Brazilian Modern Armchair Set in Hardwood & Burgundy Fabric by Forma, 1950’s
About the Item
- Creator:Forma Brazil (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.7 in (77.98 cm)Width: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Depth: 22.8 in (57.92 cm)Seat Height: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:c. 1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Good. Wood has been refinished and upholstery is new.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
Forma Brazil
Forma stands at the forefront of a revival of Brazilian modern furniture. Fashioned from high-grade regionally sourced hardwoods, leather and iron, even Forma's earliest creations have stood the test of time. The company’s alluring mid-century modern works appealed to homeowners at its peak, from the 1950s through the ’70s, and given the broadening interest in Brazilian furniture and the likes of designers such as Sérgio Rodrigues, vintage Forma is making a major comeback today.
Forma began in São Paulo, under the leadership of Italian designer Carlo Hauner and Austrian architect and interior designer Martin Eisler. Hauner studied drawing and technical drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan. After participating in the Venice Biennale, he emigrated to São Paulo, where he established the furniture manufacturer Móveis Artesanal, for which Carlo and Martin — as well as Carlo’s brother Ernesto Hauner — would create a range of pieces for the home.
In 1936, Eisler earned a degree in architecture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he studied under Oskar Strnad and Clemens Holzmeister. With World War II looming, he left Austria immediately after graduating. He first went to Czechoslovakia, to which some of his family had already fled. In 1938, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and opened his interior design firm Interieur Forma.
Eisler relocated to Brazil in the early 1950s, where he met Hauner. At the time, Eisler had been looking for help producing furniture for his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf, and contacted Hauner. The two found that they had a shared vision, and with financial help from Wolf, they opened Galeria Artesanal as a storefront for Móveis Artesanal.
Looking to expand into international sales, the duo rebranded the company Forma. Sérgio Rodrigues, who helped launch a branch of Artesanal in Curitiba, was put in charge of interiors at Forma. That company soon became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture — it sold its own sculptural rattan lounge chairs, bookcases and other case pieces crafted with rosewood or jacaranda, and Forma was eventually distributing furniture licensed from iconic American manufacturer Knoll, thereby bringing works by noted designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian market.
The Forma furniture company continued producing masterfully crafted furniture into the 1970s, until Eisler's death in 1977. Forma folded soon after, but Eisler's company in Argentina, Interieur Forma, is still in business today.
On 1stDibs, explore Forma seating, tables and storage pieces.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 1950's Brazilian Modern Armchair in Hardwood & Fabric by Giuseppe ScapinelliBy Giuseppe ScapinelliLocated in New York, NYAvailable today, this mid-century modern armchair by Giuseppe Scapinelli is absolutely gorgeous! The armchair features a caviuna wood structure with curved arms, toothpick legs, and ...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsHardwood
- Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Brown Fabric, Jorge Zalszupin, c. 1950sBy Jorge ZalszupinLocated in New York, NYAvailable today in NYC with free domestic shipping included, these Pair of Armchairs in Hardwood and Brown Fabric, by Jorge Zalszupin made in the fifties in Brazil are nothing less t...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Hardwood
- Mid-Century Modern Armchair in Hardwood & Grey Fabric, Scapinelli, 1950’s BrazilBy Giuseppe ScapinelliLocated in New York, NYAvailable today, this sculptural Mid-Century Modern armchair in hardwood and grey fabric by Giuseppe Scapinelli made in the fifties is absolutely gorgeous! The vintage armchair is...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Hardwood, Ebony
- Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Cane by John Graz, 1950s, BrazilBy John GrazLocated in New York, NYAvailable today, these fabulous Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Cane designed by John Graz in the fifties are THE FIND of the year. ...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsCane, Hardwood, Wood
- Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Fabric, Michel Arnoult, 1960sBy Michel ArnoultLocated in New York, NYAvailable today this Brazilian Modern Armchairs made in Hardwood & Fabric desgned by Michel Arnoult, 1960s are nothing less than spectacular! They were designed in the 1960’s and ar...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Nylon, Hardwood
- Brazilian Modern Credenza in Caviuna Hardwood by Forma Moveis, 1960’s, BrazilBy Forma BrazilLocated in New York, NYAvailable today, this magnificent Mid-Century Modern Credenza in Caviuna Hardwood designed by Forma Moveis in Brazil during the sixties decade is absolutely gorgeous! The piece is e...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsHardwood
