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.
Modern Organic Style Collana Armchair in Solid Wood, Leather Flexible Seating
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
THE COLLANA SERIES – WHERE ARTISTRY MEETS COMFORT IN EVERY CURVE." THE ARMCHAIRS The Collana armchairs are a celebration of refined design and unparalleled comfort. Crafted to elev...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Fiberglass, Hardwood
Modern Organic Style Collana Armchair in Solid Wood, Leather Flexible Seating
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
THE COLLANA SERIES – WHERE ARTISTRY MEETS COMFORT IN EVERY CURVE." THE ARMCHAIRS The Collana armchairs are a celebration of refined design and unparalleled comfort. Crafted to elev...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Fiberglass, Hardwood
Modern Organic style armchair in Solid Wood, Upholstered Flexible Seating
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
THE COLLANA SERIES – WHERE ARTISTRY MEETS COMFORT IN EVERY CURVE." THE ARMCHAIRS The Collana armchairs are a celebration of refined design and unparalleled comfort. Crafted to elev...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Fiberglass, Hardwood
Modern Organic style armchair in Solid Wood, Upholstered Flexible Seating
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
THE COLLANA SERIES – WHERE ARTISTRY MEETS COMFORT IN EVERY CURVE." THE ARMCHAIRS The Collana armchairs are a celebration of refined design and unparalleled comfort. Crafted to elev...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Fiberglass, Hardwood
Cabaça Ottoman +55design Inspired by Brazilian Sertão Symbolism
By Nildo José
Located in Jardim America, SP
The Cabaça Ottoman was created as the perfect companion to the Cabaça Armchair, the inaugural furniture piece by Studio NJ+, designed by Brazilian architect Nildo José. Drawing inspi...
Leather
Modern Organic Style Armchair and Foot Stool in Solid Wood, Upholstered Seating
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
THE COLLANA SERIES – WHERE ARTISTRY MEETS COMFORT IN EVERY CURVE." THE ARMCHAIRS The Collana armchairs are a celebration of refined design and unparalleled comfort. Crafted to elev...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Fiberglass, Hardwood
Stool Handcrafted in Brazilian Hardwood by Ricardo Graham Ferreira
By Ricardo Graham Ferreira
Located in Nova Friburgo, RJ
'Aragonez do Cerrado' is a handcrafted wooden stool designed by Ricardo Graham. It was inspired by the beautiful Brazilian Cerrado region with a poetic touch the medieval Spain...
Hardwood
$7,500 / item
Contemporary Stool, Handcrafted, Solid Wood
By Marcos Amato
Located in New York, NY
The Barba Negra stool was created as an interpretation of the sensations aroused by the contact with the marine universe that generated a curvilinear, fluid and dynamic design of the...
Imbuia
Vale Ottoman in Brazilian Hardwood – Minimalist Design with Slender Wood Frame
By Roberta Banqueri
Located in Jardim America, SP
This refined ottoman, crafted from Brazilian certified hardwood, complements the matching Vale lounge chair or stands beautifully on its own as a versatile accent piece. Featuring a ...
Leather, Hardwood
"Encilhaço" Stool, Inês Schertel, Brazilian Contemporary Design
By Inês Schertel
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Full of personality, in order to create unique pieces, mixing ancient techniques for treating sheep wool with contemporary design and innovation, Inês Schertel...
Wool, Wood
Stool Vincent Vincent "80/20" Burnt Wood Organic Modern - VV112
By Vincent Vincent
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Danke galerie is pleased to present the latest creation of the cabinetmaker Vincent Vincent. This Ethnic inspired stool in solid beech wood will bring a ...
Beech
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 18 in W 23 in D 21.5 in
Antique French Style Carved Walnut & Upholstered Foot Stool, C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French style footstool offers upholstered seat over walnut base having carved skirt and cabriole legs, C1920. Measures- 18'' H x 23'' W x 21.5'' D. A French style walnut f...
Walnut, Upholstery
$3,390 / item
H 29.34 in W 29.14 in D 30.52 in
Customizable Modern Armchair Guerrero, Solid wood, Upholstery and Leather.
By Comité de Proyectos
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
The Guerrero armchair is a favorite best seller since it was first designed in 2015. A great piece for a small waiting area, it’s so comfortable that it also makes for a perfect read...
Hardwood
Antique Hand Carved Needlepoint Textile Upholstered Foot Stool
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Petite Elegant foot stool made hand carved woof wood, upholstered with beautiful floral motif needlepoint textile. Great decorative object of art for any room.
Wool, Wood
$5,411
H 14.97 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
VERSACE ITALY 2003 ILIAN RACHOV DESIGNED OTTOMAN FOOTSTOOL PART OF SUiTE
By Versace Home Collection
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this extremely well made Ilian Rachov Designed for Versace Italy extra large Ottoman or Footstool which is p...
Steel
$2,403 / item
H 15.95 in W 26.78 in D 26.78 in
Ottoman Drova 6, Modular Pouf, Upholstered Seating, Designer Furniture for Home
By Dmitriy Kozinenko
Located in Kyiv, UA
Introducing the Ottoman Pouf Drova, a versatile and stylish addition to any living space. Handcrafted with precision in Ukraine, this modern cube ottoman pouf combines innovative des...
