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.
1960s Antique Large Penca De Balangandan Afro-American Amulet Tinplate, Brazil
Located in Andernach, DE
Absolutely unique very large creole 'Penca De Balangandan' from Brazil from around 1960. Tin base, possibly silver plated. Traditional slave amule...
Tin
$16,238Sale Price|33% Off
A large painting by Moacir Andrade, Brazil, 1960s "A Lenda Do Pacu"
By Moacir Andrade
Located in London, GB
A large stunning painting from the legendary Amazonian artist Moacir Andrade "A Lenda Do Pacu" (The legend of the Pacu) Acrylic on canvas depicting a central Pacu which is a lar...
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
20th Century Shipibo Pot
Located in Chicago, IL
A striking 20th century Amazonian Shipibo pot hand-built from clay, decorated with wide red and orange lines, and glazed with the sap of a tree. Members of...
Clay
A Kayapo Amazon Indigenous feather headdress
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brazil, Pará, circa 1950s-1960s H. 97 x W. 106 cm Provenance: Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Munich (purchased in the 1980s)
String, Feathers
$8,500 / set
31 Brazilian Silver Amulets
Located in New York, NY
These 31 Brazilian amulets, or balangada, were hammered from sheets of silver in the 19th century to form pomegranates, sugar apples, guava, and other...
Silver
Rare Brazilian Colonial 18th Century Shrine
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
18th-Century Brazilian Devotional Shrine from Minas Gerais A rare and historically significant 18th-century Brazilian devotional shrine from Minas Gerais, an exceptional piece of col...
Wood
An Amazon Indigenous Kayapo feather headdress
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brazil, Pará or Mato Grosso, circa 1950’s-1960s H. 55 x W. 38 cm (incl. stand) Provenance: Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Munich (purchased in the 1980s)
String, Feathers
Brazilian Brass Amulet 'Penca de Balangadas', Antique Folk Art, 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Early 20th Century Brazilian Metal Hanging Amulet 'Penca de Balangadas' – Circa 1940 Discover the captivating history behind this early 20th-century metal hanging amulet, known as '...
Brass
15th Century or Earlier Redware Tangas, Marajoara Culture, Marajo Island, Brazil
Located in Point Richmond, CA
15th Century or Earlier Redware Tangas, Marajoara culture, Marajo Island, Brazil Tangas are thin concave triangular ceramic pubic covers found in burial mounds associated with fem...
Earthenware
Vintage Brazilian Hand-Carved Ironwood Sculpture of Whale and a Shark
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Brazilian hand carved Ironwood sculpture of a whale and a shark. Hand carved Brazilian sculpture hand crafted in amazing detail from one of...
Wood
Rare 18th Century Painted Shrine
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
This magnificent 18th-century Brazilian shrine, originating from Minas Gerais, is a stunning example of Colonial baroque religious craftsmanship. Crafted from wood and adorned with h...
Wood
Magnificent 18th-Century Brazilian Shrine - Minas Gerais Colonial Cabinet
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Magnificent 18th-Century Brazilian Shrine - Minas Gerais Colonial Devotional Cabinet A rare and evocative piece of Brazilian colonial history, this 18th-century wooden shrine from M...
Wood
Vintage 1950s Spanish Fabric Artwork with Cowbells for Hanging
Located in Barcelona, ES
Hanging traditional Spanish fabric artwork decorated with cowbells. Made in Spain by unknown artist, circa 1950. In original condition, wear consistent with age and use, pr...
Metal
Ancient Amazonian Ritual Mask, Late 19th – Early 20th Century, Brazil
Located in Bilzen, BE
Antique Amazonian ritual mask, carved and polychromed wood Ritual mask carved and hollowed by hand from light wood, originating from the western Amazon basin, most likely Brazil (Br...
Wood
Brazilian Bloco da Lama mask Paraty, Brazil 1980's
Located in Diest, BE
Authentic piece of Brazilian carnival heritage with this original 1980s Bloco da Lama mask from Paraty, Brazil. Bloco da Lama ("Mud Block") is one of Paraty's most iconic and exuber...
Paint, Paper
$3,500
Carved Stone Parrot
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Carved stone bird with curious expression and brass feet presented on Quartz geode specimen.
Stone
Rare Silver Balangandãs - 20th Century Brazilian Native Hanging Amulet
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Mid 20th century brazilian silver hanging amulet from native culture in Brazil. Known as "Penca de Balangandãs" was used in the ancient times as an amul...
