Sergio Rodrigues 'Tonico' Three-Seat Sofa in Solid Rosewood
View Similar Items
Sergio Rodrigues 'Tonico' Three-Seat Sofa in Solid Rosewood
About the Item
- Creator:Oca (Manufacturer),Sergio Rodrigues (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 37.8 in (96 cm)Width: 81.5 in (207 cm)Depth: 32.29 in (82 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:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The upholstery shows minor traces of age and use.
- Seller Location:Waalwijk, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: item 52881stDibs: LU93316123743
Sergio Rodrigues
The prolific architect and designer Sergio Rodrigues is often called the "father of modern Brazilian design," but it is the second adjective in that phrase that deserves emphasis: Rodrigues’s great achievement was to create furniture in a style that captured the spirit, character and personality of his country.
Modernity came slowly to 20th-century Brazil, politically and culturally. The nation finally realized genuine constitutional democracy in 1945, ushering in a new, progressive era in the arts. Until that time, heavy furniture based on historical European models had been the norm. In the late 1940s, designer Joaquim Tenreiro introduced sleek, minimalist chairs and cabinets; José Zanine Caldas, now best known for his later artisanal work, created plywood furnishings for mass-production; the Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi, a former editor for the Gio Ponti-founded magazine Domus, set up shop in São Paulo, designing elegant, flexible chairs set on slim metal frames.
This was the heady scene into which Rodrigues, the son of an artistically prominent Rio de Janeiro family, arrived after graduating in 1952 from the national university. He established Oca Industries in 1955, a company that would become the preeminent maker of modernist furniture in Brazil. When architects Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer were tasked in 1956 with the whirlwind project to plan, design and build the new capital, Brasília, in five years, they used Rodrigues’s early chairs, with their softly-contoured lines and caned seats and backrests, to furnish many of the buildings.
Rodrigues would realize the true expression of his talents in — and garner international awards and acclaim with — his Mole chair of 1957. The word mole means "soft" in Portuguese, but can be interpreted as "easygoing" or even "listless." Rodrigues's chair features a sturdy, generously proportioned frame of the native South American hardwood jacaranda, upholstered with overstuffed leather pads that flap like saddlebags across the arms, seat, and backrest. It is a chair that invites sprawling — perfect for the social milieu of the bossa nova and caipirinha cocktails; where a languorous afternoon spent chatting and joking is the apex of enjoyment.
Most of the estimated 1,200 armchairs, sofas, tables, storage cabinets and dining tables Rodrigues designed in his long career are imbued, in one way or another, with this air of robust relaxation. Sergio Rodrigues was a designer true to the temperament of his people.
Established in 2006, Morentz has a team of approximately 55 restorers, upholsterers, interior advisers and art historians, making it a gallery, workshop and upholstery studio, all in one. Every day, a carefully selected array of 20th-century furniture arrives from all over the world at the firm’s warehouse, where the team thoroughly examines each piece to determine what, if any, work needs to be done. Whether that means new upholstery or a complete restoration, Morentz's aim is always to honor the designer’s intention while fulfilling the wishes of the client. The team is up to any challenge, from restoring a single piece to its original glory to furnishing a large-scale hotel project.
- Sergio Rodrigues 'Sheriff' Sofa in Black Uphosltery and Imbuia WoodBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Waalwijk, NLSergio Rodrigues, 'Sheriff' sofa, faux leather, imbuia wood, Brazil, 1960s Comfortable and large sofa by Brazilian designer Sergio Rodriques. This sofa breaths the characteristics o...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFaux Leather, Imbuia
- Futuristic Three-Seat Sofa in LeatherLocated in Waalwijk, NLThree seat sofa, leather, Europe, 1970s Exiting sofa design with strong space age characteristics. This sofa was made in Europe in the 1970s and clearly expresses the post-modern tr...Category
Vintage 1970s European Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Three-Seater Sofa in Yellow Teddy UpholsteryLocated in Waalwijk, NLThree-seater sofa, teddy upholstery and beech, Europe, 1950s This voluptuous sofa is executed with wooden legs and a yellow teddy upholstery. The sofa has a high lined and slightly ...Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Beech
- Italian Three-Seater Sofa in Off-White UpholsteryLocated in Waalwijk, NLSofa, wood, fabric, Italy, 1950s. This Italian sofa is characterized by a modest aesthetic due to its straight lines and round edges. The back elegantly runs over into the armrests ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Artifort Cubic Three-Seat Sofa in Brown LeatherLocated in Waalwijk, NLArtifort, sofa, leather, metal, The Netherlands, 1970s This cubic sofa features clear lines that result in a bold look. The backrest and armrests are on the same height. The patinat...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Danish Three Seat Sofa in Black LeatherLocated in Waalwijk, NLSofa, leather, wood, Denmark, 1960s A beautiful three seat sofa made in Denmark in the 1960s. This model reminds of Borge Mogensen's designs. The black leather shows a light patina ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Vintage Sergio Rodrigues "Tonico Three" Sofa, Jacaranda/ Leather, Brazil 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYA natural derivative of the homonymous armchair, Tonico couch brings the same comfort solution with a rather large roll to support the head. In the couch, it comes attached and it ha...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Rosewood Three-Seat Millor Sofa, Sergio Rodrigues Modern Design, Brazil, 1960sBy Sergio Rodrigues, OCA BrazilLocated in New York, NYOriginal condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Vintage Sergio Rodrigues "Tonico Two" Sofa, Jacaranda/ Leather, Brazil 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYA natural derivative of the homonymous armchair, Tonico couch brings the same comfort solution with a rather large roll to support the head. In the couch, it comes attached and it ha...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Vintage 'Mole' Solid Rosewood Sofa by Sergio Rodrigues, 1960s, BrazilBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYThe iconic Mole sofa is Sergio Rodrigues' signature piece designed between 1956 and 1957, giving rise to the famous and award-winning Mole armchair. In Portu...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
$21,000 Sale Price22% Off - Rosewood Two-Seat Millor Sofa, Sergio Rodrigues Modern Design, Brazil, 1960sBy Sergio Rodrigues, OCA BrazilLocated in New York, NYOriginal condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Brazilian Modern 3-seater Sofa in Espresso Leather by Sergio RodriguesBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in San Diego, CAAs with all of Sergio Rodrigues' chairs, this sofa is as comfortable and livable as can be. This is a completely restored 3-seater Sheriff sofa designed b...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
$17,596 Sale Price20% Off
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
You Don’t Need a Fictional Fairy to Get This Real Pinocchio Lamp
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Morentz Writes the Next Chapter for Furniture with a Storied Past
Dutch dealer Matthijs Hoveijn specializes in the best of mid-century modern design, selling it to discerning clients around the world.