"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
Price Upon Request
"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric
Price Upon Request
"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
Fabric
Price Upon Request
"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
"Curva" Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
Fabric
Curva Armchair with Tubular Legs by Joaquim Tenreiro for Langenbach & Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
The Curva armchair stands as one of the most recognizable and sophisticated expressions of Brazilian Modern design, conceived in 1960 by Joaquim Tenreiro.
Metal
Joaquim Tenreiro, Vintage 'Curva' Sofa, 1950s, Brazil, Velvet
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Joaquim Tenreiro / Curva Sofa Velvet, Wood / Brazil, 1950s Matching Pair of Armchairs Available The Curva model, designed in the 1950s and produced in different variations through ...
Upholstery, Wood
Price Upon Request
Rare pair of "Curva" chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
Rare pair of "Curva" chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro.
Glass, Hardwood
Mid-Century Modern Curva Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This exquisitely crafted Rosewood Curved Chair With Stick Back, designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992), evokes a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aesthetics. It...
Cane, Rosewood
Curva Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This exquisitely crafted rosewood curved chair with stick back designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) in 1961/1962 evokes a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aes...
Cane, Rosewood
Joaquim Tenreiro, Pair of Vintage 'Curva' Armchairs, Velvet, 1950s, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Joaquim Tenreiro / Pair of Vintage 'Curva' Armchairs Wood, Velvet / Brazil, 1950s / Matching Sofa Available The Curva model, designed in the 1950s and produced in different variatio...
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-Century Modern "Curva" Chair by Brazilian Designer Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern "Curva" Chair by Brazilian Designer Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960's This stunning chair, designed circa 1960s by the great name of Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Design, ...
Hardwood
Pair of Curva Dining Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro. Two pairs available.
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Soho, London, GB
Set of 4 Curva dining chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro manufactured by Tenreiro Movèis & Decorações (circa 1960).
Cane, Wood
Authentic Curva Four-Seat Sofa by Joaquim Tenreiro in Hardwood, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Curitiba, PR
Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the early 1960s, the Curva sofa is among the most celebrated and sculptural examples of Brazilian modern furniture.
Hardwood
Joaquim Tenreiro (1906–1992) Pair of Cadeira Curva Chairs 1962
Located in CA, CA
Designed and produced in Brazil by Tenreiro Móveis & Decorações 1961-62, the Cadeira Curva chair by Joequin Tenreiro is regarded as a masterpiece of Brazilian Modernism.
Rosewood
Lounge Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1953
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This variation of the Curved Armchair (Poltrona Curva) softens Tenreiro’s geometric rigor with raw silk upholstery and gently rounded forms — a sculptural yet comfortable presence.
Upholstery, Rosewood
Joaquim Tenreiro Curva Sofa
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Joaquim Tenreiro was among the leading furniture designers and visual artists in mid-20th century Brazil. Tenreiro was born in Portugal into a family of woodworkers and carpenters. ...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Curva Armchairs
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Joaquim Tenreiro was among the leading furniture designers and visual artists in mid-20th century Brazil. Tenreiro was born in Portugal into a family of woodworkers and carpenters. ...
Fabric, Jacaranda
Unavailable
H 30.75 in W 21.5 in D 21 in
Pair of Curva chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern-Vintage 60'
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Houston, TX
Introducing the exquisite Brazilian modern 'curva' chairs, expertly crafted by the renowned artisan Joaquim Tenreiro in the vibrant era of the 1960s in Brazil.
Cane, Hardwood
Masterly Designed Pair of Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Milan, IT
Masterly designed pair of armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro “Cadeira Curva” Pair of armchairs in Ipe wood and cane.
Rosewood
Joaquim Tenreiro “Curva” Chairs, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Utrecht, NL
Joaquim Tenreiro was a sculptor, painter, engraver and designer, born into a family of joiners.
Cane, Wood
"Curva" Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Utrecht, NL
By the late 1940s, the modern movement had taken hold in Brazil, and Tenreiro’s pieces with a more modern sensibility, like these “Curva” or curved chairs, became increasingly popula...
Natural Fiber, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro Jacaranda Curva Cane Back Rocking Chair
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful curva cane back rocking chair. It is by the famed Brazilian designer Joaquim Tenreiro and made from jacaranda.
