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.
$1,800 / item
Contemporary Brazilian side table in cast aluminum
By Cristiana Bertolucci
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
This side table is made from cast aluminum, created in the same factory where designer Cris Bertolucci produces all of her cast metal lamps. This table is one of the first objects cr...
Aluminum
$14,985 / set
Jorge Zalszupin Mesa Chanceler Pair L'atelier, 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A beautiful pair of Mesa de Centro Chanceler tables designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his own company L’Atelier, Brazil 1959. The Mesa de...
Metal
'Riva' Minimalist Organic Coffee Table in Brazilian Hardwood by Knót Artesanal
By Knót Artesanal
Located in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro
Minimalist yet full of subtle details, Riva is a combination of craftsmanship and creativity. Thoroughly modern though containing organic features seen both in the table top shape an...
Copper
"Frigga" Side Table Wooden Double Tops Brass Color
By Studio Marta Manente
Located in Centro, RS
The Frigga side table is Inspired by the tales and beliefs of Norse mythology. The features of the Frigga refer to contemporaneity and functionality. Its design is unusual and unites two materials: carbon steel with brass color...
Metal
Jose Zanine Caldas Mid-century modern Brazilian Side Table marine plywood 1950
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in Barcelona, ES
Jose Zanine de Caldas (1919-2001). Side table. Manufactured by Mòveis Artísticos Z, Brazil, 1950. Marine plywood. Measuremenents: 70 cm x 46 c...
Plywood
$2,350Sale Price / item|20% Off
Brazilian Modern Magazine Rack in Marble and Iron with Coffee Table, 1965
Located in Milano, IT
Classic modern Brazilian design from the middle of the last century, the magazine rack has a black square iron frame with suede slings to support the magazines. The set is completed ...
Marble, Iron
White & Grey Carrara Marble Single Pedestal Console Sofa Table
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern white and gray Carrara marble single pedestal base console sofa table.
Marble
Giuseppe Scapinelli. Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table Made of Solid Caviúna Wood
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Coffee table made of solid caviuna wood and glass top. Bronze details.
Glass, Wood
$6,900
H 19.69 in W 16.54 in D 13.78 in
contemporary Side Table in Italian Calacatta viola marble, Atlas side table
By Adolfo Abejon
Located in 中西區, HK
This futuristic sculptural work takes its name after the young titan of the Greek mythology Fated to sustain the pillars that separated the Earth from Heaven. Design: Adolfo Abejon ...
Marble
Contemporary Jep Side Table
By Michael Felix
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Customizable side table. Made in Los Angeles.
Steel
$1,833Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.15 in W 47.25 in D 16.93 in
Coffee Table with Magazine Rack in Teak Wood, Italy 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning coffee table with a side magazine rack made in teak wood. Produced in Italy in the 60s in the style of Ico Parisi. The wood grain of the top are simply amazing and the parti...
Brass
$1,998
H 18.71 in W 27.56 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Brass, Chrome and Glass Side Table signed Jean Charles
Located in Vilnius, LT
Mid-century side in brass and chrome frame with smoked glass top and lower shelves by Jean Charles. Signed on the metal. Very good vintage condition. NOTE: Buyer is solely responsib...
Brass, Chrome
Bakelite, Brass and Iron 1950s Side Tables
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Chic set of three low tables with tubular iron bases, laquered in black paint and ending in brass sabots. The tabletops are black bakelite, with brass surrounds. Heavy, very nice ...
Brass, Iron
$2,879
H 16.74 in W 47.64 in D 17.72 in
Midcentury Coffee Table with Magazine Rack in Teak Wood, Italy 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous coffee table with a side magazine rack made in dark teak wood, it was produced in Italy in the 60s in the style of Ico Parisi. The wood tone of the top is simply amazing ...
Brass
$14,727Sale Price|30% Off
H 11.82 in Dm 51.19 in
Jorge Zalszupin - rare Pétala table L'Atelier, Brazil 1959, original label
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Immenstaad am Bodensee, DE
Delicate and sophisticated, the Pétala CoffeeTable is one of Jorge Zalszupin's most famous pieces. The curvature, which defies wood structures, is brilliantly reminiscent of the peta...
Iron
$2,073 / item
H 23.63 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Nature inspired walnut veneer cast brass Alentejo side table by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Alentejo side table is a glimpse over the South of Portugal where thousands of cork oaks trees raise their canopies to the sky. Resembling the typ...
Brass, Metal
$10,425 / item
H 13.98 in W 50.4 in D 31.5 in
Organic Modern Soajo Quartz Coffee Table, Brass, Handmade by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Organic Modern Soajo Quartz Coffee Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Soajo quartz coffee table is inspired by the raw beauty of nor...
