Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Rosewood, Fabric
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
1970s Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé
2010s Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Stainless Steel
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
2010s Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Steel
2010s Post-Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Steel
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
2010s Post-Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
2010s Post-Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Wood, Leather
1960s Brutalist Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Teak
1970s Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
2010s Post-Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Foam
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
2010s Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Silk, Velvet
2010s Post-Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Brass
2010s Minimalist Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Plywood, Teak, Plastic
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Rosewood, Leather
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Jacaranda, Canvas
1970s Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Suede, Rosewood
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
1860s High Victorian Antique Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Mahogany
1960s Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Brutalist Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Leather
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Teak
1970s Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Rosewood
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Hardwood
2010s Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Metal
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Chrome
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood, Rosewood