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.
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Two Birds Wall Art Tapestry, 2002
Located in Miami, FL
Brazilian Modern wall art tapestry of two colorful birds on branches by Eila Ampula, Brazil 2002.
Natural Fiber
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Parrot Wall Art Tapestry
Located in Miami, FL
Brazilian Modern wall art tapestry of a colorful Parrot by Eila Ampula, Brazil.
Natural Fiber
Tapestry Genaro Antônio Dantas de Carvalho, Brazilian Artist, 1960
By Genaro de Carvalho
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Tapestry Genaro Antônio Dantas de Carvalho Brazilian artist 1960 Upholsterers, painter, designer. Genaro Antonio Dantas de Carvalho began his painting studies with his father. In 1944, he went to Rio de Janeiro and studied drawing with Henrique Cavalleiro at the Brazilian Society of Fine Arts. He is considered one of the main activists for the renewal of art in Bahia, along with Carlos Bastos, Caribé and Mario Cravo...
Tapestry
1960s Carlos Frederico Bastos Fine Art Original Warrior Wall Tapestry
By Emiliano Di Cavalcanti
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Brazilian Artist Carlos Frederico Bastos Fine Wall Art Tapestry Signed 71 w x 53.5 h Original vintage preowned condition Please refer to...
Textile
Tapestry, Brazilian Artist, 1980 Sign Renot
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Tapestry Design Renot Brazilian artist 1980 The tapestry is restored. Sign: Renot 1980 Bahia Brazil original Atelier Studio Renot Salvador- ...
Tapestry
Kennedy Bahia Brazilian Modern Wall Tapestry, 1980s
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Miami, FL
Woven wall tapestry by Brazilian textile artist Kennedy Bahia circa 1980. Hummingbird, butterflies and flowers. “Known nationally and internatio...
Textile
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Natural Fiber Wall Art Hanging Tapestry, 1970s
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Brazilian modern hanging wall art tapestry made of natural fiber circa 1970s. Artist unknown. Ships from Brazil.
Natural Fiber
Brazilian tapestrie by VAC
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Jolie tapisserie par VAC : Valdivino Alves da Conceição.
Wool
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Floral Wall Art Tapestry
Located in Miami, FL
Eila Ampula fiber art floral tapestry handcrafted in Brazil, 1980s. Eila Ampula was a well-known Brazilian artist who specialized in tapestry design. Her work has been exhibited in ...
Natural Fiber
Modern Brazilian tapestry by "Tarô", c. 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
Tarô Tapestry, c. 1970 Signed "Tarô" at the bottom right. Artisanal natural fiber tapestry Measures: 76 x 102 x 2 cm. Beautiful rectangular wall tapestry with central geometri...
Natural Fiber
Multicolored Foliage Wall Tapestry, Wool, Signed, Circa 1960
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in PARIS, FR
Kennedy Bahia (1929–2005) Wall Tapestry "Multicolored Foliage", c. 1960 This vibrant wool tapestry by Kennedy Bahia, signed at the bottom left, is a joyful example of the artist’s si...
Wool, Cotton
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Floral Wall Art Talestry
Located in Miami, FL
Eila Ampula fiber art floral tapestry handcrafted in Brazil, 1980s. Eila Ampula was a well-known Brazilian artist who specialized in tapestry design. Her ...
Natural Fiber
Mid-Century Abstract Brazil Textile Art Tapestry by Kennedy Bahia, circa 1960's
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Rare textile art tapestry by Brazilian artist Kennedy Bahia. This piece had remained rolled up for over 50 years prior to pictures being taken for this listing. It is flawless with b...
Wool
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Wall Art Tapestry
Located in Miami, FL
Eila Ampula fiber art floral tapestry handcrafted in Brazil, 1980s. Eila Ampula was a well-known Brazilian artist who specialized in tapestry design. Her ...
Natural Fiber
Jardin Onirique Wool Wall Tapestry, Signed, Circa 1960, 102 x 133 cm
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in PARIS, FR
Kennedy Bahia (1929–2005) Wall Tapestry, c. 1960 This vibrant wool tapestry by Kennedy Bahia, signed at the bottom left, features the artist’s iconic Jardin Onirique (Dream Garden) t...
