Percival Lafer MP‑41 Lounge Chair in Original Cognac Leather, Brazil, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Ekorness (Manufacturer),Percival Lafer (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 35.44 in (90 cm)Width: 35.44 in (90 cm)Depth: 35.44 in (90 cm)Seat Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Good vintage condition Original leather shows wear consistent with age, including minor creasing and patina throughout No rips, holes, or repairs; structurally sound Leather straps supportive and intact Wood frame in very good condition with mini.
- Seller Location:Oslo, NO
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7159245827002
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, Lafer 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 Lafer 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 vintage Percival Lafer furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Lier, Norway
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Teak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech
You May Also Like
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Plywood
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Late 20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Beech
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Leather, Wood, Foam
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Beech