Marble, Granite, Onyx, Travertine, Brass
$2,200
H 13.39 in W 56.7 in D 27.56 in
Midcentury Organic Wooden Scandinavian Wabi Sabi Coffee Table, Made in 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Wonderful unique Scandinavian organic shaped coffee table in solid wood. This vintage piece is in good condition with some traces of wear. A beautiful wabi sabi style brutalist ob...
Oak
$3,609Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 21.66 in Dm 14.97 in
Contemporary Nicole Side Table in Walnut and Brass
By Stuart Scott
Located in Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Turned by hand and using both solid and veneered timber, the Nicole Side Table has a simple but graphically striking Silhouette punctuated by the met...
Walnut
$4,294 / item
H 14.57 in W 44.1 in D 29.53 in
Organic geometric marquetry Three Rocks low coffee table by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The irregular shapes of the robust volumes of the three rocks tables are finished in smoky brown birds eye wood veneer in high gloss varnish. Here is prese...
Birdseye Maple, Ebony, Olive, Rosewood, Wood
Jean Gillon coffee table, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Design Jean Gillion. Produced during the 1960s by Wood Art Brazil.
Rosewood
Sold
H 18.9 in W 55.12 in D 18.9 in
Brazilian Sofa Side Table in Pequi Wood attributed to Jose Zanine Caldas, 1970s
By José Zanine Caldas
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare mid century decorative sofa side table in solid pequi wood attributed to José Zanine Caldas produced in Brazil 1970s. In great original condition. Dimensions: H: 48 cm / ...
Hardwood
Jorge Zalszupin domino side tables L'Atelier Brazil 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare pair of side tables from the 'Domino' series designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his own factory L'Atelier, Brazil 1959. The language of the Domino line is geometric...
Metal
Jorge Zalszupin table pair L'Atelier Brazil 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Pair of rare side tables designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his own company L'Atelier, Brazil 1959. This pair of side tables made of folded plywood tops in Jacaranda ros...
Marble, Metal
Jorge Zalszupin Mesa Lateral L'atelier, Brazil, 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Small side table 'Mesa Lateral' designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured in his own company L'Atelier, Brazil 1959. Mesa Lateral or side table is a mixture of constructivist techniques with signature finishes and therefore almost looks like a sculpture. A brass button holds a thick sheet of hardened glass into the centre of a solid cone shaped wooden pillar...
Glass, Rosewood
Giuseppe Scapinelli Sculptural Coffee Table Brazil, 1950
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Striking coffee table designed by Giuseppe Scapinelli and manufactured in his workshop in Brazil, 1950. This sculptural shaped coffee table is made of very dark and deep coloured ros...
Glass, Rosewood
Giuseppe Scapinelli Agua Coffee Table, Brazil 1950
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super elegant 'Agua' coffee table by Giuseppe Scapinelli made in Brazil in 1950. This sculptural coffee table is made of black ebonized Beech wood, is in good condition, and has been...
Glass, Beech
Jorge Zalszupin Petalas Side Table l'Atelier Barzil, 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful so called ‘Petalas’ side table designed by recently passed away designer Jorge Zalszupin, manufactured in his own company L’Atelier, Brazi...
Rosewood
Brazilian Coffee Table in Wood and Dark Glass
Located in Milano, IT
Extraordinary coffee table or smoking table of Brazilian manufacture from the 60's. Egregious realization and workmanship of curved wood. The coffee table in the table top we find a ...
Glass, Wood
Giuseppe Scapinelli Agua Coffee Table, Brazil, 1950
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Sculptural 'Agua' coffee table designed by architect, designer and businessman Giuseppe Scapinelli, Brazil 1950. Scapinelli is known for his sculptural work, crafted and sculpted in the most beautiful wood to be found in Brazil. This stunning shaped coffee table has a solid rosewood frame and a glass top in the same shape as the table. The table is extremely rare, has the original paper label on the bottome of the tables rim, or whats left of it anyway as its partly faded. The table is in fully original and untouched condition, with normal wear from age and usage. The solid rosewood structure has a beautiful grain to the rosewood. Giuseppe Scapinelli was one of the most important designers from Brazil, with a large ouvre of unknown pieces such as the coffee table on sale...
Glass, Rosewood
Long Brazilian Painted Wood Console Table with Nice Clean Lines
Located in Atlanta, GA
A long Brazilian painted wood console table with drawers, which has been fashioned from old, reclaimed wood. This Brazilian console table fe...
Metal
Sold
H 23.63 in Dm 9.85 in
1950s Small Sofa Table in Iron, Black Glass and Brass, Brazil Mid Century Modern
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Beautiful table with black glass top. Perfect for using in the sofa.
Brass, Wrought Iron