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Pair of MP-51 Armchairs by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century

Name: Pair of MP-51 Armchairs by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century
Brand: Percival Lafer
Price: 8916.43 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

A rare model of armchair by Percival Lafer, our stunning pair of MP-51 have their structure entirely made out of solid Jatobá wood - Brazilian cherry. The seat base has been redone with new natural leather straps. These straps are part of the overall aesthetics of the piece. The wood on both chairs has been sanded and matt varnished, revealing the beautiful colour and grain of Jatobá. The wood surfaces look stunning. The chairs have a new brown natural leather upholstery, done in Brazil. These MP51 are very comfortable, and ours are in excellent condition. We have two chairs available. A common trait amongst Lafer pieces is that they are very comfortable and also unique: they have a hard-achieved simplicity about them. Lafer studied architecture at São Paulo’s Universidade Mackenzie. After he graduated, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a furniture business that Lafer took over with his brothers. Lafer then made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully designed pieces available at affordable prices. In the same year he introduced the amazing MP-1 chair, a plush piece of furniture made with iron and wood- and since then has had a prolific career. The silhouettes of his lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating were were a step away from the streamlined American and European mid-century modernism being designed at the time, taking on casual, puffed forms thanks to the use of polyurethane layers as padding. He combined such contemporary industrial materials with local natural ones, namely Brazilian hardwoods, which delighted customers around the world as Lafer became one of the country’s leading exporters of furniture. Lafer has continued to design furniture throughout his career, branching into sofas, tables and lighting. He was at the forefront of mechanical furniture movements, debuting the MP-7 sofa, which could turn into a twin bed, in 1965, the first such piece on the market. One of his most intriguing projects was the MP Lafer, a two-seat fiberglass roadster designed to emulate British sports cars. Some 4,300 units were produced over its 16-year manufacturing run in the ’70s and ’80s, with several ending up in the collections of major car museums.

Creator:

Percival Lafer (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 25.6 in (65 cm)Width: 33.47 in (85 cm)Depth: 37.8 in (96 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Hardwood,Leather

Place of Origin:

Brazil

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1970

Condition:

Reupholstered. Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. The wood on both chairs was completely sanded and matt varnished. Leather support straps have been replaced.

Seller Location:

Whitstable, GB

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU6675232868642

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Shop All Percival Lafer

Percival Lafer

When it comes to mid-century furniture, the innovative work of the Brazilian Modernists has often been overlooked, including the designs of prolific maker Percival Lafer. Lafer studied architecture at São Paulo’s Universidade Mackenzie. After he graduated, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a furniture business that Lafer took over with his brothers.

Taking up the mantle, Lafer made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully designed pieces available at affordable prices. That year, he introduced his supremely popular MP-1 chair, a plush piece of furniture made with iron and wood that he has riffed on throughout his entire career. The silhouettes of his lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating were distinct from streamlined American and European mid-century modernism, taking on casual, puffed forms thanks to his use of polyurethane layers as padding. He combined such contemporary industrial materials with local natural ones, namely Brazilian hardwoods, which delighted customers around the world as Lafer became one of the country’s leading exporters of furniture.

Lafer has continued to design furniture throughout his career, branching into sofas, tables and lighting. He was at the forefront of mechanical furniture movements, debuting the MP-7 sofa, which could turn into a twin bed, in 1965, the first such piece on the market. One of his most intriguing projects was the MP Lafer, a two-seat fiberglass roadster designed to emulate British sports cars. Some 4,300 units were produced over its 16-year manufacturing run in the ’70s and ’80s, with several ending up in the collections of major car museums.

Still, Lafer’s biggest claim to fame is his seating, which he continues to design, drawing inspiration from modern shapes and local materials. In 2017, a retrospective of his work was organized as part of the São Paulo Design Weekend.

Find a collection of authentic Percival Lafer furniture on 1stDibs.