Wool
Valdivino Alves da Conceição. Tapestry in Square and Circle, c. 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
Valdivino Alves da Conceição (born in 1955) Tapestry in Square and Circle, c. 1970 Wool and pigments / Wool and pigments Dimensions: 95 x 135 cm (37 2/5 x 53 3/20 in) This remarkabl...
Wool
Tapestrie by Kennedy Bahia
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Jolie tapisserie par Kennedy Bahia
Wool
Mid-Century Brazilian Modern Woven Wall Tapestry, 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
Brazilian mid-century modern woven wall tapestry using twine and felt from the 1960s.
Natural Fiber
Brazilian Modern Natural Fiber Wall Art Tapestry, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Brazilian modern woven wall tapestry using natural fibers from the 1980s. Signed MARY.
Natural Fiber
Brazilian 80's Butterflies Tapestry by M. Lucia
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Large wool tapestry designed by M. Lucia, featuring a checkered background punctuated by butterflies and a sun motif. The composition has a strong graphic presence, with a clear cont...
Tapestry
Knotted Wall Tapestry in Wool by Inês Schertel, Brazil, 2021
By Inês Schertel
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Knotted Wall Tapestry in Wool by Inês Schertel, Brazil, 2021 Ines Schertel's primary material is sheep's wool. As a practitioner of Slow Desig...
Wool
$1,162
H 26.38 in W 39.38 in D 0.79 in
Abstract Vibrant Wall Tapestry, Hand Knotted Wool, 1960s, Excellent
Located in London, GB
Colorful hand knotted wool hanging is probably a translation of the work of an artist. This was a time when modern artists work began to work with weavers...
Wool
$303Sale Price|50% Off
H 24.41 in W 32.29 in D 1.97 in
Large Decorative Vintage 1960s Wall Tapestry Art Pictured Bratislava Scenery, Cz
Located in Zohor, SK
Large decorative fine handmade vintage artwork 20th century 1960's wall tapestry showing scenery of Bratislava city. with Danube river. Set in an impre...
Textile, Glass, Wood
Vintage Tapestry With Birds 7X5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Wool, Cotton
$3,445
H 64.97 in W 49.22 in D 0.79 in
Mid Century Wall Tapestry with Birds, Animals and Foliage Belgium 1960s
Located in Meer, VAN
Mid Century Wall Tapestry with Birds, Animals and Foliage Belgium 1960s A wonderful mid century Belgian wall tapestry with birds. Great colors and design, with wonderful detailed de...
Fabric
Wool Wall Tapestry by Eva Németh, Hungary, 1960s Modernist
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is a very striking handwoven wool wall tapestry by Hungarian textile artist Eva Németh, executed in the 1960s. The vertically structured composition features stylized female fig...
Wool
Rene Perrot Aubusson Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury tapestry designed by Rene Perrot 91912-1979) and woven at Atelier Riviere des Borderies in Aubusson, France. Handwoven in wool, it dates to 1946...
Wool, Tapestry
Mid-Century Modern Style Corrientes Cotton Wall Tapestry
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
This dramatic wall hanging is an impressive statement piece for almost any room.Custom sizes and others colors available by request. Each piece is completely made to order and is ava...
Cotton
$1,900
H 50 in W 48 in D 0.5 in
Modern Colorful Geometric Fiber Art Wool Tapestry Wall Hanging by Helga Berry
Located in Troy, MI
Handwoven tapestry by Helga Berry "Ten Squared Minus One" February 1985 Vibrant colorful textile with an abstract arrangement of architectural forms rendered in richly saturated col...
Wool
Mid-Century Modern Style Chaco Cotton Wall Tapestry
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
This dramatic wall hanging is an impressive statement piece for almost any room.Custom sizes and others colors available by request. Each piece is completely made to order and is ava...
Cotton
$2,750
H 38.19 in W 65.75 in D 0.4 in
1960s Hand-Printed French Wall Tapestry in Wool Signed J.C. Bissery
By Jean Claude Bissery
Located in COLMAR, FR
An exceptional and very rare wall tapestry from the 1960s in amazing condition. This large and stunning wall tapestry in wool has been designed and signed on the back by the French a...
