Joaquim Tenreiro Curva Armchairs
About the Item
- Creator:Joaquim Tenreiro (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.38 in (67 cm)Width: 26.78 in (68 cm)Depth: 25.99 in (66 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Refinished. Reupholstered. Excellent vintage condition; recently restored and reupholstered; has no structural issues.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU9498237580502
Joaquim Tenreiro
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Joaquim Tenreiro Curva SofaBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in New York, NYJoaquim 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. In the late 1920s, he emigrated to Rio de Janeiro and began working for the firm of Laubisch Hirth...Category
Mid-20th Century Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Jacaranda
- 1950's Joaquim Tenreiro Rare Coffee TableBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in New York, NYJoaquim Tenreiro's coffee table stands as a rare and unique piece within the realm of mid-20th century Brazilian furniture design...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsGlass, Wood
- Martin Eisler Attribution Canr Brazilian ArmchairBy Martin EislerLocated in New York, NYCarlo Hauner (1927 — 1997) & Martin Eisler (1913 — 1977) Hauner & Eisler were the primary designers for the iconic Brazilian furniture company Forma – their work counts as one of th...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Jorge Zalszupin Dinamarquesa Pair of ArmchairsBy Jorge ZalszupinLocated in New York, NYJorge Zalszupin, a renowned Brazilian designer, left an indelible mark on the world of furniture with his distinctive style, characterized by a harmonious fusion of organic shapes an...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- 1972 'Kappa' Pair of Armchairs by François MonnetBy François MonnetLocated in New York, NYFrançois Monnet's 'Kappa' armchairs are unique and special due to their distinct combination of minimalist geometric design and practical functionality, reflecting the rich artistic ...Category
Vintage 1970s Armchairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- 1980's Philippe Starck 'J Lang' Armchairs, Signed « Aleph by Starck »By Philippe StarckLocated in New York, NYThe J Lang armchair, a striking creation by the esteemed Philippe Starck, captivates with its bold geometric design and understated elegance. Designed specifically for the private di...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Joaquim Tenreiro ArmchairBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in Washington, DCManufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos Brasil, 1954 Measurements 86 cm x 76 cm x 83 H cm 34 in x 30 in x 32.5 H in Provenance Private collection...Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Armchair by Joaquim TenreiroBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in Barcelona, ESArmchair Manufactured by Joaquim Tenreiro Brazil, 1954 Peroba wood and leather upholstery Measurements 61x53x42hcm|24x21x16,5hinCategory
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery
- Curva Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury DesignBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in New York, NYThis 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...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsCane, Rosewood
- Tenreiro Armchair with Rosewood Frame by Joaquim TenreiroBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in Houston, TXIconic and timeless armchair designed by J Tenreiro is now available with beautiful caramel leather cushions. It was restored and now it's ready to use. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Upholstery, Hardwood, Rosewood
- Joaquim Tenreiro, Pair of Armchairs, 1950By Joaquim TenreiroLocated in Barcelona, ESPair of armchairs Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos Brasil, 1950 Upholstery, jacaranda legs Measurements: 67 cm x 89 cm x 73 H cm 26.38 in x 35.04 in x 228.75 H in...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Armchairs
MaterialsJacaranda
- Canape Armchairs attributed to Joaquim TenreiroBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in Houston, TXThe iconic and timeless armchair designed attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro is now available with a beautiful cane. It was restored and now it's ready to use. P.S. Colors may vary. T...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsCane, Hardwood