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.
Brazilian Modern Wine Holder with Lid in Rosewood & Imbuia, Jean Dobré, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
A striking example of Brazilian Modern craftsmanship, this sculptural wine holder was designed by Jean Dobré for Tropic Art during the 1960s. Expertly handcrafted from richly figured...
Imbuia, Rosewood
Brazilian Modern Ice Bucket in Imbuia and Brazilian Hardwood, Unknown, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Crafted in richly figured imbuia and Brazilian rosewood (jacarandá), this sculptural ice bucket highlights the expressive beauty of contrasting hardwoods. Vertical bands of warm, hon...
Plastic, Hardwood
$1,264Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.26 in Dm 8.47 in
Mid-Century Modern Apple Ice Bucket in Faux Carey and Metal, Mauro Manetti Style
By Mauro Manetti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Apple Ice bucket, brass, Lucite, Spain, 1960s A highly decorative faux tortoiseshell, metal plated and aluminum ice bucket or wine cooler in the manner of Mauro Manetti. Use it in a ...
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Italian Modern Aluminum "Pear" Ice Bucket
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Italian Modern aluminum 'pear-form' ice bucket with white plastic insulated bucket (ca. late 1960s/early 1970s, Italy). Features a textured, sculptural stem decoration ...
Aluminum
$173 / item
H 3.55 in W 3.55 in D 5.12 in
“Marblelous Wine Holder” White Carrara Marble Minimalist Handmade Wine Holder
By Josep Vila Capdevila
Located in Terrassa, Catalonia
The Marblelous Wine Holder is a sculptural wine stand carved from solid Carrara marble, designed to elevate the presentation of a special bottle while celebrating the natural beauty ...
Carrara Marble
$90 / item
H 1.6 in W 5.1 in D 5.1 in
WINE BOTTTLE CHILLER Bucket - Travertine Stone Wine & Champagne Holder - 25oz
Located in St Petersburg, US
Handmade Travertine Multi-Purpose Holder, a versatile and elegant piece crafted from natural travertine stone. While originally designed as an ashtray, this unique item is perfect fo...
Travertine, Marble
$575
H 7.75 in W 9.5 in D 7 in
A French Art Deco silver-plated champagne/ wine cooler with rosewood handles
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
An French Art Deco period silver-plate champagne / wine cooler with hand carved rosewood handles. The body of the cooler horizontally ribbed as the ends of the semi-circular handles....
Silver Plate
$250 / set
H 5 in W 4.75 in D 5.5 in
Vintage Hoya Glacier Ice Bucket With Textured Ice Glass, Japan, Circa 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Hoya Glacier Ice Bucket With Textured Ice Glass, Japan, Circa 1960s. Produced in the 1960s by the Japanese brand, Hoya, the vintage Mid-Century Modern Japanese ice bucket...
Art Glass
Jean Després Wine Cooler Silverplate Circa 1955 Paris France
By Jean Despres
Located in Lausanne, CH
An elegant wine cooler by Parisian designer Jean Després (1889-1980). One of the most innovative jewellery and silver artist active in France during the first half of the 20th centur...
Silver Plate
Brass and Steel Pineapple Ice Bucket
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This nice pineapple ice bucket is made of brass and steel. This is a French work. Circa 1970
Brass, Steel
Arthur Umanoff Wrought Iron Seventeen-Bottle Wine Holder
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1950s Arthur Umanoff wine rack in painted wrought iron. Can be used as a tabletop or floor rack, accommodating 17 bottles. Pictured with this wine rack is the smaller, 7-bottle hold...
Wrought Iron
$931Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in W 6.3 in D 6.11 in
Midcentury Ice Bucket in Faux Bois and Silvered Metal
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern ice bucket made in brown faux wood, acrylic and metal, Spain, 1950s-1960s. Handsome ice bucket in brown faux bois with silvered metal accents and handle....
Metal
Mid Century Brown and Brass Ice Bucket
By Kraftware
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Elevate your bar game, with this mid-century brown and brass ice bucket. With a brass lid, and handle, this piece exudes both form and function. Measures: 8" diameter 7.5" tall.
Brass
American Walnut Danish Modern Style Ice Bucket with Lid
By Vermillion
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Danish style walnut not teak Ice bucket by Vermillion. Bentwood handle.
Brass
1970's St James Silver-Plate Wine Bucket with Stand from Brazil
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1970's silver-plate wine bucket with bottle divider and stand, in vintage condition with minor wear and patina due to age and use, newly hand polished.
Silver Plate
50's Champagne Cooler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
50's one-leg champagne cooler
Stainless Steel