Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Brazilian, Portuguese, 1906-1992
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.
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Creator: Joaquim Tenreiro
Scarce set of Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Incroyable série de quatre fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro,
Incroyable dessin et délicatesse des lignes.
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Wicker, Imbuia
$71,810 / set
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...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Rare et très élégante paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro, vers 1950.
Edité par Tenreiro moveis e decoracoes.
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Rattan, Imbuia
$61,756 / set
Brazilian Modern Armchair in Hardwood
Mohair, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This model, called "Concha" (which means "Shell" in Portuguese) and designed by Joaquim Tenreiro, features a hardwood frame upholstered in teal mohair. Four slender, toothpick-like l...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Mohair
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 ...
Category
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Rosewood
Pair of armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Jolie paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro, retapissé en velours bleu
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Imbuia
$22,979 / set
Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1950s, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
In the 1950s, most high-end furniture was custom-made upon special request for wealthy patrons. This holds for this pair of armchairs, originally from a private residence in Teresópo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood, Fabric
Pair of Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern, 1964
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A variation of Tenreiro’s celebrated curved armchairs, this 1960s piece refines the form into a more compact, architectural volume. The softened geometry of the arms and backrest emb...
Category
1860s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Antique Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Rosewood
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...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Scarce pair of armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Rare paire de fauteuils par Joaquim Tenreiro en cuir et imbuia massif !
Très belle qualité d’assemblage
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
$53,857 / set
Mid-Century Modern Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960s
Armchair with metal frame and white suede upholstery.
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Leve Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Midcentury Brazilian, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
A prolific and gifted designer, Joaquim Tenreiro (1906–1992) masterfully laid the groundwork for modern living in Brazil through his furniture and interiors. Born in Portugal and tra...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Pair of Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1955
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A rare, deconstructed version of the Banco de Tronco loveseat. These standalone chairs retain the same primal
language — blocky forms, refined joinery — and highlight Tenreiro’s scul...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Rosewood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Pair of Mid-Century Modern armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil 1960s
This pair of square armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro is a stunning examp...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Plywood
Brazilian Mid Century Armchairs in Hardwood
Caning, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian pair of armchairs in Rosewood
Caning by Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1950s, is nothing less than ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood, Cane
$14,400 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Joaquim Tenreiro, Pair of "Concha" Armchairs, Solid Wood and Fabric. c. 1955
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in PARIS, FR
Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992)
Pair of "Concha" Armchairs, 1955
Solid wood and cotton fabric (Donatelli Publisher - Brazil)
73 x 80 x 70 cm
28 37/50 x 31 1/2 x 27 14/25 in
This model,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Hardwood
Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood
Grey Velvet by Joaquim Tenreiro Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available right now, this very Brazilian Modern armchair pair in hardwood and gray suede designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the sixties is gorgeous!
The model is called “Concha” (Shell in Portuguese). The armchairs feature a hardwood structure upholstered in gray velvet and four toothpick legs. The back (the “shell”) is curved and ends in the arm rests.
What makes these armchairs so special is the beautiful design iconic from Joaquim Tenreiro (Publications attached also). The original upholstery was also suede so we decided to do something similar.
The furniture set photo showcases the armchairs with the matching “Concha” sofa (sold separately) and a Jean Gillon Rodeio...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Ultrasuede, Hardwood
Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Solid Cabreuva, Midcentury, Brazil, 1950s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Set with 6 dining chair with a delicately curved seat.
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Leve”, Brasil, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs model “Leve”
Manufactured by Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda
Brasil, 1942
Jacaranda, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona
M...
Category
1940s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Jacaranda
Brazilian Modern Armchairs in Hardwood
Chenille by Joaquim Tenreiro 1958
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this Mid-Century Modern armchairs in hardwood
chenille by Joaquim Tenreiro are gorgeous!
These elegant low armchairs consist of a hardwood structure with re-upholstered loose cushions. Besides the small marks of time, the piece is in excellent condition. Also, very comfortable.
