Who Are the Most Famous Brazilian Vintage Furniture Designers? The Ultimate Guide

Discover Brazilian design heritage through a consolidated list of the most famous Brazilian vintage furniture designers, especially those associated with mid-20th-century modernism. It is the period most collectors, researchers, and designers consider vintage in Brazilian design.

Their work is defined by clean lines, innovative use of local materials (especially hardwoods and cane), and a synthesis of European modernism with Brazilian culture and climate. These global references feature the most prestigious design lists and have created truly valuable collectable furniture. They preserve significant Brazilian design narratives through form, comfort, and texture.

Step into the world of Brazilian vintage furniture and explore carefully curated items that deep dive into Brazilian material culture and design.

Joaquim Tenreiro

Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) is a furniture designer, decorator, gallery founder, and a defining voice of Brazilian modernism. He transformed craftsmanship into a modern language rooted in place, material, and meaning. The permanent dialogue with innovation allows the past to resonate in the present and mix different layers of interpretation.

The furniture designer was born in Portugal and moved to Rio de Janeiro in the late 1920s. His exquisitely crafted pieces evoke a refined coexistence of traditional values and modern aesthetics.

From the Canapé sofa to curved armchairs, stylish bookshelves and caned chairs, Tenreiro collections are timeless and full of character. 

Oscar Niemeyer

Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012) was one of the key names in the development of modern architecture. Niemeyer has left a legacy of building icons all over Brazil, including the civic buildings in Brasilia.

However, he also designed iconic items such as the Praiana Chaise Lounge and the Rio Chaise Lounge. This last piece was inspired by the curves of Brazil's landscapes, making his pieces extensions of his buildings.

Jorge Zalszupin

Jorge Zalssuping (1922-2020) is a Polish-born Brazilian designer and founder of the L'atelier Móveis in São Paulo (1959). Born in Warsaw, Poland, Jorge immigrated to Brazil after World War II. His work as an architect created a demand for furniture proposals that suited the style of his projects, leading Zalszupin to design and execute them for his clients.

The 801 armchair and sofa series, the Commander chair, the Brasiliana series, and the Cube armchair and side table are iconic pieces designed by Jorge Zalszupin. These items highlight his commitment to light structures and elegantly comfortable cushions.

Much more than rationalising design, Zalszupin focused on acquiring and using new technologies and materials to make series production viable.

Sergio Rodrigues

Sergio Rodrigues (1927-2014): "The most Brazilian of designers," known for his "Mole" chair, "Diz" chair, and founding the Oca company, embodying the laid-back Brazilian spirit with natural materials and organic shapes.

Along with Joaquim Tenreiro and José Zanine Caldas, Rodrigues was the pioneer in transforming Brazilian design into industrial design and making it known worldwide. He translates the Brazilian soul into furniture, with a humorous feel. His timeless work is still alive through iconic pieces such as the Gio armchair, Cuiabá chair, and Navona sofa.

Zanine Caldas

Zanine Caldas (1919-2001): A sculptor and furniture designer, known for his innovative use of wood, from solid forms to his iconic chaise lounges.

For over 10 years, Zanine Caldas ran a workshop specialising in architectural scale models, where he developed over 500 models for top Brazilian architects, including Oscar Niemeyer and Lucio Costa. In 1949, Caldas created the Fábrica Moveis Artísticos Z to produce standardised plywood furniture for a wider public.

Denuncia dining chairs and the Denuncia Trunk Lounge Set are simple and elegant designs. These items are especially notable for their geometric design and organic form.

Geraldo de Barros

Geraldo de Barros (1908-1998): A pioneer of Brazilian modernism, known for exploring industrial materials such as chrome and steel in his versatile designs.

He founded the company Unilabor in 1954 with a Dominican priest and skilled tradesmen. Unilabor became one of the most important furniture companies in Brazil, but internal disputes led to its closure. De Barros then founded Hobjeto, another furniture design company, with Aloísio Bione in 1964.

Geraldo de Barros' furniture designs are known for their modernist style, clean lines, and use of materials such as wood, metal, and glass. He also incorporated elements of Brazilian culture and traditions into his designs.

Percival Lafer 

Percival Lafer (born in 1936) is one of Brazil’s most prolific mid-century designers. Lafer focused on bringing high-quality design to everyday life.

Although less known internationally than Rodrigues or Tenreiro, Lafer’s furniture defined Brazilian modernist interiors from the 1950s into the 1970s. Percival Lafer's iconic vintage pieces include lounge chairs and ottomans from the MP series.

The MP-91 armchair, designed by renowned Brazilian designer Percival Lafer in 1970, is an outstanding example of mid-century modern Brazilian craftsmanship. This armchair embodies the sophistication and authenticity of Brazilian modernism, showcasing the perfect harmony between craftsmanship, comfort, and timeless aesthetics.

Campana Brothers

The Campana Brothers are not usually mentioned as vintage furniture designers. However, Fernando and Humberto Campana already created singular pieces that are considered vintage.

Co-founded in 1984 by brothers Fernando (1961–2022) and Humberto (1953) Campana, the Campana studio has gained international recognition for its innovative furniture and experimental design.

One of Brazil’s foremost contemporary furniture designers, the Campana Brothers' studio includes showstopper collections with pieces that already have vintage editions. Their pieces are homages to Brazilian social and cultural traditions and entities. Among these are the country’s favelas.

By 1997, some of the Campanas’ pieces were being produced and sold in Italy, including the Edra Vermelha armchair, constructed of cord handwoven around a steel frame. In 1998, the brothers became the first Brazilian designers to have their work exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Conclusion

Brazilian vintage furniture designers of the mid-20th century established a distinctive and internationally respected design language.

By combining modernist principles with local materials, craftsmanship, and cultural context, they created furniture that is formally innovative and deeply connected to Brazil’s environment and way of life. Today, these designers remain vital to global design discourse.

Here is a summary table:

*Feature image from leva.studio. 2233 Walnut Avenue in Venice, California. Designed by Sebastian Mariscal.