Martin Eisler was an influential figure in mid-century modern furniture design, particularly within the Brazilian design movement. Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1913, Eisler was part of a generation of European architects and designers whose work and lives were profoundly affected by the upheaval of the Second World War. His father was the art historian Max Eisler, a founding member of the Austrian Werkbund, which likely influenced Eisler's early exposure to design and architecture.
It was in Brazil that Eisler's design sensibilities fully blossomed. He met Carlo Hauner, with whom he would form a formidable partnership, founding the iconic Brazilian furniture company Forma. Their designs are celebrated for integrating Brazilian materials and craftsmanship with modernist design principles, creating furniture that was both accessible and aesthetically sophisticated.
Eisler's furniture designs, such as the Reversível and Costela chairs, are lauded for their innovative use of materials and form. His work often featured Brazilian woods and thin tubular frames, showcasing a finesse in blending structure with visual lightness. The collaboration between Eisler and Hauner was marked by a shared vision that helped define Brazilian mid-century modern design, making it distinctive and sought after globally.
Find vintage Martin Eisler furniture on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Herança Cultural)
Carlo Hauner large lounge chair Forma Moveis Brazil 1955
By Carlo Hauner
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A highly rare and striking large lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and manufactured by Forma Móveis in Brazil, 1955. This extraordinary design captures an almost animalistic pres...
Metal, Brass
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Concha lounge chairs Brazil 1955
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare Pair of ‘Concha’ Lounge Chairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler for Forma Móveis, Brazil, 1955. Authentic Frames, Expertly Reupholstered in Sand Bouclé. A masterful balance of sculptural elegance and tactile comfort, this exceptional pair of Concha (Portuguese for “shell”) lounge chairs was designed in 1955 by the influential Brazilian-Italian duo Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma Móveis, a defining name in the modernist design movement of mid-century Brazil. The Concha chair...
Iron
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Reversivel chair Forma 1950
By Forma, Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
The Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler ‘Reversível’ Lounge Chair by Forma Móveis, Brazil, 1950 is a Brazilian Icon of Sculptural Functionality. This extraordinary ‘Reversível’ lounge c...
Metal
Theo Ruth Model 135 lounge chair Artifort 1956
By Artifort, Theo Ruth
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Theo Ruth's Model 135 lounge chair, designed for Artifort in 1956, is a classic and elegant piece of furniture. With its clean lines and sleek silhouette it’s the perfect example of ...
Metal
Marco Zanuso Lady Chair Arflex, Italy, 1951
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Iconic so called 'Lady chair' designed by Marco Zanuso and manufactured by Arflex, Italy, 1951. This lady chair has chrome-plated legs and original upholstery in grey. The upholstery...
Chrome
Jorge Zalszupin Arraia Lounge Chair L'Atelier Brazil, 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Ultra-rare and fully original so-called 'Arraia' lounge chair designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured in his own company L'Atelier, Brazil 1959. As only a few original of the ‘A...
Steel
'Concha' Lounge Chair, by Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner, Brazilian Mid-Century
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Lapa de Baixo, SP
The "Concha" armchair, designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, is a hallmark of mid-century Brazilian furniture design. This chair is recognized for its elegant and organic form, indicative of the innovative design spirit of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin Eisler (1913-1977) was an Austrian-born architect and designer who emigrated to Argentina and later worked in Brazil. Carlo Hauner (1927-1996), an Italian-born artist, designer, and entrepreneur, moved to Brazil after World War II. Together, they formed a partnership and played a significant role in the development of modern furniture design in Brazil, creating pieces that were both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Their work is characterized by the use of local materials, and the "Concha" armchair is no exception. It typically features a metal frame with slender, tapered legs that support a seat shell with a distinctive scoop-like shape, reminiscent of a seashell ("concha" means "shell" in Portuguese). The upholstery showcases the richness of Brazilian textiles...
Iron
Carlo Hauner Martin Eisler Concha Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in San Francisco, CA
An original 'Concha' (shell) lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma Moveis, Brazil 1950. Chair has a solid steel structure and upholstered...
Metal
Carlo Hauner, Lounge Chair, Iron, Fabric, Brazil, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in High Point, NC
A black-painted iron and grey fabric lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and produced by Forma S.A. Brazil, 1950s. Moderate oxidation to iron legs. Fabric in fair condition, likel...
Iron
'Concha' Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1950's
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Uithoorn, NL
'Concha' Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Brazil, 1950's This lounge chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler was produced in Brazil in the 1950's by Forma. The chair...
Metal
Concha armchair designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler in 1953
By Carlo Hauner
Located in Lisboa, PT
Concha armchair designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler in 1953, a lounge chair with a shell shaped upholstered seat on a slender iron structure. The Concha, Portuguese for shell,...
Metal
Easy Lounge Chair By Hans Bellmann From His Sitwell Collection Switzerland -1955
By Hans Bellmann
Located in Southampton, NJ
A rare sculptural masterpiece designed by Hans Bellmann for Strässle Söhne & Co. Switzerland circa 1955. Black enamel steel frame having a sculptural wooden frame top that is i...
Enamel, Steel