Wool
Sold|$3,737
H 55.12 in W 108.27 in D 1.19 in
Hand-Woven Wall Artwork, Mid-Century Modern Tapestry, Fabric, 1980s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Woven; Wall piece; Artwork; Mid-Century Modern; Tapestries; Contemporary Art; Craftsman This Hand-woven wall piece is a true conversation piece. The depth is created by layering d...
Fabric
Italian Mid Century Modern Tapestry circa 1960s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian Mid Century Modern Tapestry, Italy, circa 1960s. Abstract architectural design.
Fabric, Textile
Patrick Kennedy Bahia Abstraction Tapestry
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Atlanta, GA
Kennedy Bahia (1929-2005) Patrick Maderos Kennedy took the professional pseudonym of Kennedy Bahia as his artwork related to the flora and fauna area of the Amazonian jungle of Ba...
Wool
Patrick Kennedy Bahia Tapestry of Bird and Flowers
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Atlanta, GA
Kennedy Bahia (1929-2005) Patrick Maderos Kennedy took the professional pseudonym of Kennedy Bahia as his artwork related to the flora and fauna area of the Amazonian jungle of Ba...
Wool
Kennedy Bahia Large Scale Brazilian Modern Wall Tapestry, 1960s
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Miami, FL
Large scale woven wall tapestry by Brazilian textile artist Kennedy Bahia circa 1960. Baianas with flowers, butterflies and birds. “Known nation...
Textile
Kennedy Bahia Brazilian Modern Wall Tapestry, 1980s
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Miami, FL
Woven wall tapestry by Brazilian textile artist Kennedy Bahia circa 1980. Fish with sea plants. “Known nationally and internationally, Kennedy ...
Textile
Mid-Century Brazilian Modern Woven Wall Tapestry, 1960s
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Miami, FL
Brazilian mid-century modern woven wall tapestry using twine and felt from the 1960s.
Fabric
1960s Brazilian Textile Art Tapestry signed Leao
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Las Vegas, NV
1960's Brazilian woven tapestry by "LEAO". Measures 38" tall X 23" wide. It had remained rolled up for 50 plus years until photos were taken. Never hung and in Flawless condition.
Wool
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Floral Wall Art Talestry
Located in Miami, FL
Eila Ampula fiber art floral tapestry handcrafted in Brazil, 1980s. Eila Ampula was a well-known Brazilian artist who specialized in tapestry design. Her ...
Natural Fiber
Kennedy Bahia. Polychrome tapestry, c. 1960
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in PARIS, FR
Kennedy Bahia (1929-2005) Tapisserie polychrome , c. 1960 Signé/ Laine 130 x 100 cm This tapestry by Kennedy Bahia, dating from the 1960s, is a remarkable work for its composition a...
Wool
Kennedy Bahia Large Scale Brazilian Modern Wall Tapestry
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Miami, FL
Large scale woven wall tapestry by Brazilian textile artist Kennedy Bahia.
Textile
Sold
H 29 in W 50.5 in D 2 in
Eila Ampula Brazilian Modern Fish With Coloroful Scales Wall Art Tapestry
Located in Miami, FL
Midcentury Brazilian Modern large scale wall art tapestry of a fish with colorful scales by Eila Ampula, Brazil.
Natural Fiber
Tapestry 'Formas Retorcidas' by Xtiano & Michel Brazil 1973
Located in Curitiba, PR
Twisted shapes, irregular movements and colors are the main features of this tapestry by Xtiano and Michel, which always reveals new aspects of nature. In Brazil, after a quick work dedicated to decoration, Michel joined Xtiano in his researches of the textile domain. This led the two artists to open a studio in 1974, joining their efforts to create a joint work that would quickly achieve repercussions. The strength of the chromatic variety of their first abstract embroideries...
Wool
Sold
H 1.18 in W 39.37 in D 55.51 in
Tapestry, "Geometrico" by Valdivino Alves Da Conceição, Brazil, 1960's, Wool
Located in PARIS, FR
With a dimension of 141 x 100 cm and developed with the artisanal technique of the "small dot", this tapestry by Brazilian artist Valdivino Alves da Co...
Wool