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Forma Armchairs

Brazilian

Forma stands at the forefront of a revival of Brazilian modern furniture. Fashioned from high-grade regionally sourced hardwoods, leather and iron, even Forma's earliest creations have stood the test of time. The company’s alluring mid-century modern works appealed to homeowners at its peak, from the 1950s through the ’70s, and given the broadening interest in Brazilian furniture and the likes of designers such as Sérgio Rodrigues, vintage Forma is making a major comeback today. 

Forma began in São Paulo, under the leadership of Italian designer Carlo Hauner and Austrian architect and interior designer Martin Eisler. Hauner studied drawing and technical drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan. After participating in the Venice Biennale, he emigrated to São Paulo, where he established the furniture manufacturer Móveis Artesanal, for which Carlo and Martin — as well as Carlo’s brother Ernesto Hauner — would create a range of pieces for the home.

In 1936, Eisler earned a degree in architecture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he studied under Oskar Strnad and Clemens Holzmeister. With World War II looming, he left Austria immediately after graduating. He first went to Czechoslovakia, to which some of his family had already fled. In 1938, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and opened his interior design firm Interieur Forma.

Eisler relocated to Brazil in the early 1950s, where he met Hauner. At the time, Eisler had been looking for help producing furniture for his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf, and contacted Hauner. The two found that they had a shared vision, and with financial help from Wolf, they opened Galeria Artesanal as a storefront for Móveis Artesanal.

Looking to expand into international sales, the duo rebranded the company Forma. Sérgio Rodrigues, who helped launch a branch of Artesanal in Curitiba, was put in charge of interiors at Forma. That company soon became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture — it sold its own sculptural rattan lounge chairs, bookcases and other case pieces crafted with rosewood or jacaranda, and Forma was eventually distributing furniture licensed from iconic American manufacturer Knoll, thereby bringing works by noted designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian market.

The Forma furniture company continued producing masterfully crafted furniture into the 1970s, until Eisler's death in 1977. Forma folded soon after, but Eisler's company in Argentina, Interieur Forma, is still in business today. 

Find vintage Forma seating, tables and storage pieces for sale on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Forma
Safari Armchairs by Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1970s, set of 2
Safari Armchairs by Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1970s, set of 2

Safari Armchairs by Carlo Hauner for Forma, 1970s, set of 2

By Carlo Hauner, Forma

Located in bruxelles, BE

Pair of cognac leather and wood armchairs by Carlo Hauner. Seat height: 25 cm. Wear due to age and use. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Forma Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Carlo Hauner. Pair of "Concha" armchairs, c. 1950. Metal and fabric
Carlo Hauner. Pair of "Concha" armchairs, c. 1950. Metal and fabric

Carlo Hauner. Pair of "Concha" armchairs, c. 1950. Metal and fabric

By Carlo Hauner, Forma

Located in PARIS, FR

Carlo Hauner (1927-1996) Pair of "Concha" Armchairs, c. 1950 Metal and fabric Dimensions: 78 x 62 x 78 cm (30 71/100 x 24 41/100 x 30 71/100 in) This pair of iconic "Concha" ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Forma Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Armchair in Metal and Wood with ebony finish, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950
Armchair in Metal and Wood with ebony finish, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950

Armchair in Metal and Wood with ebony finish, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1950

By Carlo Hauner, Forma

Located in New York, NY

Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for their company Forma, this armchair reflects a pivotal moment in Brazilian modernism during the country’s mid-century industrial expansi...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Forma Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Iron

Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner  Modern Sofa & Armchairs Lounge Set, 1950s
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner  Modern Sofa & Armchairs Lounge Set, 1950s

Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Sofa & Armchairs Lounge Set, 1950s

By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler

Located in Whitstable, GB

Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler midcentury sofa and armchairs; 1950s Sofa designed for their manufacturing company, Forma around 1955. This model is an icon of Brazilian midcentury design and was used to illustrate some advertisements for Forma in the 1950s. We offer the set of sofa and matching armchairs. They are stunning together. The set has been newly reupholstered in beautiful blue velvet, feet in imbuia wood, lacquered finish. Sofa Dimensions: H28.35, W76.78, D30.32 in H72, W195, D77 cm Armchairs Dimenions: H 28.35, W30.32, D30.32 in H72, W77, D77 cm The creative duo were the leading designers behind the Brazilian furniture company Forma, and produced many celebrated pieces of Brazilian midcentury design. Martin Eisler (1913-1977) was born in Vienna, and studied architecture in his country. Eisler left Europe in 1938 due to the rise of fascist regimes. He first lived in Buenos Aires, where he settled and worked as an architect and designer. There here...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Forma Armchairs

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Velvet, Hardwood

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Armchair by Forma, Iron Frame, Red Rope
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Armchair by Forma, Iron Frame, Red Rope

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Armchair by Forma, Iron Frame, Red Rope

By Forma

Located in New York, NY

A refined expression of Brazilian mid-century experimentation, this 1950s armchair by Forma was originally conceived for outdoor use—where industrial materials met open-air living. T...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Forma Armchairs

Materials

Iron

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Forma armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Forma armchairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Forma armchairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original armchairs by Forma 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 Branco & Preto, Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, and Percival Lafer. Prices for Forma armchairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $5,391 and can go as high as $26,813, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,492.