Owning a piece designed by Joaquim Tenreiro is not just about acquiring a beautiful piece of furniture; it's also about possessing a part of Brazilian design history and culture. These set is a testament to Tenreiro's futuristic vision about Modernism and it would make an excellent addition to any interior space that values and appreciates the significance of this design.
This model is called “L-shape” and is a great example of Tenreiro’s modernistic approach towards simplifying shapes, contrary to elaborate European standards, still in fashion during the fifties in Brazil. He achieves this by using rectangular shapes and no armrest...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Linen, Hardwood
$23,100 Sale Price
30% Off
Iconic Leve Armchair in Pau Marfim, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1942, Midcentury Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
The Leve armchair is one of the fundamental pieces in Brazilian Modern design history. Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) in 1942, it is considered...
Category
1940s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Rosewood
Pair of L-Shaped Armchair, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960s, Midcentury Brazilian Modern
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
This pair of armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) around 1958 is an example of the reductiveness of forms explored by the artist and designer, achieved by using rectangular shapes and no armrests...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Rosewood, Fabric
Joaquim Tenreiro Armchair
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Washington, DC
Manufactured 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 Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
$5,480 Sale Price
20% Off
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...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Rosewood
Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Armchair
Manufactured by Joaquim Tenreiro
Brazil, 1954 Peroba wood and leather upholstery
Measurements
61x53x42hcm24x21x16,5hin
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
$19,149
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Leve”, Brasil, 1942
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs model “Leve”
Manufactured by Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda
Brasil, 1942
Jacaranda, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona
M...
Category
1940s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Single Armchair Model “Redonda”, Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Single armchair model “Redonda”
Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçoes
Brasil, 1950
Jacaranda wood, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelo...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Jacaranda
Joaquim Tenreiro Pair of Armchairs Model “Concha” Brasil, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs model “Concha”
Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos
Brasil, 1950
Pau marfim wood, upholstery
From the archives of Side Gallery, Barce...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Joaquim Tenreiro, Pair of Armchairs, 1950
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair 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
1950s Brazilian Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Jacaranda
$17,234 / set
Pair of Armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Softly contoured and impeccably balanced, this pair of curved armchairs reflects Joaquim Tenreiro’s mature phase, when comfort and sculptural form reached perfect harmony. The envelo...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Rosewood
White Armchair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1948
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A study in lightness and rhythm, this iron-framed armchair (Poltrona Brana) features a corded backrest and white
leather cushions. It captures Tenreiro’s signature balance between st...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Iron
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...
Category
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Rosewood
Curva Armchair with Tubular Legs in Boucle, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Introducing the iconic Curva armchair, originally conceived in the 1960s by the renowned Joaquim Tenreiro for Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos. This timeless piece masterfully blends wid...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Brazilian Modern Pair of Concha Armchairs in Green Suede, Joaquim Tenreiro, 1960
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Available today, with domestic shipping in the NYC metro area included, this Brazilian Modern Pair of Concha Armchairs in Green Suede, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1960s, is nothing less tha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Suede, Hardwood
Mid-Century Modern Armchair Set in Metal and Suede by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazil
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
These armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro are nothing less than specatcular.
The structure of these two chairs is made with painted tubular metal. It features a mustard suede upholstery. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Metal
$22,500 Sale Price
25% Off
Manta Solta Armchairs, Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazilian Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Radical in concept and precise in execution, the Manta Solta set embodies Joaquim Tenreiro’s disruptive vision for modern furniture design in mid-20th-century Brazil. Crafted in 1955...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Price Upon Request
Pair of Armchairs by Joaquim Tenrei
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in London, England
Iconic armchairs designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in 1958.
These armchairs have been sourced directly from a private collection in Rio de Janeiro.
Photos of them in their original ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Joaquim Tenreiro Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Hardwood
Price Upon Request
Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro were created in the mid-century modern style in south america during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, José Zanine Caldas, and Percival Lafer. Prices for Joaquim Tenreiro armchairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,850 and can go as high as $38,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $21,800.
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