"Curva" Armchair, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Armchair curved armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro Shell-shaped seat wooden frame with fabric- upholstered padding and produced circa the 1960s, raised on tapered legs in Bra...
Velvet, Rosewood
Mid-Century 1960 Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Curva Lounge Set
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, GB
The Curva Lounge Set was designed in the 1960s for Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos.
Upholstery, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro Curva chairs set of 8 Brazil 1961
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Highly rare and sought after ‘Curva’ chairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro and manufactures by his own company Tenreiro Movèis & Decorações, Brazil 1961.
Cane, Rosewood
Sold
H 31.97 in W 19.85 in D 18.51 in
Curva Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This exquisitely crafted rosewood curved chair with stick back designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) in 1961/1962 evokes a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aes...
Cane, Rosewood
Pair of Brazilian Modern Cane Curva Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Houston, TX
Absolutely stunning pair of Brazilian wood and cane 'Curva' chairs by Brazilian designer, Joaquim Tenreiro.
Cane, Wood
Sold
H 26.38 in W 26.78 in L 26.38 in
Pair of "Curva" Armchair, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
A pair of curved armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro Shell-shaped seat wooden frame with fabric- upholstered padding and produced circa the 1960s, raised on tapered legs in Br...
Velvet, Rosewood
Sold
H 25.6 in W 32.29 in D 30.71 in
Authentic Pair of Curva Lounge Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Curitiba, PR
Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the early 1960s, the Curva lounge chair is one of the most iconic expressions of Brazilian modern design.
Hardwood
Sold
H 25.6 in W 92.52 in D 30.71 in
Authentic Curva Four-Seat Sofa by Joaquim Tenreiro in Hardwood, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Curitiba, PR
Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the early 1960s, the Curva sofa is among the most celebrated and sculptural examples of Brazilian modern furniture.
Hardwood
Joaquim Tenreiro Cadeiras Curva Dining Chairs
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brazilian modern 'curva' chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960s.
Cane, Jacaranda
Pair of Curva Dining Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Soho, London, GB
Pair of Curva dining chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro manufactured by Tenreiro Movèis & Decorações (circa 1960).
Cane, Walnut
Pair of "Curva" Armchair, attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
A pair of curved armchairs designed attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro Shell-shaped seat wooden frame in original condition, produced circa the 1960s, raised on tapered legs in Brazili...
Velvet, Rosewood
"Diz" Armchair in Hardwood by Sergio Rodrigues, 2001, Brazil
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in New York, NY
The lovely pair is in our showroom next to a Paulistana armchair by Jorge Zalszupin and Curva Sofa by Joaquim Tenreiro and the convo looks nothing less than spectacular!
Hardwood
Sofa Curva by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Sofa model "Curva", 4 seats Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos Brazil, 1950 Vintage wooden structure (also the armrests) with a shell shape line.
Mohair, Wood
Set of 6 "Cadeiras Curvas" by Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1958
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Paris, FR
Set of 6 curved-back chairs or "Cadeiras Curvas" in solid jacaranda and woven cane, designed by Joaquim Tenreiro and manufactured by Tenreiro Movéis e Decoraçoes, late 1950's.
Jacaranda, Cane
Joaquim Tenreiro Curva chair
Located in New York, NY
Rare imported Joaquim Tenreiro Curva chair Ca. 1955 hand made from solid Jacaranda wood, upholstered in a recent white ultra suede.
Pair of Joaquim Tenreiro Curva chairs
Located in New York, NY
Rare imported pair of Joaquim Tenreiro Curva chairs Ca. 1955 hand made from solid Jacaranda wood, upholstered in ultra suede.
Sofa Curva by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Sofa model "Curva", 4 seats Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos Brazil, 1950 Vintage wooden structure (as the armrests) with a shell shape line.
Mohair, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro "Curva" Armchair, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Houston, TX
This iconic large armchair attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro is a must in your home, recently handcrafted upholstered in blue velvet presents a very nice touch and display well in any r...
Ivory, Velvet
$143,000 / set
H 25.39 in W 32.08 in D 31.49 in
Mid-Century Modern Curved Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1948
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Designed in 1948, this pair of Curved Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro embodies the essence of Brazilian mid-century modern design. The soft, organic lines defining the sculptural form ...
Upholstery, Rosewood
$6,381 / set
H 31.5 in W 30.71 in D 27.56 in
Mid-Century Modern 802 Armchairs by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, 1950s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern 802 Armchairs by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, 1950s
Wood
Mid-Century Italian Velvet 3-seater Sofa, 1950's
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A mid-century italian designer sofa from the 1950’s. Upholstered in a maroon red velvet with an interesting angular design and splayed patinated brass legs. Beatifully shaped appeara...
Brass
$49,002 / set
H 30.32 in W 25.99 in D 28.75 in
Joaquim Tenreiro. Rare Pair of armchair "Leve", c. 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Joaquim Tenreiro (1906–1992) Pair of "Leve" Armchairs, c. 1950 An exceptional pair of *Leve* armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, one of the founding figures of Brazilian modern furniture...
Fabric, Hardwood
$6,837 / set
H 39.77 in W 34.26 in D 37.41 in
Pair of armchairs in the style of Gianfranco Frattini, Italy, 1950s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A pair of comfortable bergère armchairs in fabric and wood, upholstered in velvet, in the style of Gianfranco Frattini, Italian manufacture, 1950s. The elegance of the bergère armch...
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Marco Zanuso Lounge Chairs
By Marco Zanuso
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Marco Zanuso Mid Century Italian lounge chairs featuring brushed steel legs with brass feet. Chair upholstery has been professionally updated using a stylized shagreen white w...
Brass, Steel, Wrought Iron
Concha sofa by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Canapé concha by Joaquim Tenreiro circa 1950, La tapisserie n’est pas dans une belle condition.
Wool, Wood
$42,000 / set
H 25.01 in W 33.86 in D 33.86 in
Mid-Century Modern Cube Armchairs by Brazilian Designer Jorge Zalszupin, 1970s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous pair of Cube Armchairs is a statement for itself. The Cube collection is a creation by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020), designed c. 1970, and it still leaves us breathless....
Velvet, Wood
Rarissime paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Très rare paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro, l’assise en cuir clouté et la structure en caviuna. Cette paire de fauteuils, très rare sur le marché est une pièce majeure du des...
Leather, Rosewood
$11,965
H 40.56 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Armchair "Fiorenza" designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy.
By Franco Albini, Arflex
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Armchair "Fiorenza," designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy. A highly collectible model produced for only one year by Arflex. This stunning pair of armchairs features sc...
Fabric, Wood
Mid Century Italian Curved Sofa in Cotton Velvet, 1950s
Located in London, London
Italian Curved Sofa in Cotton Velvet, 1950s A beautifully proportioned Italian sofa dating from the 1950s, distinguished by its elegant sculptural form and refined organic lines. Th...
Velvet
$22,000
H 31 in W 91 in D 28 in
Sofa in Brazilian Rosewood and Camel Mohair by Móveis Provenzal, Brazil, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional example of Brazilian modernism from the golden era of furniture design, this rare sofa by Móveis Provenzal captures the quiet sophistication and architectural refineme...
Mohair, Rosewood
$5,925
H 30.71 in W 25.2 in D 30.32 in
Model 802 Armchair, Design by Carlo de Carli, by Cassina, Italy, 1954
By Cassina, Carlo di Carli
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Model 802 armchair - Design by Carlo de Carli, manufactured by Cassina, Italy, 1954. The wooden frame with foam upholstery rests on elastic ribbons. The armchair was reupholstered an...
Fabric, Bentwood
Rare Borsani pair of small nice shaped armchairs
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2561 ABV Borsani (1911-1985) Splendid pair of small nice shaped wooden armchairs upholstered and covered in fabric. ABV manufacture ca. 1940.
Fabric
$9,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 27 in W 34 in D 31 in
Pair of Percival Lafer MP-Series Lounge Chairs, Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in Oceanside, US
A rare and exceptional pair of lounge chairs designed by Percival Lafer for Lafer S.A. Indústria de Móveis, Brazil, circa 1970s. These sculptural chairs feature Lafer’s signature com...
