Broyhill Brasilia Room Divider
View Similar Items
Broyhill Brasilia Room Divider
About the Item
- Creator:Oscar Niemeyer (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 73 in (185.42 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Walnut,Woodwork
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Southampton, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1566232714732
Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer made modernist architecture sexy. In his signature designs, such as those for the planned capital city of Brasília, Niemeyer created a distinctively buoyant architectural vocabulary of sweeping curves, flowing lines and organic forms (attributes that also characterize his seductive furniture). As expressions of faith in the power of modern architecture and design to foster progress, Niemeyer’s buildings have a kind of heroic poetry.
Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho was born to an upper-middle-class family in Rio de Janeiro. (His father was a graphic designer.) While in graduate school, Niemeyer began working for Lúcio Costa, one of the few modernist architects working in Brazil in the 1930s. Niemeyer would be assigned to the design team for a new building in Rio for the Ministry of Education and Health. The famed Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier was hired as a consultant on the project, and through him Niemeyer would absorb many lessons in bringing a sense of structural lightness to large buildings — though he would never embrace the geometric forms espoused by Le Corbusier and the members of the Bauhaus.
“I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man,” Niemeyer would write in his memoirs. “I am attracted to free-flowing sensual curves.”
Nowhere would Niemeyer demonstrate his love of curvature more expressively and elegantly than in his designs for the principal buildings for Brasília, a project begun in 1956. The dramatic Congressional Palace features two stark towers flanked by a domed structure and a bowl-shaped edifice, for the upper and lower legislative houses. He placed the Palácio da Alvorada (the presidential residence) on a small peninsula jutting into a lake, so that the sequence of parabolic columns on its facade casts a mirror image on the water. Niemeyer’s grandest achievement was the city’s cathedral, a stunning composition of 16 arched vertical supports with tinted-glass interstices.
Four years after Brasília was completed, in 1960, Brazil’s elected government was overthrown in a military coup. Niemeyer, a member of the Communist party, was harassed continually by the junta. He left the country and did not return until democracy was restored, in 1985.
While in exile, in the early 1970s, Niemeyer began collaborating on furniture designs with his daughter, Anna Maria Niemeyer. Their best known pieces are seating furniture — the Alta lounge chair and ottoman and the Rio rocking chaise, which have flowing bases made of sheets of lacquered wood or stainless steel, share the aesthetics of Niemeyer’s architecture.
The Alta’s deep, oversized seat pads nod — much like the chair designs of Niemeyer’s countryman Sergio Rodrigues — to the Brazilian penchant for long, languorous conversations. Examples of both designs are priced at about $20,000, depending on age, condition and materials. As you will see on these pages, Oscar Niemeyer’s furniture designs are sleek, sculptural, comfortable and elegant — as well as a compact emblem of the work of one of the great architects of our time.
Find vintage Oscar Niemeyer lounge chairs, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- John Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass NightstandBy John WiddicombLocated in Southampton, NJJohn Widdicomb Mid Century walnut and brass two drawer nightstand with shelf, refinished & ready for use. Gorgeous grains & brass capped feet. Original tag is in tact. Dimensions: 24...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury Tambour Door Nightstand Cabinets by BakerBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Southampton, NJImpressive mid 20th century Baker Furniture tambour door nightstand cabinets with curved fronts. Newly refinished tops ready for use. Each retains the original Baker medallion.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- 1960s Spanish Pair of Bamboo HeadboardsBy Franco Albini and Franca HelgLocated in Southampton, NJA pair of Mid century bamboo rattan headboards made in Spain; 1960's with exquisite Tree of Life motif. Beautifully maintained ready for use.Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBamboo, Rattan
$1,795 / set - Mid-Century White Diamond Front Nightstands By United FurnitureBy United Furniture CorporationLocated in Southampton, NJA stunning pair of mid-century modern nightstands having sculptural convex diamond fronts raised on bases with four tapered legs. In outstanding vintage condition. Cleaned and ready ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMahogany, Paint
$1,560 Sale Price / set20% Off - 1980's Brass Clad Chests in the Manner of Serried , PairBy Sarreid Ltd.Located in Southampton, NJA pair of brass clad three drawer chests with all original finish & walnut canon ball feet. This marvelous transitional design offers generous storage allowing for versatile placemen...Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture French Provincial Nightstands - A PairBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Southampton, NJMagnificent French Provincial nightstands finely crafted by Baker Furniture. Grand in scale with a bombe silhouette featuring curvaceous apron, sweet cabriole legs and intricate hard...Category
20th Century American French Provincial Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Broyhill Brasilia Room DividerBy Oscar Niemeyer, Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Chattanooga, TNThis 2-piece Brasilia Room Divider was delicately restored to preserve the original patina. We encourage you to look close at our photos to appre...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Screens and Room Dividers
MaterialsBrass
- Broyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut Room DividerBy Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Countryside, ILBroyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut Room Divider The credenza bottom measures: 54 wide x 17 deep x 27 inches high The top shelving measures: 52 wide x 13 deep x 46 inches high The ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Screens and Room Dividers
MaterialsWalnut
$12,995 / set - Broyhill Brasilia Mid Century Room Divider Wall Unit ShelvingBy Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Countryside, ILBroyhill Brasilia Mid Century Room Divider Wall Unit Shelving This wall unit measures: 54 wide x 17 deep x 72.5 inches high The base measures:...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Broyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut Nightstands - PairBy Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Countryside, ILBroyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut Nightstands - Pair Each nightstand measures: 22.25 wide x 15 deep x 22.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restor...Category
Antique 1870s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Broyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut King HeadboardBy Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Countryside, ILBroyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut King Headboard This headboard measures: 78 wide x 1.75 deep x 40.75 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored vin...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsWalnut
- Broyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut and Brass NightstandBy Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Countryside, ILBroyhill Brasilia Mid Century Walnut and Brass Nightstand This nightstand measures: 22.25 wide x 15 deep x 22.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call rest...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass