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.
Michel Arnoult Brazilian Rosewood Flip Top Game Table, 1978
By Michel Arnoult
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare mid-century modern game table By Michel Arnoult for Forene S.A. Moveis do Nordeste, "Alagoas Collection" Brazil, 1978 Brazilian rosewood, with green felt to one side ...
Felt, Rosewood
$3,900
H 29.75 in W 36 in D 16 in
Philadelphia Hepplewhite Hollow Front Flip Top Game Table, c. 1790-1810
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Hepplewhite hollow front flip top game table with gated leg. The solid figured mahogany top is mounted to a conforming brick laid apron veneered in figured mahogany, and the borders ...
Mahogany, Holly
$2,950
H 30 in W 33 in D 16.5 in
Antique English Game Table Flip Top Victorian Oak c1880 Mahjong Square Table
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique English Game Table Flip Top Victorian Oak c1880 Mahjong Square Table. Direct from England, a handsome and highly versatile antique...
Oak
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard Refined early 19th-century game table, designed for chess and card games, exemplifying the understated elegance and fin...
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
Italian Walnut Game Table, Louis XV Style, Flip Top, 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XV style Italian walnut game table with flip top and side pull out extensions. One side of top is plain and the other side is inlaid chess board.
Walnut
Antique Dutch Marquetry Inlay Flip Top Demilune Console Game Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Dutch Marquetry Inlay Flip Top Demilune Console Game Table. Item features stunning floral and figural marquetry inlay, tapered legs, shapely ...
Mahogany
$2,100Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.5 in W 35.5 in D 17 in
Antique Sheraton Mahogany Inlaid Octagonal Flip Top Game Card Tea Console Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Sheraton period card or game table, circa 1790-1820. Made from mahogany with crotch mahogany veneer, featuring an inlaid flip top octagonal demilune top supported by square ...
Mahogany
$3,885
H 35.5 in W 36 in D 18 in
18th Century English George III Mahogany Flip Top Concertino Action Game Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th Century English George III Mahogany Flip Top Concertino Action Game Table with Leather Top & Chip Pockets
Mahogany
Bespoke Vintage Zebra Wood Multi Game Flip Table
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This hand crafted bespoke double sided, flip game table is incredible. The gorgeous zebra wood construction and leather tops really set this piece off. A truly unique piece. The t...
Zebra Wood
Pierre Deux Game Table Flip Top Leather
By Pierre Deux
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Leather, Mahogany
$910Sale Price|30% Off
H 36 in W 31 in D 19 in
Vintage American Sheraton Painted Grain Serpentine Flip Top Console Game Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1940s painted grain game / card / parlor desk table featuring American Federal / Hepplewhite styling with serpentine bow front, large drawer with brass rosette hardware, and sq...
Hardwood
Queen Anne walnut flip top concertina game table, c. 1720
Located in Kenilworth, IL
A rare small scaled Queen Anne flip top concertina action game table in walnut and book matched and figured walnut veneers. The gaming surface is designed with lieu pockets, turreted...
Baize, Oak, Walnut
Custom English Walnut Double Flip Game Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Walnut burl game table with double flip-top. First fold exposes a tooled leather card playing surface with carved out corner guinea cups. The second fold reveals inlaid boards for ch...
Walnut, Burl
Midcentury Brazilian chess table or occasional table, 1958
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A stylish Brazilian wooden chesstable from 1958 in good stable condition with some minor signs of wear and age. The table can be combined in eclectic interiors as well as more classic styles. A Brazilian table like this is quite a rare find in Europe. It is not only an eye catcher, but a good size to actually play a game of chess on. It can also be used as a decorative sidetable. The table still has the original paper label underneath the tabletop, which states all details where it was made (South of Brazil in Parana), numbered and dated 1958. The 1970 chess set...
Hardwood
Sold
H 28.75 in W 35.24 in D 35.24 in
Forma S.A. Game Table in Rosewood by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, c. 1955
By Carlo Hauner, Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This game table was produced by the Brazilian Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s. The piece is made of a Rosewood structure and the top can be used on both sides: one i...
Fabric, Rosewood
Sold
H 28.75 in Dm 47.25 in
Mid-Century Modern Game Table with Reversible Top by Sergio Rodrigues, 1950s
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern game table with reversible top by Sergio Rodrigues, 1950s The game table designed by Sergio Rodrigues in the 1950s is a stunning piece of furniture that reflects ...
Wood, Baize
Novo Rumo Card Table of Brazilian Hardwood Mid-Century Modern
By Novo Rumo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Brazilian hardwood card table. By Novo Rumo. The round circular top supported by four two inch columns on a round circular base. veneered Brazilian hardwood. covers the top. and base...
Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in Dm 47.25 in
Midcentury Modern Round Dining Table in Hardwood & Marble by Celina, Brazil 1962
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this Midcentury Modern Round Dining Table in Hardwood & Marble designed by Celina, in 1960’s Brazil is a stunning! This Brazilian Modern beauty is executed in Brazilian Rosewood (as known as Jacaranda) with a "X" shape base and white marble top. The Jacaranda has been refinished displaying colorful and smooth veins and the marble repolished. Besides the marks of age, the piece is in excellent condition. This table fits 4 to 5 people comfortably. This iconic table will look awesome in any Mid-Century Modern, Modern, Minimalistic, or even Transitional environment. If you're looking for a dining table that is both beautiful and functional, then this is it! This table fits 4 to 6 comfortably. Celina Decoracoes was created in 1951 when Munis Zilberberg took over the family business - a small upholstery workshop that worked on refurbishing sofa beds and antique furniture. The name is a tribute to her mother, Celina Zilberberg...
Marble
Sold
H 29.53 in Dm 47.25 in
Midcentury Modern Round Table in Hardwood & Marble by Celina Brazil c1960 Sealed
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this Mid-Century Modern round table in hardwood & marble designed by Celina in Brazil in the sixties is gorgeous! This Brazilian Modern beauty is executed in Brazil...
Marble
Sold
H 28 in W 36.5 in D 36.5 in
Danish Modern Sergio Rodrigues Brazilian Mesa Norma Rosewood Game Dining Table
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Wayne, NJ
Mid-Century Modern rosewood game table ' Mesa Norma ' with four inset drink holders and reversible top to felt, by Sergio Rodrigues. This Item may only be shipped within the USA .
Rosewood
Jacaranda and Marble 'Alex' Breakfast or Game Table
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jacaranda and marble 'Alex' breakfast or game table. Incredible piece. All original. The perfect center table too.
Marble
Michel Arnoult Table and Chair Set
By Michel Arnoult
Located in Highland, IN
This striking table and chairs were designed by Michel Arnoult as part of his Alagoas collection for Forene S.A. Moveis do Nordstrom in Brazil. Crafted of solid exotic hardwood (poss...
Leather, Rosewood
Jorge Zalszupin for L’atelier Jacaranda Rosewood Parquet Dining Table, Brazil
By Jorge Zalszupin, L'Atelier San Paulo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Expertly crafted Jacaranda (Brazilian Rosewood) circular table by Jorge Zalszupin for L'Atelier, which has been recently refinished. This striking dining table is fabricated from sol...
Jacaranda, Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Super Estadio Foosball Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 1960s Super Estadio foosball / soccer table in aluminum with rounded corners and all original features.
Aluminum, Metal
Impressive Rock Crystal Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impressive Rock Crystal Table. The base has an circular cut out for an option of making the base light up.
Rock Crystal