Suede, Jacaranda
Bernard Govin, Sofa, Velvet, Wood, Italy, 1960s
By Bernard Govin, Saporiti
Located in High Point, NC
A brown beige velvet and dark-stained wood sofa, model Elliptique, designed by Bernard Govin and produced by Saporiti, Italy, c. 1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Di...
Velvet, Wood
Max Ingrand Sconces for Fontana Arte, 1955, Set of 2
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Max Ingrand sconces for Fontana Arte, glass and brass, Italy, 1955, set of two Designed in 1955 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, this rare pair of sconces exemplifies the poetic ele...
Brass
$36,000 / set
H 33 in W 17 in D 17 in
Set of 8 “MT 552” Dining Chairs in Rosewood & Cane, Geraldo de Barros, Brazil
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Among the defining achievements of early Brazilian Modernism, the MT 552 dining chair by Geraldo de Barros embodies a rare convergence of artistic rigor, industrial innovation, and a...
Cane, Rosewood
White Oak Dining Table, The Toko
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
This White Oak dining table - The Toko is made in the heart of Ohio with locally sourced wood. We use the table both as a dining table or desk. Each table is hand-made with solid whi...
Oak
Pair Italian Murano Sconces
By Mazzega
Located in Budapest, HU
Fantastic pair of vintage Murano wall sconce made by 6 Murano trasparent Six-Tier Felci for each applique in a chrome metal frame. Period:late xx century Dimensions: 18,50 inches hei...
Metal
$9,527 / item
H 19.69 in W 70.87 in D 27.56 in
Alexander and Jones Sunday Daybed in Oak & Cream Bouclé Handcrafted to Order
Located in Cirencester, England
The Sunday Daybed is a signature made-to-order piece by Alexander and Jones, handcrafted in our Cotswolds studio, UK, from sculpted solid oak with our signature wave form frame and c...
Bouclé, Oak, Fabric, Textile, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
$990 / item
H 18.5 in Dm 17.7 in
IDE Travertine Stone Side Table, 17.7Ø"x18.5"H - Accent, End Table, Coffee Table
Located in St Petersburg, US
IDE Table: a stunning piece that embodies the natural elegance of travertine stone. This table is crafted with precision and attention to detail, making it a unique addition to any ...
Travertine, Stone
$5,014 / item
H 27.56 in Dm 55.91 in
Orbitale Brass Chandelier 5 Rotating Balanced Arms, Stilnovo Style, Brass Shades
By Silvio Piattelli, Stilnovo
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This stunning bespoke brass chandelier is cleverly designed to work perfectly with lower ceilings. It features five rotating arms with a minimum height of 28 in. (70 cm). The arms ar...
Metal, Brass
$4,849 / item
H 56.11 in W 25.6 in D 19.1 in
Arcate sideboard, in Canaletto walnut by Accardibuccheri Medulum for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Il settimanale Arcate fa parte di una collezione esclusiva che include comodini e comò, ideata dal rinomato studio milanese Accardi Buccheri per il brand MEDULUM. La scocca, realizza...
Walnut
$6,267 / item
H 53.15 in W 53.15 in D 7.09 in
Murano Art Glass and Brass Midcentury Chandelier / Wall Light, 2000
Located in Roma, Lazio
Wonderful piece of Murano that can be mounted both as a wall lamp and as a ceiling chandelier. Particular and original applique from the Murano glass factory. The wall light/chandel...
Brass
$2,800 / set
H 17.5 in W 10.5 in D 6.5 in
Pair of Art Deco Style Murano Smoked Glass Wall Sconces, Italy Contemporary
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Art Deco style Murano smoked glass wall lights, contemporary Smoked / fume color and horizontal striation texture Black opaline finial and brass accents Art Deco inspired de...
Brass
$4,529 / set
H 43.31 in W 13.78 in D 15.75 in
Set of Three Sculptural solid Oak Bar Stools with Merino Wool seats France 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron, Pierre Chapo, Henning Kjærnulf, Rudolf Steiner
Located in Den Haag, NL
Set of Three Sculptural solid Oak bar stools with Merino Wool seats france 1960’s
Wool, Oak
$6,552 / item
H 5.91 in Dm 66.93 in
Murano Art Glass and Brass Midcentury Chandelier / Wall Light, 2000
Located in Roma, Lazio
Wonderful piece of Murano that can be mounted both as a wall lamp and as a ceiling chandelier. Particular and original applique from the Murano glass factory. The wall light/chandel...
