Three Mid-Century Modern Hardwood & Cane Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1950 Brazil

Available today, this exquisite Mid-Century Modern Armchairs in Hardwood & Cane, designed by Joaquim Tenreiro are exquisite! The boldness of the high-quality Jacaranda wood is eased by the cane backpiece, giving it a light and adaptable feel.

During the restoration process, the three chairs where dissembled to understand their condition and to restore them following Tenreiro’s technique. After reinforcing the structure, the wood was refinished and besides the marks of age, the chairs are in excellent condition. The handwoven cane is new and of the finest quality. Sold as set of three.

This set would look wonderful in any mid-century modern, modern farmhouse or contemporary environment. The chairs, while vintage and modern in nature, could also be used as more transitional pieces with a more traditional environment.

About the author: Joaquim Tenreiro (1906–1992) was among the leading furniture designers and visual artists in mid-20th century Brazil. Tenreiro was born in Melo, Gouveia Municipality, 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.

In the early 1940s, Tenreiro was among the first designers in the Brazilian furniture industry to adopt a European modernist vernacular. His initial efforts, including the 1942 "Poltrona Leve," met with considerable success, and in 1943 he established his own firm with factories in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. However, it was not until the 1950s that he began to be recognized as a master furniture designer in Brazil. His design philosophy found a great response with architects who supported modernism.

About Brazilian rosewood, also called Jacaranda, is perhaps one of the most beautiful woods in the world. It is regarded as one of the finest tone woods; hard, stiff, and highly resonant with a glass-like ring that sustains; it has a floral scent, like roses, thus the name.

However, extensive overlogging over the past three centuries has virtually eliminated this tree from the Brazilian forests, so that today it is not supposed to be logged. The only material that can be sold legally is old stock. By owning a vintage piece made of old Jacaranda, you’re not only getting a beautiful collectible but also helping this species to recuperate.

Size: H45, W45, D80, SH43.2 (cm) H17.7, W17.7, D31.5, SH17 (in)