Although best known for his photography, Geraldo de Barros was an important contributor to the canon of mid-century modern furniture design and was one of Brazil’s most influential multidisciplinary artists.
Born in 1923 in Chavantes, São Paulo, de Barros began his artistic career as a painter before discovering a passion for photography in the 1940s. In 1950, he found fame with his successful “Fotoformas” exhibition held at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, which led to a scholarship from the French government to study in that country.
In the early 1950s, de Barros traveled throughout Europe, including Switzerland, where he met Bauhaus graduate Max Bill. At the time, Bill was collaborating with the Scholl Foundation on developing a design institute in Ulm, Germany, that combined Bauhaus tradition with emerging technical elements in design practice. Bill invited de Barros to visit the institute, where he became influenced by Bill’s philosophy of Gute Form — the belief that carefully designed objects could bring artistic values into homes.
Upon his return to São Paulo, de Barros delved into furniture design. Along with engineer Justino Cardoso, metalworker Antônio Thereza, and a Dominican priest, Friar João Batista Pereira dos Santos, he founded the furniture company and Christian cooperative Unilabor, in 1954, on the outskirts of São Paulo.
As the firm’s chief designer, de Barros incorporated the concept of Concrete art into many of his pieces, particularly his armchairs. His dining room chairs, bookcases, coffee tables, cabinets and desks were also designed with straight lines, sobriety and functionality in mind and made with natural materials such as rosewood, jacaranda and iron. Given that it was more of a cooperative with a social mission than it was a manufacturer, Unilabor paid well and offered innovative modular furniture by way of de Barros-designed components that were produced serially to be used in the construction of complete furnishings.
Despite Unilabor’s success, the company ran into economic difficulties and eventually closed. Undaunted, de Barros founded another furniture company in 1964 — Hobjeto Indústria e Comércio de Móveis — where he focused on progressive furniture design with more geometric shapes.
During the 1960s, de Barros continued with furniture design and, as a painter, became interested in Pop art and abstract movements, founding influential groups such as Grupo 15, Galeria Rex and Grupo Ruptura.
In the 1990s, de Barros returned to his career as a photographer until his death in 1998. De Barros’s furniture was shown at several exhibitions during the 1950s and 1960s, including the Exposição Nacional de Arte Concreta in São Paulo in 1956 and the Konkrete Kunst exhibition in Zurich in 1960. His photographs and paintings have also been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Geraldo de Barros seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Set of 8 “MT 552” Dining Chairs in Rosewood & Cane, Geraldo de Barros, Brazil
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
Among the defining achievements of early Brazilian Modernism, the MT 552 dining chair by Geraldo de Barros embodies a rare convergence of artistic rigor, industrial innovation, and a...
Cane, Rosewood
Geraldo de Barros, Set of Six Rosewood Dining Chairs, Brazil, 1960s, Mid-Century
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Geraldo de Barros MT-552 Dining Chairs Set of Six Wood & Cane 1960s
Cane, Hardwood
Set of 6 mtf600 Chair, Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, Brazilian Midcentury, 1960s
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in New York, NY
Original Condition
Iron
Set of 6 Unilabor Chairs MT 552, Geraldo de Barros, 1960s, Brazilian Design
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This incredible set of six chairs designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor has a frame in solid rosewood with cane backrests and seats. Because it is a ...
Cane, Rosewood
Set of Four Rosewood Chairs Model 4015 by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, 1960
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This chair designed by Geraldo de Barros has a light structure in solid rosewood, a characteristic of Unilabor's production, which used fine shapes in its designs for better use of i...
Leather, Rosewood
Set of Six Chairs in Rosewood, Model 4015 by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, 1950s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in New York, NY
This chair designed by Geraldo de Barros has a light structure in solid rosewood, a characteristic of Unilabor's production, which used fine shapes in its designs for better use of i...
Leather, Rosewood
Set of Six Baby Pink "Shell" Chairs, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Six beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shells" produced by the Slupsk centre of Furniture Industry in the 1960s. They are after full renovation upholstery and carpentry....
Velvet, Beech
$18,000 / set
H 32.09 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Set of Brazilian Rosewood and Straw Dining Chairs. Brazilian Midcentury Design
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
The set of six Brazilian Mid-Century Modern dining chairs are made of rosewood (Jacaranda) and cane seat. The structure has a square section design with four feet, made in solid ros...
Straw, Rosewood
$16,000 / set
H 46.07 in W 17.13 in D 18.9 in
Dining Chairs in the Style of Vittorio Valabrega, 1950s, Set of 8
By Vittorio Valabrega
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Dining Chairs in the Style of Vittorio Valabrega, velvet and wood, Italy, 1950s, set of eight. These sculpted chairs recall the Art Deco Movement with their elegant shapes. The wood...
Wood, Velvet
$42,000 / set
H 36.62 in W 18.9 in D 21.26 in
Set of 10 Rosewood Dining Chairs, Celina Decorações, Brazilian Midcentury, 1960s
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous set is composed of ten chairs produced by the Brazilian company Celina Decorações in the 1960s. Chairs are made of solid Rosewood, with seats and backs upholstered with 100% Organic Silk fabric from our collection Bossa Fabrics. The restoration process followed historical references published in magazines from the period. Celina Decorações signed one of the most modern lines of Brazilian furniture in the 1960s. Based in Rio de Janeiro, the Celina Decorações factory imposed high-quality standards, maintaining handcrafted characteristics. With a color pallet rooted in natural shades, our Fabric collection tells a bit about Brazilian biodiversity through raw and natural materials and artisanal processes. This fabric color was made using Mango tree...
