Brazilian Rosewood Bedroom Set

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.

Antique and vintage side chairs are space savers by design and wonderfully versatile pieces of seating for your dining room or wherever guests may gather.

Chairs have been indispensable pieces of furniture for a long time. We sit, therefore we deserve good seating. In Ancient Egypt, chairs were utilized in homes regardless of class, and most furniture was made of wood. Comfortable folding chairs, for example, were found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Chairs evolved to be more commonplace in the 1830s, and by the Industrial Revolution, they could be found in most homes. The traditional wooden side chair might feature an upholstered back and seat and was typically used for gathering around a big dining room table. Because the side chair does not feature armrests, it could easily be tucked under the table when not in use or delicately placed in a corner for decorative purposes. Today, the side chair’s slim silhouette and armless design still offer the same level of versatility as it did in its early days. It’s supportive of a large gathering for a meal in the dining room or kitchen and serves as an accent piece (or extra seating) resting against the wall in a living room or inviting foyer.

When shopping for side chairs, think about the colors and furniture style you’ve already introduced to your living room or dining room. Keep the height of your sofa in mind, for example. If you intend to pair your sofa with your side chair when it’s not perched near the dining table, it wouldn’t hurt if the height of your side chair matches the height of your sofa. Even if your side chair will largely be used in the kitchen or dining room, it will likely be used in the living room or home entertainment area as well. When you’re thinking about the seating where meals are served in your home, benches, stools and armchairs make suitable alternatives too. And if you’re feeling adventurous, combining a variety of dining room seating options can be both aesthetically pleasing and downright practical.

Side chairs are available in a number of styles today, and this convenient seating is one of the types of chairs you should know when furnishing your new home. Explore antique and vintage side chairs on 1stDibs. Find Art Deco side chairs and mid-century modern side chairs, or search by creator to find side chairs crafted by legendary designers like Charles and Ray Eames and others.