2024 This exceptional piece of native Brazilian ceramics was created by the Wauja people of the Upper Xingu ...
Ceramic, Pottery
Handcrafted Solid Bronze Mortar and Pestle, Mid-Century Modern Style
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
A solid bronze mortar and pestle handcrafted in Brazil circa 1970. With its balanced proportions and substantial weight, the piece exemplifies the enduring appeal of traditional util...
Bronze
Cubist Style Contemporary Teapot by Deborah Schwartzkopf
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A noted contemporary Seattle artist/potter has had numerous shows all over the world. Featured on the cover of "American Craft" in 2015. Here is how DS ...
Ceramic
$515Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 11.8 in W 14.6 in D 14.6 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Side Table
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt white big side table, stool for bedroom or living room - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - slip applied with natural ...
Clay, Earthenware
$285Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Jar
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt brown jar - Made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - Made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter Aïcha. Approximate mea...
Clay, Earthenware
Mid Century Modern plate by Robert Picault, France
By Robert Picault
Located in London, GB
Earthenware plate with matt grey glaze depicting a bull by the celebrated French ceramicist Robert Picault, Vallauris, South of France. Signed to base. THE PLATE IS NOT SOLD WITH T...
Earthenware
$126Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 9 in W 5.9 in D 8.7 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Jar
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt freckles terracotta jar - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter Raja. Approximate measurements: 8...
Clay, Earthenware
$365Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 8.3 in Dm 10.6 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Side Table
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt terracotta small side table, stool for bedroom or living room - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter ...
Clay, Earthenware
Contemporary Italian Fruit Bowl, Ceramic Vase with Fruit Motifs
Located in Madrid, ES
Vase made by hand in glazed ceramic with traditional motifs from southern Italy. Every item LA Studio offers is checked by our team of 10 craftsmen in our in-house workshop. Special...
Ceramic
$487Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 11.8 in Dm 14.6 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Side Table
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt terracotta big side table, stool for bedroom or living room - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter Ho...
Clay, Earthenware
$796Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 11.8 in Dm 14.6 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Side Table
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt terracotta side tables, stool for bedroom or living room - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter Houda...
Clay, Earthenware
$365Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 8.3 in W 10.6 in D 10.6 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Side Table
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt white small side table, stool for bedroom or living room - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - slip applied with natural pigments as whitewash with w...
Clay, Earthenware
Mid-Century Modern Studio Ceramic Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Great detail in this signed ceramic vase with a glazed white ceramic and detailed with cut and formed ceramic ornamentation around upper portion. Well executed.
Ceramic
$360Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 3 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in
Two Southwestern Native American Redware Pueblo Pottery Signed Bowls 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Two Southwestern Native American Redware Pueblo Pottery Artist Signed Bowls 20thC Small 2 1/8" x 3" x 3" Large - 3" x 4 1/4" X 4 1/4" A pair of Sout...
Pottery
Sold
H 5.5 in W 6.7 in D 5.1 in
1960s Tobacco Jar by Jean Gillon for Italma Wood Art in solid rosewood
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
This tobacco jar was designed by Jean Gillon and produced by Italma Wood Art in Brazil during the 1960s. Crafted in solid rosewood, the piece reflects Gillon’s distinctive approach t...
Rosewood
19th Century Antique Terracotta Pot
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Decorative Pieces A beautiful 19th century terracotta pot, acquired by previous owner and collector while in Brazil in 1950s. Sculptural shape and beautiful deep patina with c...
Clay
19th Century Antique Terracotta Pot
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Decorative Pieces A beautiful large 19th century terracotta pot, acquired by previous owner and collector while in Brazil in 1950s. Sculptural shape and beautiful deep patina ...
Clay
19th Century Antique Terracotta Pot
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Decorative Pieces A beautiful 19th century (or older) terracotta pot, acquired by previous owner and collector while in Brazil in 1950s. Sculptural shape and beautiful deep pa...
Clay
Vândria Borari & Eunice De Oliveira Bowls
By Maria Fernanda Paes de Barros
Located in Jundiaí, SP
Unique design piece The Kwasawá Straw and ceramic bowl was first presented in Two Chronicles Exhibition at A CASA Museum, in October 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil. They are an homage to indigenous ancestry and the importance to understand and value our traditions and origins as part of knowing who we are and our place in the world. The pieces in Tucumã straw (typical palm of The Amazon Forest) dyed with roots, leaves and fruits and braided by the artisans of the riverside Community of Urucureá, in Pará, followed the shapes of the indigenous pottery...
Ceramic, Pottery, Straw
Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Brazilian Soap Stone Bowl
Located in Wainscott, NY
Early 20th century hand-carved Brazilian soap stone bowl most likely used as a cooking vessel Dimensions: 8 in. W x 5 in. D x 2.75 in. H opening is 6 in. W x 3.5 in. D.
Soapstone
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
Faye Toogood and John Pawson are among the list of plate designers.
Get to know the innovators behind the pottery countercultural revolution.