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.
Geraldo de Barros Vanity desk, 1955
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Barcelona, ES
Vanity Desk by Geraldo de Barros Manufactured by Unilabor Brasil, 1955 Iron, jacaranda, mirror Measurements 128 cm x 43 cm x 83h cm (149h cm mirror included) 50,39 in x 16,92 in x ...
Iron
Price Upon Request
Brazilian Three-Drawer Vanity
Located in New York, NY
Rare three-drawer vanity in rosewood with reverse-painted glass top and mirror. Brazil. (Tabletop: 27.5")
Glass, Mirror, Wood
$2,285
H 55.12 in W 35.44 in D 17.33 in
Bamboo and Rattan Vanity / Dressing Table with Drawer and Mirror, 1970's Mid-cen
Located in Cork, IE
With an arched bamboo frame and rounded corners this vanity table is a great example of organic modernism often found in European furniture designs from the 1970's. Well crafted and...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Teak Vanity Table / Desk, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Elegant teak vanity table produced in Denmark during the 1960s. Featuring two drawers and a central mirror, this versatile piece works beautifully as both a dressing table and a comp...
Teak
Mirror Vanity
Located in København, København
French vintage mirror vanity with wing mirrors and a drawer. The vanity has a lovely curved table top and is in very good condition - it has patina but no nicks or cuts.
Mirror, Wood
$495
H 5.625 in W 31.75 in D 12 in
1950s Retro Wall Mounted Salon Vanity with Mirror and Wooden Shelf with Drawer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall-mounted salon vanity set from the 1950s comprising a frameless mirror and a coordinating wooden shelf with drawer. The mirror features scalloped concave notches at each corner, ...
Mirror, Wood
Vanity Dressing Table w/ Mirror & Drawer
Located in San Francisco, CA
C. 19th century Vanity dressing table w/ mirror & drawer.
Glass, Wood
$1,324Sale Price|36% Off
H 64.57 in W 37.01 in D 16.93 in
French Midcentury Oak Marble Dressing Table Vanity Unit with Three Panel Mirror
Located in Labrit, Landes
Vanity dressing table with three-sided mirror and little two-doors cabinet circa 1960 Adornated floral motif, very stylish Height of the marble-top: 30.71 in. (78 cm) Good vintage c...
Marble, Chrome
$16,000
H 30 in W 71 in D 31 in
Brazilian Modern Six-Drawer Rosewood & Iron Desk by Geraldo de Barros, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
A structurally confident Brazilian Modern desk attributed to Geraldo de Barros, executed in solid rosewood and veneer with a minimalist black iron frame. The rectangular top floats a...
Hardwood
Mirrored Flip-Top Vanity Desk
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Mirrored flip-top vanity desk with three drawers. Customization is available in different sizes, finish and hardware.
Mirror, Wood
$5,500
H 21.3 in W 29.1 in D 14 in
Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor Bar Cart in Jacaranda & Hardwood, Brazil, 1960s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
A refined example of Brazilian modernist functionalism, this two-tier bar cart—also known as a tea trolley—was designed by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor in the 1960s. Executed in so...
Metal
Rosewood Gentleman's Military Campaign Vanity Box with Secret Drawer
Located in Savannah, GA
This handsome rosewood English vanity box retains the original glass bottles and jars with silver plated tops, 19th century. The inside reveals multiple compartments and a spring loaded lever opens the secret drawer...
Silver Plate
oak vanity
Located in Brooklyn, NY
french oak coiffeuse from the 1950's with mirrored top original condition
Oak, Mirror
Modern Flip-Top Mirrored Vanity Desk
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Custom modern flip-top mirrored vanity desk with glass shelves. Currently out of stock but available for custom order. Customization is available ...
Mirror, Wood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 46.86 in D 14.97 in
50's Dressing table with drawers, Móveis Cimo, Brazilian Mid-Century Design
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This exquisite chest of dressing table was expertly crafted in the 1950s by the esteemed Brazilian manufacturer, Móveis Cimo. Renowned for their meticulous attention to detail and ex...
Wood
Sold
H 32.3 in W 73.6 in D 25.2 in
Midcentury Modern Desk in Hardwood & White Top by Jorge Zalszupin, 1970
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this Brazilian Modern desk in Light hardwood designed by Jorge Zalszupin for L’Atelier, is gorgeous! The desk is made of Caviuna hardwood and Formica finishes. It has 6 floating drawers and 2 more in the left side. The top of the desk is very spacious as well as the drawers. It has been refinished and besides the marks of age, the piece is in wonderful condition. The last images showcase the desk in L’Atelier’s product catalogue and spec sheet. This piece belonged to the Hotel...
Formica, Hardwood
Set of Three Nesting Tables by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil, 1955
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Barcelona, ES
Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) Dressing table Manufactured by Unilabor Brasil, 1956 Black painted metal, formica, jacaranda, brass details Measurements 155cm x 40 cm x 77h c...
Brass
To make a bathroom feel warm, serene and composed, adding feminine elements is the way to go. Featuring furry furniture, pops of pink and curated antiques, these sumptuous spaces are idyllic retreats in which to while away a few hours.
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