Sterling Silver
Large Brazilian or Guyana Amazon Indigenous Macana War Club, 18th or Earlier
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A splendid and rare Amazon indigenous wamara wood Macana war-club Southern-Guyana or Northern Brazil, Wapitxana group of the Aruak peoples, 18th century, possibly earlier Measure: H. 43 cm The deep patina of the club present, and the residue on the part where it was held, attest to its great age. This unusually large Macana is decorated with several incised whitened anthropomorphic and human figures, a decoration only found on one other documented club in the British Museum, which is illustrated in: Hjalmar Stolpe, Amazon Indian...
Hardwood
Taukana Regui Wauja. Ceramic Yerupoho Piece, 2024
Located in PARIS, FR
Taukana Regui Wauja Ceramic Yerupoho Piece, 2024 Ceramics and natural pigment This handbuilt ceramic sculpture by Taukana Regui Wauja, an Indigenous artist from the Wauja community ...
Ceramic, Terracotta
Carved Stone Cockatoo Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Carved stone cockatoo sculpture caught in the action of landing on an amethyst geode. Featuring a lofty combination of colors and textures with an u...
Crystal
An Amazon Indigenous Kayapo feather headdress
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brazil, Pará or Mato Grosso, circa 1950’s-1960s H. 50.8 x W. 33.5 cm (incl. stand) Provenance: Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Munich (purchased in the 1980s)
String, Feathers
Mixed Materials Wall Decoration Sculpture by Johannes Wilhelmus Van Dartelen
By Johannes Wilhelmus van Dartelen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Johannes Wilhelmus Van Dartelen copper art fossilized stone signed Brazil made and presented for the crew of the Pan American. This is a one of a kind piece of art by Johannes...
Stone, Copper
Rare Silver Balangandãs - 20th Century Brazilian Native Hanging Amulet
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Mid 20th century brazilian silver hanging amulet from native culture in Brazil. Known as "Penca de Balangandãs" was used in the ancient times as an amul...
Sterling Silver
Amazonian Feather Storage Basket
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Feather storage basket Rikbaktsa Tribe, Jurene River, Mato Grosso, Brazil 1990 Plaited fiber, wood, feathers, twined natural fiber, and cotton. 5 inche...
Other
Taukana Regui Wauja. Ceramic Kamalu hai Snake Canoe I, 2024
Located in PARIS, FR
Taukana Regui Wauja Ceramic Kamalu hai Snake Canoe I, 2024 Ceramics and natural pigment This handbuilt ceramic sculpture by Taukana Regui Wauja, an Indigenous artist from the Wauja ...
Ceramic, Terracotta
Taukana Regui Wauja. Ceramic Kamalu hai Snake Canoe II, 2024
Located in PARIS, FR
"Kamalu hai (Snake Canoe) II" by Taukana Regui Wauja, 2024 This handbuilt ceramic sculpture by Taukana Regui Wauja, an Indigenous artist from the Wauja community in Brazil’s Xingu Te...
Ceramic, Terracotta
$780Sale Price|35% Off
H 25.25 in W 21.45 in D 9 in
18th Century Folk Art Shelf With Heart And Pineapple Carvings
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Beautiful folk art "Love" Shelf. An old tradition where the man had to make a gift for the fiancee, mostly the items were made in wood with birds or hearts and painted nicely.
Wood
Yoruba Four Headed Egungun Headdress
By Yoruba People
Located in Chicago, IL
This wooden headdress was created by the Yoruba People of western Nigeria, and was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a...
Wood
$1,082
H 17.72 in W 3.94 in D 3.35 in
Papau New Guinea Sentani Mounted Nephrite Axe, Early 20th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Large and exceptional vintage tribal carved green jade/nephrite axe from Sentani, Papau New Guinea. The Axe is mounted in a custom made bronze base and is...
Stone
$4,200
H 4 in W 22 in D 9.5 in
Mid-20th Century Tami Islands Papua New Guinea Tribal Wooden Feast Bowl
Located in Point Richmond, CA
mid-20th century Tami Islands Papua new guinea wooden feast bowl Of classic form, each end carved with raised and incised imagery depicting stylized sea cr...
Kaolin, Wood
A pair of monkey skull amulets
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Probably Papua New Guinea, or Borneo, Dayak, late 19th/early 20th century H. approx. 12 cm (incl. stand, each) Provenance: Private collection, Flanders
Shell, Beads
$5,826 / item
H 31.11 in W 22.05 in D 14.97 in
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Brenta Nightstands with gold-leaf tulip
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Brenta Nightstand with inside drawers. A beautiful Venetian nightstand...
Wood
18th Century Swedish Folk Art antique rustic Trunk /Chest
Located in Boden, SE
18th Century Swedish antique rustique Chest from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. The chest has untouched original paint. The trunk was dated 1799 to celebrate a birthday ,and the ...
