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Pair of Percival Lafer MP-116 Modular Lounge Chairs in Original Tan Leather

$8,995per set
£6,817.17per set
€7,818.72per set
CA$12,567.72per set
A$13,710.70per set
CHF 7,271.88per set
MX$165,183.07per set
NOK 92,294.26per set
SEK 84,497.90per set
DKK 58,394.16per set

About the Item

A rare and thoroughly documented pair of Percival Lafer MP-116 modular lounge chairs, produced in Brazil in the early 1970s and presented in their original tan leather upholstery with solid Brazilian Jatobá wood frames. The chairs come directly from the original owner and are accompanied by an exceptional provenance set, including the 1973 Brazil Contempo sales receipt, a period catalog from the same retailer, unused original Lafer hardware packets, and a surviving factory label on the underside of one chair. These archival materials firmly link the pair to their date of purchase and represent a level of documentation seldom encountered with early Lafer seating. The MP-116 series is one of Lafer’s most sculptural and expressive designs. Each chair is composed of four individually upholstered cushion-blocks arranged in a clean 2×2 configuration that produces a low, architectural profile balanced by generous comfort. The cushion-block construction gives the chairs a distinctive visual rhythm, while the original tan leather displays the deep patina, creasing, and color variation characteristic of five decades of natural aging. One chair includes a small puncture in the leather, and both pieces exhibit areas where the upholstery has become fragile. Although they remain comfortable and structurally sound, reupholstery is recommended for long-term use. The frames and side stretchers are crafted from solid Brazilian Jatobá, a dense hardwood favored by Lafer for its strength, stability, and warm, reddish-brown tone. The Jatobá elements on these chairs remain in excellent original condition, retaining their clarity of grain and the elegant turning details associated with Lafer’s engineering-focused approach to furniture design. The wood plugs and collar elements are consistent with the original construction, and an unopened packet of new-old-stock Jatobá button-plug dowels is included with the pair. The new owner will receive a photocopy of the original 1973 sales receipt from Brazil Contempo, as well as a photocopy of the period catalog showing the same product line. These materials, together with the original label on one chair and the unused factory hardware, provide a rare and unusually complete provenance record for this model. Pairs of MP-116 lounge chairs rarely appear on the market, and examples supported by such substantial documentation are especially desirable to collectors of Brazilian modernism. The leather is original and heavily worn, with softening, discoloration, and areas of fragility. One chair has a couple of small holes. The internal structure is stable, and the chairs remain comfortable. The wood elements are in excellent original condition. One chair retains its original Percival Lafer label. A photocopy of the original sales receipt, a photocopy of the period catalog, and one sealed packet of original Lafer wooden dowel plugs will be included with the sale.
  • Creator:
    Percival Lafer (Designer)
  • Similar to:
    Sergio Rodrigues (Designer)De Sede (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 27 in (68.58 cm)Depth: 41.5 in (105.41 cm)Seat Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1973
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. leather is original and heavily worn, with softening, discoloration, and areas of fragility. One chair has a couple of small holes. The internal structure is stable, and the chairs remain comfortable. The wood elements are in excellent orig cond.
  • Seller Location:
    Chattanooga, TN
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2255347737672

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Percival Lafer MP-116 Modular Lounge Chair, Brazil 1970s Rare Set of 4 available
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An exceptional and increasingly scarce example of the Percival Lafer MP-116 modular lounge system, produced in Brazil in the 1970s and offered here as an individual seating unit. A total of four matching modules are available, an extremely rare occurrence for this model. Sets of this size, in this level of preservation, almost never reach the market. The MP-116 represents one of Lafer’s most sculptural and architecturally ambitious seating designs, defined by its distinctive pillow-block construction, deeply gathered leather upholstery, and the refined engineering that characterizes his most collectible work. Each module is crafted from four generously padded, individually upholstered leather blocks that create the sensuous, soft geometry that has made the MP-116 one of the most coveted designs of Lafer’s career. Upholstered in a rich, dark-chocolate leather, the cushions retain their fullness and tactile depth, presenting in very good original condition with the kind of surface character and luster that collectors seek. The frames are executed in solid Brazilian Jatobá hardwood, a dense, high-value tropical species noted for its strength and warm, glowing tonality. The timber displays exceptional grain clarity and remains in outstanding condition, underscoring the longevity and craftsmanship of this early production. The MP-116 was conceived as a genuinely forward-thinking modular system—far more sophisticated than most mid-century modular seating. A single unit makes a striking lounge chair with its sculptural massing and enveloping comfort, while multiple units can be combined into expansive sofas, balanced loveseats, long chaises, or asymmetrical compositions suited to contemporary architectural interiors. The ability to acquire four identical modules offers a level of design freedom, visual coherence, and spatial flexibility that is virtually impossible to source today. For designers and collectors working at a high level, this is an opportunity to build a complete, historically correct MP-116 suite. This listing is for one MP-116 lounge seat, though up to four matching pieces are available. The set comes directly from the original owner and is accompanied by photocopies of the 1973 Brazil Contempo...
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