Foam, Fabric, Plywood
Apollo Chair and Ottoman by Svend Skipper for Skippers Mobler
By Skipper Mobler, Svend Skipper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Apollo chair by Svend Skipper for Skippers Mobler, and ottoman. Ottoman 22" wide x 19" deep x 13.5" high This 'Apollo' model easy chair is made of a black bent plywood frame and black leather upholstery. Produced by Skippers Furniture in Denmark during the 1970s, the piece looks similar to the “Kroken” chair...
Leather, Bentwood
$976Sale Price|30% Off
H 16.5 in W 20 in D 14.75 in
Victorian Hand Carved Walnut and Upholstered Foot Stool
Located in Germantown, MD
A Victorian Hand Carved Walnut and Upholstered Foot Stool Measures 20" in width, 14.75" in depth and 16.5" in height.
Upholstery, Walnut
$678 / set
H 10.63 in W 25.2 in D 11.42 in
PAIR OF VERSACE ITALY 2003 ILIAN RACHOV DESiGNED OTTOMAN FOOTSTOOLS
By Versace Home Collection
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this extremely well made pair of Ilian Rachov Designed for Versace Italy Footstools which are part of a huge...
Chrome
George Smith Leather Upholstered Mahogany Foot Stool
By George Smith
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Raised upon four turned and handsomely finished legs with a wonderful black leather upholstered and tufted cushion affixed with a distinguished band of brass tack nailhead trim. Di...
Leather, Mahogany
$995
H 19.5 in W 25 in D 25 in
A French Louis XV style painted and carved wood upholstered stool, C. 1900.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The stool features a rectangular shaped seat supported by cabriole legs with carved detailing, reflecting the graceful curves and decorative vocabulary associated with the Louis XV a...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
$2,824
H 33.08 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Brutalist Sculptural Armchair, Solid Burnt Oak Wood, Organic, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Step into the realm of bold, uncompromising design with the Logniture Brutalist Sculptural Armchair—a true masterpiece in solid burnt oak wood. This one-of-a-kind armchair is not jus...
Wood, Oak
Sold
H 14.57 in W 16.34 in D 16.34 in
Mid-Century Modern Pair of "Magrini" Stools by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960s
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Pair of "Magrini" Stools by brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960s This 1963 creation by the renowned Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues is structure...
Wood
Sold
H 29.1 in W 35.4 in D 33.5 in
Brazilian Modern Mole Armchair & Stool Hardwood & Leather Sergio Rodrigues 1957
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Mid-Century Modern “Mole” armchair with stool in Hardwood & Leather by Sergio Rodrigues designed in 1957 is absolutely gorgeous! ...
Leather, Hardwood
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. Stun...
Fabric, Hardwood
Palafitas Bench
By Maria Fernanda Paes de Barros
Located in Jundiaí, SP
Limited edition of unique pieces - Each piece has it's on drawing. The Palafitas Bench was first presented at MADE – Mercado, Arte, Design 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil and is par...
Straw, Wood
Sold
H 31 in W 35 in D 37 in
LOUNGE Chair and Ottoman , Rosewood & Leather by Jean Gillon, Brazil, 1960
By Jean Gillon
Located in Buffalo, NY
Brazilian Jangada Rosewood & Leather Sling Chair with Ottoman by Jean Gillon Wonderful lounge chair and ottoman designed by Jean Gillon for I...
Leather, Rosewood
Pair of Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Jacaranda Stools
Located in New York, NY
Structural pair of Brazilian Jacaranda Mid-Century Modern stool. Button tufted with wooden button and diamond sewn velvet and single welting. Grea...
Jacaranda
Jararaca Stilts Bench or Footstool
By Maria Fernanda Paes de Barros
Located in Jundiaí, SP
Unique design piece The Jararaca Stilts Bench was first presented at MADE – Mercado, Arte, Design 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil and is part of the Alma-Raiz (Soul and Roots) collection ...
Straw, Wood
Brazilian Leather MP-81 Ottoman by Percival Lafer
By Percival Lafer
Located in Voorburg, NL
A beautiful 1970s Brazilian ottoman, model MP-81 designed by Percival Lafer. This amazing comfortable ottoman has a solid wooden frame and a soft Brazilian chocolate brown leather cu...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 16.93 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Stools in Jacaranda with Upholstered Seats
Located in Astoria, NY
Mid-Century Modern stools in Brazilian jacaranda. Each stool features a seat which has been recently reupholstered in dark green artificial suede. The stools remain in good vintage c...
Faux Leather, Jacaranda
Sold
H 23 in W 23.25 in D 18 in
Pair of Carved and Painted Brazilian Wood Stools with Fluted and Tapered Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of carved and painted wood stools. This pair of vintage stools from Brazil stool feature carved scrolling accents at the seat rails and fluted deta...
Linen, Wood
Art Deco Mahogany Footstools with Ostrich Skin Upholstery
Located in Miami, FL
A wonderful pair of Art Deco mahogany footstools with ostrich skin upholstery.
Ostrich Leather, Mahogany
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.
Leather, Wood