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Brazilian Armchairs

BRAZILIAN FURNITURE

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 NiemeyerSergio Rodrigues and José Zanine Caldas as well as such European immigrants as Joaquim TenreiroJean 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 rosewoodjacaranda 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 chairssofastables and more.

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Place of Origin: Brazilian
Creator: Rino Levi
Pair of Armchairs by Rino Levi, Brazilian MidCentury Design
By Rino Levi
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Rino Levi, the pair of armchairs its made of caviuna wood, a type of Jacaranda Rosewood. The chair has a unique manufacturing stamp and recently upholstered in Fine white...
Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Wool, Linen, Rosewood

Pair of Rino Levi Brazilian 1960s Jacaranda Wood Armchairs
By Rino Levi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Rino Levi Brazilian 1960s jacaranda wood armchairs upholstered in green mohair.
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Jacaranda

Armchair and Ottoman, by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1960s
By Rino Levi
Located in Whitstable, GB
Solid wood armchair and ottoman, by Rino Levi. Brazil, 1960s Manufactured by Móveis Ambiente. A perfectly balanced armchair, masterly executed. Stunning minimal back rest made of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Hardwood

Pair of Armchairs by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1950s
By Rino Levi
Located in Whitstable, GB
A pair of armchairs made of Caviúna. Designed by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1950s The grain & colour of the wood, plus the impeccable woodwork alone, make these quite impressive armchairs The sculpted and curvaceous lines of the armrests are beautifully done. Together with the vertical thin rods which are part of the armrest, they form a visually distinct, architectural appearance. The wood structure is very firm and the surface of the wood in these chairs is in excellent condition for a vintage piece. The brand new upholstery in an orange fabric, was done in São Paulo and has been very well executed. Son of Italian parents and born in São Paulo, Levi was a brilliant architect and is mostly known for his legacy in architecture design but his furniture pieces - mostly conceived for his projects - follow in quality his architectural work. Rino Levi was born in São Paulo in 1901, from Italian parents. He studied in Milan and Rome under Marcello Piacentini, where he graduated in 1926. Following his return to São Paulo, Levi established the firm Rino Levi Arquitetos Associados. His trajectory includes innovative projects and the discussion of architecture as a practice. Rino’s main legacy is in architectural design, with his creative solutions that integrate art and technique, but also for the way of thinking about architecture in Brazil. Levi's office produced a large quantity of projects, in various areas from residential to commercial...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Hardwood, Fabric

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This stunning pair of vintage modern arm chairs feature unique "box" style sides. The beautiful wood grain and floating angled backrest add to the allure. Smooth edges and plush blue upholstery ensure comfort in any modern interior. Made by Madison Furniture Industries...
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Pair of Two Armchairs, 1960s
Pair of Two Armchairs, 1960s
H 30.32 in W 24.81 in D 29.53 in
Pair of Armchairs Designed by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
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Pair of Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
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Pair of Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
Pair of Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
H 33.08 in W 26.78 in D 33.86 in
Iron Armchairs by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil, 1955, Unilabor
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1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Armchairs

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Chrome

Minimalist Brazilian Armchair "Sandra" by Samuel Lamas
By Samuel Lamas
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This award winning minimalist armchair in steel, solid wood and leather is designed with a Classic and geometric reasoning. The continuity of the structural lines suggests fluidity...
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21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist Brazilian Armchairs

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Steel

1970s Mid Century Danish Teak Rosewood and Black Leather Armchair and Footstool
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Pair of Italian Armchairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
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Pair of italian armchairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s. Dimensions: H= 94 cm; W= 72 cm; D= 77 cm; H seat= 43 cm.
Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of Italian Armchairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
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Minimalist Brazilian Armchair "Sandra" by Samuel Lamas
By Samuel Lamas
Located in Brasilia, DF
This award winning Minimalist armchair in steel, solid wood and leather is designed with a Classic and geometric reasoning. The continuity of the structural lines suggests fluidity...
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Steel

Brazilian Stool Footrest Ottoman by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Hard to find item by Brazilian designer Jean Gillon. This example is in fair condition, showing cosmetic wear and one tenon has been cracked and re-glued.
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Previously Available Items
Armchair and Ottoman, by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1960s
By Rino Levi
Located in Whitstable, GB
Solid wood armchair and ottoman, by Rino Levi. Brazil, 1960s Manufactured by Móveis Ambiente. A perfectly balanced armchair, masterly executed. Stunning minimal back rest made of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Hardwood

Pair of Armchairs by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1950s
By Rino Levi
Located in Whitstable, GB
A pair of armchairs made of Caviúna. Designed by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1950s The grain & colour of the wood, plus the impeccable woodwork alone, make these quite impressive armchairs The sculpted and curvaceous lines of the armrests are beautifully done. Together with the vertical thin rods which are part of the armrest, they form a visually distinct, architectural appearance. The wood structure is very firm and the surface of the wood in these chairs is in excellent condition for a vintage piece. The brand new upholstery in an orange fabric, was done in São Paulo and has been very well executed. Son of Italian parents and born in São Paulo, Levi was a brilliant architect and is mostly known for his legacy in architecture design but his furniture pieces - mostly conceived for his projects - follow in quality his architectural work. Rino Levi was born in São Paulo in 1901, from Italian parents. He studied in Milan and Rome under Marcello Piacentini, where he graduated in 1926. Following his return to São Paulo, Levi established the firm Rino Levi Arquitetos Associados. His trajectory includes innovative projects and the discussion of architecture as a practice. Rino’s main legacy is in architectural design, with his creative solutions that integrate art and technique, but also for the way of thinking about architecture in Brazil. Levi's office produced a large quantity of projects, in various areas from residential to commercial...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Hardwood, Fabric

Pair of Armchairs by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1950s
Pair of Armchairs by Rino Levi, Brazil, 1950s
H 29.53 in W 25.6 in D 31.5 in
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs by Rino Levi
By Rino Levi
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Rino Levi Mid-Century Modern armchairs produced in Brazil, during the 1950s. The chair frames are crafted from Brazilian caviuna wood with posted arms and tapered legs. Recen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Armchairs

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Wood

1950s Pair of Armchairs
By Rino Levi
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Rino Levi is one of the major architects of the Brazilian modernism, the creator of several iconic buildings in the city of São Paulo. This armchairs is made in jacarandá rosewood ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Armchairs

Materials

Rosewood

1950s Pair of Armchairs
1950s Pair of Armchairs
H 29.53 in W 31.11 in D 25.6 in

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