Just as emigrant Europeans — from Kem Weber and Paul Frankl to Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe — helped establish modernist design and architecture in the United States, so too did many of their peers foster the new design aesthetic in Brazil in the middle decades of the 20th century. Along with architect Lina Bo Bardi (from Italy) and Joaquim Tenreiro (from Portugal) — both of whom helped popularize Brazilian modern design and influenced today's generation of Brazilian designers — there was Jorge Zalszupin, who arrived from Poland in 1949 and created consistently sleek and elegant chairs, tables and case pieces using the South American country’s vibrantly grained tropical hardwoods.
Zalszupin was born in Warsaw (his given first name is Jerzy) and went on to study architecture at the École des Beaux Arts in Bucharest, Romania, graduating in 1945. Zalszupin moved to Paris but found few opportunities in the postwar City of Light. He was impressed by articles on the work of Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer that he saw in the André Bloc–edited magazine L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui (Architecture Today). And after sailing to South America, Zalszupin went to work with his fellow Pole and architect Luciano Korngold in São Paulo. Zalszupin began designing furniture as part of his architectural commissions and created several pieces for Niemeyer for use in the new capital city, Brasília. He opened his own design and manufacturing firm, L’Atelier, in 1959.
While Zalszupin cannot be said to have had a signature style, his furniture designs all share a characteristic simplicity and purity of line and form. His work is often compared to that of Danish designers, most especially in their shared commitment to quality construction. He was a master of many materials: travertine marble for tabletops, slung leather for seating, man-made fabrics for upholstery and — his forte — highly figured woods such as jacaranda and rosewood. The latter plays prominently in two of Zalszupin’s best-known lounge chairs: the Brasiliana, with its austere, angular wood frame, and the Presidencial, with its curved seating shell and slatted backrest. Both chairs feature deep cushions and generous proportions in deference to the Brazilian proclivity for long and languid conversations. Yet both pieces — like all Zalszupin designs — possess a striking, tailored grace that would be perfect in any environment.
Find vintage Jorge Zalszupin furniture on 1stDibs.
Jorge Zalszupin, Console Table, Rosewood, Brazil, 1970s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in High Point, NC
A rosewood console table designed by Jorge Zalszupin and produced by L'Atelier, Brazil, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 27.75"H x 33.125"W x 17.75"D All items ship from High Po...
Rosewood
Jorge Zalszupin, Console Table, Rosewood, Brazil, 1975
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in High Point, NC
A rosewood console table designed by Jorge Zalszupin and produced by L'Atelier, Brazil, 1975. Overall Dimensions (inches): 27.5"H x 44.375"W x 17.875"D All items ship from High Poi...
Rosewood
$8,138Sale Price|20% Off
Jorge Zalszupin For L'atelier, Brazil, 1960s Imbuia Console
By L'Atelier San Paulo, Jorge Zalszupin
Located in London, GB
An original 1960s L'atelier console table designed by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil. This versatile console table also works as a small desk. It has his iconic patchwork pattern Imbuia wo...
Imbuia
$14,537Sale Price|30% Off
H 11.82 in Dm 51.19 in
Jorge Zalszupin - rare Pétala table L'Atelier, Brazil 1959, original label
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Immenstaad am Bodensee, DE
Delicate and sophisticated, the Pétala CoffeeTable is one of Jorge Zalszupin's most famous pieces. The curvature, which defies wood structures, is brilliantly reminiscent of the peta...
Iron
Jorge Zalszupin, Side Table, Cavuina, Formica, Brazil, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in High Point, NC
A caviuna wood, metal and white formica side table designed by Jorge Zalszupin and produced for Hotel Nacional, 1960s. With a metal plate indicating the commission. Dimensions: 29...
Formica, Wood
$69,000
H 29.5 in W 159 in D 63 in
Jorge Zalszupin, Large Dining Table, Imbuia, Leather, Concrete, Brazil, 1960s
By L'Atelier San Paulo, Jorge Zalszupin
Located in High Point, NC
A large Imbuia and leather over concrete 'Guanabara' dining or conference table designed by Jorge Zalszupin and produced by L'Atelier, Brazil, c. 1960s.
Concrete, Metal
$60,200
H 29.53 in W 49.22 in D 76.78 in
Jorge Zalszupin 'Guanabara' Rosewood Vintage Dining Table, 1960s, Brazil
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Guanabara is a table designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) in 1959 and produced by his company, L'atelier. A rosewood patchwork top rests over one concrete base finished...
Leather, Wood
$8,000 / set
H 23.23 in W 18.12 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Rosewood Nightstand Design by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazilian Design
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
A drawer cabinet with three drawers and chrome handles designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his company, L'Atelier. The piece is entirely covered with rectangular pieces o...
Rosewood
$25,000
H 11.4 in W 39.4 in D 39.4 in
Limestone Coffee Table by Jorge Zalszupin in Rosewood & Marble, Brazil, 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The Limestone coffee table stands among Jorge Zalszupin's most intellectually sophisticated and architecturally resolved early designs, embodying the designer's relentless pursuit of...
Marble
$4,500
H 25.5 in W 22 in D 18.9 in
Brazilian Modern Filing Cabinet & Drawers in Rosewood, Jorge Zalszupin, 1960’s
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Jorge Zalszupin, this three-drawer filing cabinet reflects the designer’s disciplined approach to proportion, material refinement, and architectural clarity. Conceived du...
Metal
$7,000 / set
H 23.23 in W 18.12 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Rosewood Nightstand Design by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazilian Design
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The tables can also be used as nightstand piece.
Rosewood
$22,400 / set
H 22.05 in Dm 19.97 in
Me 508 Side Table by Jorge Zalszupin, Rosewood and Glass, Brazil, circa 1959
By L'Atelier San Paulo, Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The "me 508" side table was designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) and produced by his company L'Atelier in 1959 – the year of its inauguration. The works of the first phase of L'At...
Glass, Rosewood
Jorge Zalszupin 'Guaruja' Rosewood Vintage Dining Table, 1960s, Brazil
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Guarujá is a table designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) in 1959 and produced by his company, L'atelier. A rosewood patchwork top rests over one concrete base finished with leather. This patchwork solution is present in other pieces designed by Zalszupin. Modern design taught us about using the material rationally, having the design as a tool to avoid waste. Aesthetically, the patchwork explores the different tones of the Brazilian rosewood beautifully, achieving a unique result. At the time, the Guanabara table was presented as a dynamic piece that could be used in the corporate spaces (as a meeting...
Concrete
Brazilian Modern “Pétala” Coffee Table in Rosewood by Jorge Zalszupin, 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
Designed in the late 1950s by Jorge Zalszupin, the Pétala coffee table stands among the most ambitious and sculptural works of Brazilian modern furniture. Conceived during Zalszupin’...
Metal
Rare 1970's Jorge Zalszupin L'atelier Space-Age Plastic Desk
By L'Atelier San Paulo, Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Norwalk, CT
Rarely seen and even more rarely available Space-Age molded plastic desk manufactured by L'atelier, São Paulo, Brazil. Design attributed to Jorge Z...
Metal