Pine
Rare Silver Balangandãs - 20th Century Brazilian Native Hanging Amulet
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Mid 20th century brazilian silver hanging amulet from native culture in Brazil. Known as "Penca de Balangandãs" was used in the ancient times as an amul...
Sterling Silver
Large Buffalo Skull with Native American Foot Print
Located in Asheville, NC
This Extra Large buffalo skull features black horns decorated with two red foot prints. It skull has a natural rustic beauty. The red animal footprints o...
18th Century American Pine Decorated Blanket Chest
Located in Nantucket, MA
18th century American pine decorated blanket chest, probably from New England, circa 1770 having a dovetailed case on wide bracket feet, the li...
Pine
19th Century Original Blue Painted Small Oval Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century blue painted small oval table with original decoration of a New England scene in the center of the tabletop. This table has fantastic gilded stencil around the edge of t...
Pine
$3,750
H 11.25 in W 4.5 in D 18.75 in
19th C. Plains Native American Roach Headdress, Deer & Porcupine Hair
By Native American Art
Located in Denver, CO
This exceptional 19th-century Plains Indian roach headdress is a rare and visually striking example of traditional Native American ceremonial regalia. ...
Fur
Sculpture of an Owl in Resin, Abraham Palatinik, 1960 - Lot 738
By Abraham Palatnik
Located in New York, NY
This sculpture in resin of an owl is part of the Artemis collection that features hundreds of different animals, each with sleek, flat silhouettes. Original label on bottom. So if yo...
Epoxy Resin
Sold
H 22.45 in W 39.38 in D 9.85 in
Large Vintage Papier-Mâché Tiger Sculpture, Folk Art Style, 1970s – Hand-Painted
Located in BARCELONA, ES
A striking and whimsical large vintage papier-mâché tiger sculpture, crafted circa 1970s in a bold folk art style. This expressive piece features a dynamic stance, hand-painted strip...
Paper
A set of 4 Wooden Spatels
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Set of 4 Spatula from the XINGU,an Indian Tribe in Brasil, these wooden objects were used for cooking, from the collection of Gunther Hartmann (1924-2012), a German Ethnologist, very...
Fruitwood
Brazilian Wai Wai Tribal Cassava Graters Circa 1945 Pair
Located in Dallas, TX
Brazilian Wei Wei Casava Graters Two graters constructed of wood and sharpened rock used by the Wai Wai Indigenous tribe of Northern Brazil to process raw Cas...
Stone
Sold
H 1.97 in W 13.39 in D 19.69 in
Vintage Brazilian Inlaid Tray Morpho Butterfly Wings C 1940'S Home décor
Located in London, GB
A fine vintage marquetry inlaid hard wood tray with dazzling geometric patterns made from the wings of the brilliant iridescent Blue Morpho butterfly...
Wood, Hardwood
Sold
H 5.1 in W 3.5 in D 0.6 in
Brazilian Modern Kinetic Sculpture of a Whale in Resin, Abraham Palatinik, 1960s
By Abraham Palatnik
Located in New York, NY
This Brazilian modern kinetic sculpture of a whale in resin was designed by Abraham Palatinik in the 1960s. This is part of the Artemis collection that features hundreds of different...
Resin, Polyester
Kayapo 1 Headdress with Natural Feathers
Located in Paris, FR
Headdress Kayapo 1 with natural feathers and with cotton frame. Under glass with black wooden frame. From Kayapo ethnic tribe, particularly from Mekragnoti tribe. From Rio Chiche...
Feathers
Kayapo 4 Headdress with Natural Feathers
Located in Paris, FR
Headdress Kayapo 4 with natural feathers and with cotton frame. Under glass with black wooden frame. From Kayapo ethnic tribe, particularly from Mekragnoti tribe. From Rio Chiche...
Feathers
Kayapo 3 Headdress with Natural Feathers
Located in Paris, FR
Headdress Kayapo 3 with natural feathers and with cotton frame. Under glass with black wooden frame. From Kayapo ethnic tribe, particularly from Mekragnoti tribe. From Rio Chiche,...
Feathers
Kayapo 2 Headdress with Natural Feathers
Located in Paris, FR
Headdress Kayapo 2 with natural feathers and with cotton frame. Under glass with black wooden frame. From Kayapo ethnic tribe, particularly from Mekragnoti tribe. From Rio Chiche,...
Feathers
Vintage Brazilian Hand-carved Ironwood Sculpture of a Toucan
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Brazilian hand carved Ironwood sculpture of a toucan. Hand carved Brazilian toucan bird sculpture with glass eyes. Hand crafted in amazin...
Wood
Yanomami Gathering Basket
Located in Chicago, IL
A 20th century Yanomami gathering basket decorated with charcoal line drawings on the exterior. This basket is tightly handwoven of natural fibers wi...
Natural Fiber
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.