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.
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
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
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
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
$3,560 / set
H 0.38 in W 0.88 in D 4.13 in
Christofle Art Nouveau Silver Spoons, French Sterling Silver Spoons Set of 12
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine quality set of 12 antique sterling silver tea, coffee or dessert spoons attributed to Christofle, circa 1890-1930. Stunning design and craftsmanship. The handles have sophisticated Art Nouveau Pattern different decor, flowers, vine leaves, bunch of grapes, foliage, decor dahlias. The mark “925” on the bowl confirms that it’s sterling silver (.925 purity). The handle shows ornate floral and foliate engraving, typical of early 20th-century American or European silver flatware. The pattern style — squared edges with raised floral decoration — closely resembles Art Nouveau to early Art Deco transitional designs (roughly 1890s–1930s). The spoon shape (slightly deep oval bowl, short handle relative to bowl size) suggests a bouillon or cream soup spoon, not a teaspoon. Presented in its original box by Prestigious silversmith: A La Gerbe...
Sterling Silver
$4,500 / set
H 1 in Dm 1.25 in
Asprey & Co Sterling Silver Cased Swan Motif Menu Place Card Holders Set of 12
By Asprey International Limited
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This elegant set of 12 sterling silver menu place card holders was made by Asprey of London. The pieces have circular bases surmounted with arched menu place card supports and featur...
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Sibray, Hall & Co Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Fruit Serving Set
By Sibray, Hall & Co.
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver fruit serving set - boxed; an addition to our dining silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver fruit serving set consists of a knife, pair of fruit serving spoons...
Silver
Large Georgian, 'George III' Sterling Silver Stuffing Spoon
Located in New York, NY
Large Georgian (George III) stuffing spoon having a deer armorial, London, year-hallmarked for 1807, John Blake - maker. Measures 12 inches long x 2 inc...
Sterling Silver
Georgian 'George II' Sterling Silver Stuffing Spoon Dated 1738
By Thomas Whipham I
Located in New York, NY
Georgian (George II), sterling silver stuffing spoon, London, year-hallmarked for 1738, Thomas Whipham - maker. Measures 11 inches long x 2 inches deep ...
Sterling Silver
$508Sale Price|30% Off
H 7.49 in W 1.19 in D 1.58 in
Silver Serving Spoon Antique Pair of Decorative Sterling Silver Gilded Spoon
Located in Wembley, GB
Pair of Antique Sterling Silver Serving Spoons Gilded & Ornate Handles A distinguished pair of antique sterling silver serving spoons, exquisitely crafted and richly detailed in the ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
$2,750Sale Price|21% Off
H 11 in W 13.75 in D 10 in
Georgian Sterling Silver Cake Basket, London 1796, Possibly Thomas Chawner
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Georgian silver cake basket, London 1796, poss Thomas Chawner. The oval shaped basket with pedestal reed base, border pierced surround, upper section with outer reed design border an...
Sterling Silver
$1,999
H 4.73 in W 1.19 in D 0.4 in
Gucci Hallmarked Silver Plated Demitasse / Coffee Serving Spoons Set 12 Vintage
By Gucci
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Gucci Hallmarked Silver Plated Demitasse Serving Spoons Set 12 Vintage This lovely set of 12 small signed Italian Gucci demitasse spoons have the the classic horse bit design. They ...
Bronze
$2,070 / set
H 1.75 in W 12.5 in D 10.5 in
Victorian English Sterling Silver Berry Spoon and Grape Shear Set in Fitted Case
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique sterling silver berry set was made in London England in circa 1880 in the period Victorian style. The set is composed of four large matching berry spoons and a pair of g...
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