Desk in Solid Hardwood, by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
About the Item
- Creator:Sergio Rodrigues (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)Width: 68.9 in (175 cm)Depth: 31.11 in (79 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Sao Paulo, BR
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Lapa de Baixo, Brazil
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Small Sideboard in Hardwood, by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazilian Mid-Century ModernBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThis meticulously crafted sideboard by Sergio Rodrigues is a paradigm of Brazilian mid-century modern design, seamlessly integrating functionality with a striking aesthetic. The stru...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsSteel
- Hardwood Trolley, by Sergio Rodrigues, 1965, Brazilian Mid-Century ModernBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThis stunning cart/trolley designed by the legendary Brazilian architect and designer Sérgio Rodrigues in the 1960s is a true masterpiece. Made of Brazilian hardwood, this piece feat...Category
Mid-20th Century South American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
MaterialsFormica, Wood
- Mid-Century "Lia" Armchair by Sergio Rodrigues: Brazilian Hardwood Iconic DesignBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThe "Lia" armchair, created by the Brazilian architect and designer Sérgio Rodrigues in 1962, is an extraordinary piece of furniture that showcases the designer's ingenuity and creat...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- 'Franco' Sofa in solid hard wood, Sérgio Rodrigues, Brazilian Mid-Century ModernBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThe "Franco" sofa, designed by Sergio Rodrigues, is a distinct representation of Brazilian mid-century design. The piece is characterized by its robust solid hardwood structure that ...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Hardwood
- Caola Armchair, by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazilian Hardwood, Brazilian MidcenturyBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThis stunning 1960s pair of Caola armchairs made by Sérgio Rodrigues are made by Brazilian Hardwood Definitely a piece that is capable of bringing a sense of personality and style to any decor. The piece was not restored yet, so the client can choose the style. Sérgio Rodrigues was an architect and designer born in Rio de Janeiro. Together with Joaquim Tenreiro and José Zanine Caldas, he was the Pioneer in transforming Brazilian design into Industrial Design and making it known worldwide. Sergio lived the height of his career in the 50s and 60s. He worked with furniture design in line with modernism in Brazil, bringing a Brazilian identity to his projects both in drawings and in traditional materials - leather, straw, and wood - highlighting the culture of Brazilian indigenous. A contemporary of Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio COSTA, his furniture was used on a large scale in the construction of the Brazilian capital Brasília. His most famous work is the "Poltrona Mole...Category
Mid-20th Century South American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood
- Caola Sofa, by Sérgio Rodrigues, Brazilian Mid-Century ModernBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThis sofa, designed by Sérgio Rodrigues, is an exquisite piece of mid-century modern furniture that embodies the distinctive character of Brazil...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Hardwood
- Mid-Century Modern Desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYThe “Clara” desk is made with Brazilian rosewood, also known as jacaranda, with a rosewood veneer. The hardwood has been expertly refinished, displaying vibrant wood veins. The desk ...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsHardwood
- Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Brussels, BEMid-Century Modern wooden desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960s 4 Drawers.Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Brazilian Modern Desk in Hardwood with Floating Drawers, Sergio Rodrigues, 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYAvailable today, this magnificent Mid-Century Modern desk n hardwood & chrome finishes by Sergio Rodrigues in the sixties is the find of the year! The desk is made in solid rosewo...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood, Hardwood
- Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in Brussels, BEMid-Century Modern Wooden Desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960sCategory
Vintage 1960s Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Mid-Century Modern Desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960sLocated in Brussels, BEMid-Century Modern Desk by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, 1960sCategory
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Mid-Century Modern Dining Table in Hardwood by Sergio Rodrigues, 1960, BrazilBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYAvailable today, this Brazilian Modern Mid-Century Modern dining table entirely made in Hardwood by Sergio Rodrigues, 1960s is not only extremely rare but spectacular! The name of this model is “Alex” and is made entirely in Brazilian Rosewood & Rosewood veneer featuring a wood structure with “X” shape and a tabletop also in rosewood. The table has been refinished and the tabletop has been beautifully foliated with old rosewood veneer too. The table is showcased in our gallery next to four delicate Giuseppe Scapinelli dining chairs also in Rosewood contrasting nicely and highlighting the jacaranda in a beautiful way. This midcentury gem would look great in any Mid-Century Modern, or postmodern type environment and the iconic design and Size will make this desk an absolute must in everyone’s Mid-Modern Century collection. For the history buffs here, it goes…Sergio Rodrigues started working in the 1950s when the foundations of modern Brazilian architecture were already laid out, yet furniture design was still nascent. Rodrigues set himself the task of designing furniture that was both truly Brazilian and modernist at the same time. Over the course of his career, he accomplished this task by defining a robust, modern, and pure language reflected in his work. Literature: Copy of Oca’s manufacture manual showcasing the actual Alex model Sergio Rodrigues book...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsHardwood