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.
Collection of Nine Brazilian Silver & Quartz Crystal Iced Tea Spoons or Muddlers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Collection of 9 Brazilian silver & quartz crystal iced tea spoons or muddlers. Sterling twisted wire shafts, each with a coin of 1867 to 1929 used for the bowl & with quartz crystal ...
Crystal, Quartz, Silver
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
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
Vintage Sterling Silver and Turquoise Demitasse and Serving Spoons Set Of 14
Located in North Miami, FL
These lovely and regal set of 14 sterling silver and turquoise demitasse, espresso and serving spoons are vintage. They are hallmarked Prata 833 and hand wrought. They are from Brazi...
Sterling Silver
$1,260Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century - 'Troubadour' Silver Toothpick Holder
Located in Porto, PT
19th Century - 'Troubadour' Silver Toothpick Holder. Portuguese, 19th century, with embossed decoration on an oval base with feet and cup adorned with vegetal elements, containing a ...
Silver
$420Sale Price|30% Off
18th Century Silver Fork
Located in Porto, PT
18th Century Silver Fork. Brazilian, from the first half of the 18th century, in silver with marks from an unidentified assayer in Rio de Janeiro (BR-80.0) and from the goldsmith ‘ID...
Silver
$775 / set
H 0.5 in W 9 in D 2 in
Rare Pair of Exeter Sterling Silver Parcel-Gilt Georgian Berry Spoons
By William Woodman
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of Georgian, sterling silver, parcel-gilt berry spoons, Exeter, England, 1830, William Woodman - maker. Measures: 9" long x 2" wide (at widest point). Vacant cartouche. Bea...
Sterling Silver
Set of Five Sterling Silver Demitasse Spoons
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple and elegant set of five sterling silver demitasse spoons, circa 1940s. The set is in very good vintage condition and each spoon measures...
Sterling Silver
$1,056 / set
H 1.19 in W 8.47 in D 1.78 in
18th Century Dutch Silver spoons by Adraen Pieter Dingemans, 1758
Located in Delft, NL
18th Century Dutch Silver spoons by Adraen Pieter Dingemans, 1758 6 silver spoons from the maker Adraen Pieter Dingemans (1740-1820) The spoons has the pattern of The Hague "Lofje" ...
Silver
$621 / set
H 4.14 in W 1.19 in D 0.79 in
FOUR ANTIQUE ViCTORIAN MOTHER OF PEARL & STERLING SILVER TESTED SHELL TEA SPOONS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning suite of four mother of pearl sterling silver tested shell tea spoons A good looking well made and decorative suite of four spoons, they have been tested (not by me) as sterling silver, they have shell heads...
Sterling Silver
Asprey & Garrard 18th Century Sterling Silver Salts
By Asprey & Garrard Limited
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive set of four contemporary Elizabeth II English sterling silver salts; part of our silver cruet and condiments collection. These exceptional cast sterling silver salts have been realistically modeled in the form of two male and two female figures gesturing towards each other, in the 18th century style. Each female figure is embellished with period attire comprised of a mid-calf length skirt with a bodice style top, one incorporating a fan and the other a lace...
Sterling Silver
12 Japanese Sterling Ice Tea Spoons
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a complete set of twelve ice tea / mint julep spoons. Each set of six come in the original case. The case has hinges on the side and...
Sterling Silver
A Late-19th Century German Silver Kiddush Goblet
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite late-19th-century German silver Kiddush goblet is a masterful blend of artistry and spiritual significance, embodying the elegance of fine silversmithing. Resting on ...
Silver
12 Sterling Silver gilt Place Card Holders cherubs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
12 Sterling Silver Gilt Place Card Holders Mid-20th Century Sterling silver and Silversmith hallmark Italian work Dimensions: Height 1.22 inches Weight: 235 grams In great condition...
Sterling Silver
$5,486
H 5.12 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
19th Century Victorian Gilt Sterling Silver Posey Holder Hallmarked London, 1869
By Alexander MacRae
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London, in 1869, by Alexander Macrae, this stunning, antique, Victorian, sterling silver Posey holder, or tussie mussie, is gold-plated, and...
Sterling Silver
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
$330 / set
H 0.75 in W 1 in D 8.25 in
Mexican Sterling Silver Highball or Iced Tea Sipping – Stirring Straws, Set of 4
By Taxco
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of four hand made Sterling Silver highball or iced tea hollow sipping and stirring straws with ridged shell shaped bowls. Mexico, Circa 1940s. The bowls are shaped as stylized...
Sterling Silver
$335 / set
H 1 in W 1 in D 10.25 in
Sterling Silver Highball or Iced Tea Heart Leaf Bowl Stirring Straws, Set of 4
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of four Estate Sterling Silver highball or iced tea hollow sipping and stirring straws with heart or leaf shaped bowls. Circa 1920 -1925. Silver balls are soldered in place t...
Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Toothpick or Cocktail Stick Holder Brazil, C.1850
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique silver toothpick or cocktail stick holder, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, circa 1850. The holder in the form of an exotic bird surmounted on ...
Silver
Sold
H 4 in W 3.5 in D 1.25 in
Group of Three Rare Miniature Animals in Sterling Silver and Semi-Precious Stone
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Group of Three Rare Miniature Animals in Sterling Silver and Semi-Precious Stones. These rare miniature figurines convey a high level of quality and art value. The splendid work i...
Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Toothpick Holder, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, circa 1850
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique silver toothpick or cocktail stick holder, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, circa 1850. The holder in the form of a continental livery uniforme...
Silver
Jacaranda and Sterling Silver Pot by Jean Gillon, Italma Wood, Brazil, 1960
By Italma, Jean Gillon
Located in Utrecht, NL
Collectable solid jacaranda wooden pot with a sterling (925 marked) handgrip by Jean Gillon. Made 1960 by Italma Wood Art, Brazil. Originally designed as a tobacco pot but now serve...
Silver
Sold
H 1.25 in W 3.5 in D 1.5 in
Continental '.800' Silver Hand-Form Paper Clip with Antique Brazilian Coin
Located in New York, NY
Unusual, Continental (.800) silver, hand-form paper clip, with an antique Brazilian "silver dollar" coin inserted at top. Coin was minted during the...
Sterling Silver