Brass
$2,499 / item
H 57.48 in W 27.55 in D 0.98 in
Gio Ponti 'F.A. 33' Full Length Mirror in Brass for GUBI
By Gubi, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gio Ponti 'F.A. 33' Full Length Mirror in Brass for GUBI The 'F.A. 33' mirror was originally designed by Gio Ponti in 1933 for Fontana Arte, the period’s most prominent lamp, glass...
Brass
Severin Hansen Model 36 Walnut Desk 1958 - New Edition
By Severin Hansen
Located in London, England
Severin Hansen - Model 36 Desk, 1958 This is an official new edition of this iconic design from the 1950s. Now produced under license in Denmark. Severin Hansen’s Model 36 desk, de...
Walnut
$4,900 / set
H 13 in W 20.87 in D 17.33 in
Custom-Made 'Black' Galets by Stephane Ducatteu for Decoratum
By Stephane Ducatteau
Located in London, London
Custom-made 'Black' Galets Centre Table Metal Structure by Stephane Ducatteau, France 2007. Signed. All Ducatteau pieces are available exclusively from Decoratum and are To Order on...
Concrete, Steel
$675 / item


+ 2 moreH 52.96 in W 23.43 in D 18.9 in
Lightsome Floor Lamp, by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen from Warm Nordic
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Viby J, DK
A floor lamp with an elegantly shaped, wide shade by the grand master of 1950s Danish lighting design, Svend Aage Holm Sorensen. Lightsome is a sophisticated lamp perched gracefully ...
Steel
The Portugese-born furniture designer Joaquim Tenreiro was a pioneer of modernism in Brazil, where his work paved the way for the successes of such mid-20th-century design greats as Sergio Rodrigues, Jorge Zalszupin, and Lina Bo Bardi, an Italian-Brazilian architect whose futuristic São Paulo buildings are only part of her legacy.
Tenreiro’s vintage tables, chairs and storage cabinets are known for their simplicity of line and an elegance that is enhanced by the use of richly grained South American hardwoods such as jacaranda and imbuia.
Tenreiro’s father and grandfather were both master woodworkers, under whom he trained in the craft. He had artistic leanings and in the late 1920s enrolled as a university student at the School of Arts and Crafts in Rio de Janeiro, where he joined a group of upstart modernists protesting the staid, retrograde curriculum at the college. At the time, Brazil was culturally mired in a 19th-century mindset that was reflected in an upper-class preference for academic painting and reproduction furnishings in antique European styles. But the progressive spirit that Tenreiro and his colleagues fostered slowly gained force.
With the terms “lightness” and “functionality” as his bywords, Tenreiro opened a furniture-design business in 1943, where one of his first clients was the legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer. The arrival of Brazil’s first democratically elected government, in 1945, lent modernism official sanction, which culminated in the construction of the new capital, Brasília. Tenreiro eventually stepped away from design in the late 1960s to devote his time to sculpture and painting.
To appreciate how revolutionary Tenreiro’s work seemed, one must imagine the heavy, ornately carved, deeply varnished furniture that was the standard for top-end Brazilian interior design in the 1930s. Tenreiro’s chairs and sofas employed slender, softly angular frames that were only lightly stained to highlight the grains of the local woods. He preferred chairs and chaises with caned seats and backrests that “breathe” in the tropical climate, and as a carpenter and joiner he wanted to show off the beauty of Brazilian wood.
Two versions of a three-legged side chair introduced in 1947 serve as a veritable manifesto for a new age in Brazilian design: Using the stack-lamination technique, Tenreiro bonded together a gently contoured seat made of alternating layers of different-colored native woods to produce a magnificent stripe effect. These chairs, like all Tenreiro works, demonstrate the enduring power of simple design and superb construction — with a teaspoon of flair.
Find vintage Joaquim Tenreiro furniture on 1stDibs.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.