- Pair of Brazilian Armchairs with Wood Base by Forma, 1960sBy Forma BrazilLocated in Sao Paulo, SPWe work with artisans who masterfully restore typical pieces from each period of our history, valuing their different preservation techniques. Teamwork has built this pioneering comp...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood
- Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Brazilian Large Armchair White fabric metalBy Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin EislerLocated in Barcelona, ESMartin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Armchair, part of set with sofa Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1950s Black painted metal, fabric upholstery Measur...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Brazilian Modern Armchair in Iron & Hardwood, Designed by Carlo HaunerBy Carlo HaunerLocated in Sao Paulo, SPBrazilian Mid-Century Modern Iron and Caviúna hardwood armchair, designed by Carlo Hauner for Móveis Artesanal, circa 1952. This light armchair has b...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Rodeio Armchair, by Jean Gillon in Hardwood. Brazilian Midcentury ModernBy Jean GillonLocated in Sao Paulo, SPThe Rodeio armchair is an iconic piece that perfectly represents the main characteristics of Brazilian design as a school. It is one of the most outstanding creations of Jean Gillon,...Category
Early 20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsJacaranda
- Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Brazilian Pair of Low Armchairs White FabricBy Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin EislerLocated in Barcelona, ESMartin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Pair of low armchairs Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1950s Black painted metal, fabric upholstery. Measurements 70 cm x 53 cm x 71 H cm. 27.5 in x 21 in x 28 H in. Literature Brazil Modern, the rediscovery of 20th century Brazilian furniture – Aric Chen, 2016. Martin Eisler (Vienna, Austria, 1913 - São Paulo, Brazil, 1977), was an architect and furniture designer. He was part of a group of European architects and designers who left Europe during the chaos of the Second World War and went to live and work in Brazil. Eisler stood out amongst this group of creatives, his work was at the forefront of modern furniture design in Brazil which flourished through the 50s and 60s in the region. The work of Martin Eisler in partnership with Carlo Hauner (1927-1996) was of particular significance. Eisler left Europe in 1938 due to the rise of fascist regimes. He first lived in Argentina, where he was settled and worked as an architect, set designer and interior designer, he opened up an interior design firm Interieur Forma. In 1940, he married Rosl Wolf, the daughter of German immigrants. Born in Brescia in 1927, Carlo Hauner studied technical drawing and drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan, Italy. In 1948 he successfully participated in the Venice Biennale after which he moved to Brazil, where he dedicated himself to the design of textile, ceramics, furniture and architecture. In only a very short time he founded a furniture production company and purchased a factory from Lina Bo Bardi and her husband Pietro Bardi, renaming it Móveis Artesanal. In 1953 Hauner met Martin Eisler, who was looking for help to produce furniture for the home of his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf. Eisler reached out to Hauner and the rest is history. The two men connected and with Wolf’s financial backing, they opened Galeria Artesanal (a store for their company Móveis Artesenal) on a busy street in São Paulo. Being highly ambitious and with an eye on the international market as well as the upcoming office market, Móvies Artesanal later changed into Forma. Along with Oca, Forma became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture production. Even managing to attract an exclusive license to sell Knoll furniture, bringing big names in international design such as Mies Van Der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian furniture market. Hauner and Eisler’s designs are characterized by the use of Brazilian woods, thin tubular frames and a range from furniture, to ceramics and textiles. Some of their most famous designs are the “rib” lounge chair...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Brazilian Pair of Scissor Armchairs in Brazilian HardwoodLocated in Waalwijk, NLPair of scissor armchairs, Brazilian hardwood and fabric, Brazil, circa 1950 These exceptionally rare armchairs from Brazil embraces the quintessential Brazilian ethos of the 1950s. The design bears the beauty of Brazil's natural environment through its raw, constructive layout and the skillful use of a local, solid wooden material. The construction is marked by well-defined geometry, logical proportions, and visible constructivist elements. Characterized by simplicity, clarity and absence of ornamentation, this framework is exemplary of architectural minimalism. Upholstered in a delicate patterned fabric in green and white, it beautifully complements the wooden elements. The material use, woodworking, and the overall composition strongly resemblance the designs by Studio de Arte Palma, co-founded by Lina Bo Bardi, Pietro Maria Bardi, and Giancarlo Palanti...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Hardwood