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 Contemporary Sculptural Brass Pendant Light
By Cristiana Bertolucci
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
Sacurá - Sculptural light pendant in brass with natural finish without varnish. The finish on this sculptural pendant light darkens over time....
Brass
"Sino" Contemporary Golden Ceiling Light in Cast Brass & Illuminated Raw Crystal
By Estúdio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Contemporary golden ceiling light in cast brass and illuminated raw crystal. Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This ceiling light was meticulously handmade by master artisans one delic...
Brass
Brazilian contemporary pendant lamp in patinated brass
By Cristiana Bertolucci
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
Cacau contemporary Brasilian Minimalist pendant light by Cristiana Bertolucci This poetic pendant was inspired by the fruit of Cacao, typical ...
Brass
Brass and Prismatic Glass Ceiling Lamp, Brazilian Company Lustres Pelotas, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Original Condition.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount by Dominici, Brazil, 1960s
By Dominici
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large bubble glass flush mount by Dominici, 1960s. A heavily textured glass diffuser with 'bubbles' of varying sizes is mounted on a dark grey-metallic aluminum base.
Aluminum
Pair of Scandinavian Flushmount Ceiling Lamps, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful pair of ceiling lights on a porcelain base with shades in decorated opaline glass. Designed and made in Norway from circa 1950s first half by Høvik Lys. Both lamps are full...
Porcelain, Glass
Pair of Scandinavian Flush Mount Ceiling Lamps, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful pair of ceiling lights on a porcelain base with decorated shades in glass. Designed and made in Norway from circa 1950s first half by Høvik Lys. Both lamps are fully workin...
Porcelain, Glass
Doria Pendant Light
By Doria Leuchten Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
One Doria pendant light. Measures: Diameter 36 cm. Height 17 cm.
Metal
German Vintage Brass and Glass Pendant Light Chandelier 1960s
By Richard Essig
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful 18-arm geometric clear glass and brass Sputnik chandelier. Germany, 1960s/1970s Measures: Diameter: 26 Inch Height min. (body): 16 Inch.
Brass
1960s Murano Rugiadoso Glass Pendant Light with Brass Frame
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Italian Murano semi-flush mount pendant ceiling light with ribbed clear glass, the reverse side is in the "Rugiadoso" technique with scattered part...
Brass
Konsthantverk Svep Small Ceiling Lamp in Raw Brass & Opal Acrylic
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. The production of lamps, wall lights and floor lamps are manufactured using craftsman’s technique...
Brass
Konsthantverk Svep Small Ceiling Lamp in Raw Brass & Opal Acrylic
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. The production of lamps, wall lights and floor lamps are manufactured using craftsman’s techniq...
Brass
$4,563 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 15.75 in
Butterfly 40 contemporary pendant Lamp, art glas Silvered, rose color, Brass
By Sabrina Landini
Located in Pietrasanta, IT
BUTTERFLY The free dance movement For more than 22 years, Sabrina Landini pays homage to glass surfaces in her expression of silvered masterworks, the hallmark of her collection. S...
Crystal, Brass
Large Raul Reyes 'Rey 26' Perforated Patinated Brass Dome Ceiling Lamp
By Lisa Johansson-Pape, Paavo Tynell, Florian Schulz
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Raul Reyes 'Rey 26' Perforated Patinated brass dome ceiling lamp. Hand-fabricated in Los Angeles, these highly refined ceiling lamps are reminiscent of the iconic mid-century...
Brass
$4,083Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.55 in Dm 22.84 in
Spanish Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture in Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
One of kind Sunburst Leafed Light Fixture, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Frosted Glass Mid-Century Modern gilt iron sunburst flush mount with leaves surrounding a central frosted glass di...
Iron, Gold Leaf, Wrought Iron
$2,762 / item
H 23.63 in Dm 23.63 in
Caeli Classic Handcrafted Brass Rattan Pendant Light Fixture, Flow Collection
By Jonathan Amar
Located in Paris, FR
The Caeli-S contemporary handcrafted made-to-measure pendant light fixture features an expertly handcrafted brass structure and a hand-woven rattan shade. This piece creates a warm a...
Brass
Konsthantverk Mid-Century Modern Svep Large Raw Brass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. The production of lamps, wall lights and floor lamps are manufactured using craftsman’s techniq...
Brass
Dominici Attribution, Flush Mounts, Brass, Metal, Brazil, 1970s
By Dominici
Located in High Point, NC
A set of 19 brass and metal flush mounts and decorative elements attributed to Dominici, Brazil, c. 1970s. Each element to be freely arranged. Dramatic patina with some tarnish are...
Metal, Brass
Brazilian Designer, Flush Mount, Metal, Brazil, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A black, beige and white lacquered flush mount designed and produced in Brazil, c. 1970s. Light scratching and discoloration to brass shade. Overall Dimensions (inches): 31” H x 16...
Metal
Rare mid century chandelier by Dominici Brazil c1950
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in London, GB
Lovely chandelier by Enrico Furio for his company Dominici, Brazil c1950 Enrico Furio (1909 – 2010) Emigrated from Italy to Brazil in 1946 with Lina Bo B...
Brass
Sold
H 24.4 in W 51 in D 11.8 in
Huge Oval Shape Glass and Brass Mid-Century Modern Chandelier by Dominici, 1970s
By Dominici
Located in Dallas, TX
Extra large Mid-Century Modern light green/translucent glass and brass chandelier or flush mount ceiling light. Oval shaped. With a large rectangular brass canopy. Brass frame and ...
Brass
Dominici Chandelier
By Dominici
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large-scale flush mount ceiling or wall fixture designed by Dominici in Brazil circa 1960s with eight domed glass shades.
Chrome
Brazilian hanging lamp
Located in New York, NY
Hanging lamp comprised of five cylindrical shades in jacaranda. Brazil, 1960s.
Brazilian hanging lamp
Located in New York, NY
Cream-colored metal hanging lamp. Chosen by Joaquim Tenreiro to accompany his custom pieces for a private commission in the Flamengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1950s.