Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Pair of Wrought Iron chairs by José Zanine Caldas, Brazil, 1950s

About the Item

Awesome unique chairs by Zanine! In true 1950s style, these rare and unique pieces are testimony of the genius of Zanine, a self taught artist who kept innovating and pushing barriers of his own design language throughout his career. In these chairs he creates an interesting contrast between the softness of plastic in straight lines, with the rigidity of the iron in delicate curves. The stretched plastic rope backrest has been updated, in dark green. The seat is made of cushions resting on top of an amazing star shaped spring system. The iron has been cleaned and sealed, but left in its orignal state. The chair is solid and in very good vintage condition. Jose Zanine Caldas (1919-2001) was a multi-talented Brazilian architect: A builder, carpenter, sculptor, designer, Caldas did not limit himself to a single field of action. Caldas’ work is a dive into Brazilian memory and identity. Born in Belmonte, Bahia, he began his career in 1939, with an architectural scale model workshop in Rio de Janeiro - this experience was fundamental for the opening of Móveis Artisticos Z in 1948, in São Paulo, where he produced furniture for the middle classes. In Rio, he designed and built most of his architectural work. Zanine was a dynamic, hands-on man. In the 1970s he returned to his homeland where he would use wood surviving the burning of forests, to make tables, benches and armchairs, creating what was called "furniture denunciation". Zanine spent a period in Lyon, France, where he taught at the university. He was very active until the early 1990s; and died in 2001 in Vitória.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 26.78 in (68 cm)Depth: 26.78 in (68 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1955
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Whitstable, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6675232836902

More From This Seller

View All
Organic Shape Chair by Moveis Cimo, Brazil 1950s
By Moveis Cimo
Located in Whitstable, GB
Small curved chair with organic shaped ivory wood base, 'Pau Marfim'. Brazil, 1950s. The wooden frame is really eye catching; the organic shape frame is divided into three parts, with beautiful rounded edges and curves. There are some minor marks of wear and age, normal in a vintage piece, but frame is in excellent condition. The slightly angled back and seating appear to float on the frame. This chair design is very unique, and at the same time, very ergonomic: The seat and backrest provide a very comfortable seating experience. New upholstery in a light green zigzag fabric. Móveis Cimo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Hardwood

Pair of Michel Arnoult Ouro Preto Chairs, Brazilian Midcentury, 1964
By Michel Arnoult
Located in Whitstable, GB
A pair of "Ouro Preto" Chairs Manufactured by Mobília Contemporãnea The Ouro Preto chair is an important example of Michel Arnoult genius as a designer: Si...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Nylon, Imbuia

Dining Table by Branco & Preto, Brazil, 1950s
By Branco & Preto
Located in Whitstable, GB
Branco & Preto Designed and manufactured in the 1950s by Branco & Preto This stunning solid wood dining table by Branco & Preto was part of the personal collection of Miguel Forte, o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Brazilian Midcentury pair of chairs with Armrests, by Móveis Cantú, 1960s
Located in Whitstable, GB
We have a pair of chairs with armrests made in solid wood by Cantù Móveis e Interiores Ltda, in the 1960s, Brasil. Architects Jorge Jabour Mauad and Osires Cunha Meale were responsi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Hardwood

Pair of Curved Ply Armchairs by "Moveis Cimo", in Brazilian Imbuia
By Moveis Cimo
Located in Whitstable, GB
A rare and special pair of armchairs, made by Móveis Cimo. Made at the end of 1940s, there are not many around nowadays as this design was produced in small quantities. The seat and back rest are made with a single sheet of curved Imbúia plywood (Brazilian Wallnut) The structure of the chair is made of Açoita Cavalo wood ('horse whip...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Imbuia

Pair of MP-51 Armchairs by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century
By Percival Lafer
Located in Whitstable, GB
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

You May Also Like

José Zanine Caldas Armchairs, Pair, 1950s, Brazil
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
A pair of beautiful armchairs designed by José Zanine Caldas from Brazil. Reupholstered with light pink colored fabric. Very good vintage condition.
Category

Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Brazilian Modern Armchair in Wood & Leatherette, Jose Zanine Caldas, 1950s
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in New York, NY
Available right now, this Brazilian Modern armchair in wood & faux leather by Jose Zanine Caldas, in the fifties decade is gorgeous! The Z armchair, crafted from solid ivory wood or...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Hardwood

'H' Armchairs by José Zanine Caldas, Brazil, 1950s
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in Antwerp, BE
This set of two lightweight armchairs by José Zanine Caldas exemplifies his mastery of form and material. Constructed with two precision-cut plywood pieces screwed to the seat and ba...
Category

Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Plastic, Plywood

José Zanine Caldas - MÓVEIS ARTÍSTICOS Z Chair, Brazil, 1960s
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in Immenstaad am Bodensee, DE
This beautiful and very rare chair is attributed to José Zanine Caldas and his company Móveis Artisticos Z. Structure in solid noble wood, totally original, only cleaned and refinished. X-shaped backrest. Backrest and seat in tacheado fabric (upholstery in original condition). A self-taught artist, designer and architect, Jose Zanine Caldas (1919-2001) was born on the southern coast of Bahia in Brazil. At age twenty, he opened an architectural scale model...
Category

Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Hardwood

Brazilian Modern Armchair in Wood & Mint Faux Leather, Jose Zanine Caldas, 1950s
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in New York, NY
Available right now, this Brazilian Modern armchair in wood & mint faux leather by Jose Zanine Caldas, in the fifties decade is gorgeous! This Brazilian Modern rarity consists of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Hardwood

José Zanine Caldas, Lounge Chair, Wood, Leatherette, Brazil, 1950s
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and blue leatherette lounge chair or armchair designed by José Zanine Caldas and produced by Móveis Artísticos Z, Brazil, 1950s. Light staining and discoloration to wood. Vin...
Category

Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood

Recently Viewed

View All