Wood, Silk
Set of 6 Unusual French 1960s Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of Six French Mid-Century Dining Chairs with tapered mahogany legs, a cut-out back and brass details. (end caps protection of back legs are removable)
Brass
$9,183
H 31.11 in W 19.49 in D 16.54 in
Set of Six Dining Chairs Made In Rosewood Model 79, Niels O. Møller From 1960s
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
This set of six dining chairs, known as Model 79, embodies the elegant design aesthetic of Danish furniture designer Niels O. Møller. Crafted from rosewood in Denmark during the 1960...
Rosewood
$3,256 / set
H 37.8 in W 18.51 in D 18.12 in
Set of Niels Koefoed Dining Chairs, Model "Lis", Rosewood, 1960s
By Koefoeds Møbelfabrik 1, Niels Koefoed
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of Niels Koefoed dining chairs made in solid rosewood. New upholstered in tan aniline leather. Model Lis, made by Niels Koefoeds Møbelfabrik Hornslet, 1960s.
Leather, Rosewood
Set of Four Yellow "Shell" Chairs, Poland, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Four beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shells" produced by the Slupsk centre of Furniture Industry in the 1960s. They are after full renovation upholstery and carpentry...
Velvet, Beech
$3,256 / set
H 33.47 in W 24.41 in D 19.69 in
Set of Four Midcentury Cesca Rattan Chairs, Marcel Breuer, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful midcentury rattan, velvet and wood chair. The wonderful and world-famous Cesca chair designed in the 1920s by Marcel Breuer. The Cesca chair is produced by, among other...
Beech, Rattan
$7,490 / set
H 31.5 in W 22.05 in D 20.48 in
Set of Four Model 65 Dining Chairs by Niels O. Møller 'Moller', Denmark, 1960s
By J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik, Niels Otto Møller
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A superb set of four N.O. Møller (Moller) model 65 dining chairs, in very good original condition, with original green wool fabric. Designed in 1962 for J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik, Den...
Wood
$6,979 / set
H 31.5 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Set of Ten Midcentury Light Bouclé Heart Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A set of 10 chairs type A5828. Colloquially called "heart". The furniture was designed by Helena and Jerzy Kurmanowicz. They were produced in Radomsko Woodworking Factory and we thoroughly renovated them. The construction is made of beechwood dyed with water stain brown. The chairs are protected with acrylic varnish with a satin glow. The upholstery fabric was produced in the Clean boo technology and has water-repellent properties. This means that the fabric limits the absorption of liquids. Spilled liquid on the surface will form balls. The chairs have undergone a complete carpentry and upholstery renovation. Seats covered with high-quality light bouclé fabric (color 01). ABRASION RESISTANCE Category A (60,000 cycles). We can prepare also smaller or bigger sets of 2, 4, 6, 12, 16 or more chairs in different wood and bouclé color...
Velvet, Beech
$7,444 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
Set of Eight MidCentury Butterfly Chairs, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Dining chair called "Butterfly" with dark brown walnut stained beech legs and fully upholstered seat and back in beautiful italian fabric. This chair can be customized to your specifications or COM. Wood, stain, finish, fabric and custom dimensions options are available. Check the last pictures with color samples. This is vintage chair after professional renovation. Designed in 1960s in Poland. About the fabric used in this option: A linen fabric, whose pictorial personality is defined by the printed reproduction of a 17th century design, which transforms into a contemporary tapestry to revive one of the noblest forms of the textile tradition, thanks to a modern-day sensitivity. An ideal solution for curtains or seating of medium-intensive use. Dedar Schwarzwald...
Fabric, Bouclé, Beech
Sold
H 33.47 in W 16.54 in D 19.49 in
Set of 8 Unilabor Chairs MT 552, Geraldo de Barros, 1960s, Brazilian Design
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in New York, NY
This incredible set of eight MT 552 chairs designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor has a frame in solid rosewood with cane backrests and seats. Because...
Cane, Rosewood
Sold
H 32.29 in W 15.36 in D 16.93 in
1950s Iron Chair by Geraldo de Barros for Unilabor, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This is the most common version of the Unilabor iron chair, an iconic piece of Brazilian Design. This chair has been repainted and had the feet caps polished but not lacquered. Nem f...
Iron
Sold
H 30.71 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Dining Chair in Jacaranda and Linen by Geraldo de Barros - Brazilian Modern
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Midcentury dining chair in jacaranda and linen by Geraldo de Barros - Brazilian Modern Furniture, circa 1964 first chair designed by Geraldo de Barros for Hobjeto manufacturer bi...
Linen, Jacaranda
Sold
H 33.08 in W 15.75 in D 16.93 in
1950s Brazilian Rosewood Chair for Unilabor by Geraldo de Barros, Brazil Modern
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
First chair designed and produced by Unilabor, a cooperative conceived and created by Geraldo de Barros. All solid Rosewood, great condition. Cotton linen fabric is new, has great ru...
Rosewood