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.
Paulo Alvez Green LINA Wing Chair and Ottoman by Empório das Cadeiras
By Lina Bo Bardi
Located in Hanover, MA
Paulo Alvez green duck LINA wing chair and ottoman 44" h x 32" w x 35" d & Ottoman 16" h x 20" w x 17" d The Lina Armchair produced by Empório das Cadeiras is a tribute to the Itali...
Upholstery, Wood
Contemporary Angel Chair from "Cars Never Die" Collection by Alê Jordão, Brazil
By Alê Jordão
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Contemporary One of a Kind "Angel" Chair from "Cars Never Die" Collection by Brazilian Artist Alê Jordão. The Angel chair is made of repurposed old Volkswagen beetle car parts paint...
Steel
Swivel Wing Chair in Red, 1980s
Located in Praha, CZ
Very good original condition Very sturdy construction. Two items available. Czechoslovakia, 1980s Price for one item.
Steel
$44,995 / set
H 39.5 in W 29 in D 33 in
Pair Janus Wing Chairs and Ottomans by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare set of "Janus" wing chairs and ottomans designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. One of his most iconic designs! In the Janus Collection Wormley modernized the lines of eighteen...
Velvet, Wood
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 21 in D 22.5 in
Early 20thc Child's Wing-back Chair and Ottoman With 19thc Linen Upholstery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20thc Child's Wing-back Chair and Ottoman With 19thc Linen Upholstery. The Entire chair is upholstered with a wonderful aged white linen with a beautiful blue light stripe goin...
Linen, Wood
$1,516Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 46.5 in W 39 in D 36 in
Great Quality Century Green Leather Wingback Chair and Ottoman
By Century Furniture
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This great quality Century Furniture wingback chair and ottoman set is a timeless classic, embodying comfort, durability, and refined style. Upholstered in luxurious green leather, t...
Leather, Walnut
Peacock Iron Patio Chairs
Located in Denton, TX
Peacock Patio chairs in the style of Salterini with satin black powder coating.
Metal, Iron
"Frevo" Chair by Ronald Sasson, Brazilian Contemporary Design
By Ronald Sasson
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The Frevo chair is a stunning piece of furniture created by the Brazilian artist and designer Ronald Sasson in 2021. It reflects the unique vision and sh...
Wood, Fiberglass
$6,550
H 52 in W 21 in D 16.75 in
Scottish 1900s Orkney Island Canopy Chair with Hooded Handwoven Straw Back
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scottish Orkney Island canopy chair from the early 20th century with handwoven straw hooded back, rush seat, open arms, tapering legs and side stretche...
Straw, Wood, Rush
$4,946
H 28.35 in W 29.53 in D 28.75 in
Danish Modern Lounge Chair in Oak & Traditional Danish Olmerdug Wool, 1950s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
Wonderful large Danish Modern lounge chair hand made by a cabinetmaker in Denmark in the 1950s. Great dramatic angles and proportions with carved wooden armrests and legs made of sol...
Wool, Oak
1960s Italian Wing Chair Mid Century
Located in New York, NY
A great 1960s Italian wing chair newly upholstered with a solid tangerine front fabric and a matching patterned upholstered back. Walnut legs.
Cotton, Walnut
1960s Wing Chair, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- Newly upholstered - Carefully refurbished
Fabric
Iconic Papa Bear Wingback Chair by Hans Wegner, 1951
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kensington, MD
Iconic Papa Bear Wingback Chair by Hans Wegner, 1951 Additional information: Material: Upholstery, Oak, Teak We are pleased to offer this true icon of Danish design, the incredibly ...
Upholstery, Oak, Teak
George II Mahogany Wing Chair
Located in Essex, MA
A fine chair with beautiful needlepoint. Wing back and scrolled arms. Loose cushion seat with cabriole legs with shell carved knees and pad feet.
Mahogany
Giuseppe Scapinelli Lounge Chair in Off-White Mohair and Cherry
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppi Scapinelli, lounge chair, reupholstered in mohair "Adagio" Snowbird by The Sign, cherry, Brazil, 1950s This splendidly designed armchair by the Brazilian-based multidiscip...
Mohair, Cherry
Sold
H 34.26 in W 26.58 in D 29.53 in
Giuseppe Scapinelli Lounge Chair in Caviuna and Off-White Fabric, Brazil, 1950s
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppi Scapinelli, lounge chair, caviuna wood and fabric, 1950s, Brazil. Elegant easy chairs with spoke back. This chair in caviuna rosewood exposes the beautiful grain of the w...
Fabric, Rosewood
Sold
H 34.26 in W 26.58 in D 29.53 in
Giuseppe Scapinelli Lounge Chair in Caviuna and Off-White Fabric, Brazil 1950s
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppi Scapinelli, lounge chair, caviuna wood and fabric, 1950s, Brazil. Elegant easy chairs with spoke back. This chair in caviuna rosewood exposes the beautiful grain of the woo...
Fabric, Rosewood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 35.44 in D 27.56 in
Carlo Hauner Wingback Wrought Iron Lounge Chair, Brazilian Modern, Early 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Rare and beautiful lounge chair, designed by Carlo Hauner for Móveis Artesanal in the early 1950s. Sharing some particularities with other prototypical designs from his early day...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Costela Chairs Brazil 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful and iconic ‘Costela’ lounge chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma, Italy 1960. This is the Brazilian version of the Costela chairs, ma...
Metal
Ox Chair Sergio Rodrigues Attributed, Brazil, 1960
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice and unusual 'Ox' lounge chair attributed to Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960. The chair is made of stained teak wood and has cow skin leather seat supported with a canvas bac...
Cowhide, Leather, Teak
Brazilian Ox lounge Chair in Rosewood and Leather, 1960
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic so called 'Ox' lounge chair made by unknown designer or manufacturer, Brazil 1960. This chair has a solid Brazilian rosewood frame and a black leather upholstery. The woode...
Leather, Rosewood
Jose Zanine Caldas - Lounge Chair
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in San Francisco, CA
Solid tree trunk lounge chair in Brazilian hardwood.
Hardwood
Palm Wood Wing Chair and Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unusual, very comfortable wing chair and ottoman, upholstered in leather. The dimensions of the ottoman are HxD=18"x28".
Palmwood, Leather
Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Upholstered lounge chair with wooden legs. Designed by Carlo Hauner/Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1960.
Pair of Low Armchairs by Giuseppe Scapinelli, Brazil 1950s
Located in London, London
Pair of Low Bridge-Arm Armchairs by Giuseppe Scapinelli, Brazil 1950s.
Scapanelli was both a designer and retailer in 1950s/1960s in Sao Paulo (featured in "Casa e Jar...
Wood, Fabric
The curvaceous Egg was designed to cradle the body and offer privacy. Later, it became the seat of choice for bosses in movies, too.
We take a fresh look at a more than 300-year-old fixture in furniture design.