Name: Jorge Zalszupin Manhattan chair L'Atelier 1960
Brand: Jorge Zalszupin
Rating: 4.9 (49 reviews)

About the Item

Super rare and fully original ‘Manhattan’ lounge chair designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured in his own company L'Atelier, Brazil 1960. Since few were made by L’Atelier, the Manhattan series is considered to be one of the rarest designs created by Zalszupin. Unlike other outspoken designs, it is a playful shape that argues where forms change into new ones, causing the overall functions to disappear from the whole and at the same time create a visually impressive and inviting appearance. A hard horizontal line cuts through the organic shape and separates the smooth leatherette surfaces. Carefully placed buttons in the seat hold the leather in neatly position. The tapered bottom side is in contrast with the top side and takes away some of the heaviness. This chair is upholstered in its original black shiny leatherette which almost looks like a lacquered finish. But it has the texture of leather and gives that a more natural look. The condition of the upholstery is very good, age considered. The leatherette has some small marks and the inside foam might have lost a little of its puffiness. The chair looks like a light weight since it is hollow, but the metal structure creating the shape of the chair, also provides weight and stability. In addition to the chair, we also have a sofa available which can be found in another listing. Like all our upholstered pieces these can also be newly upholstered to your admiration. Ask our experienced upholstery department for an affordable quote for the item you want customized. We only use the best quality fabrics, foam, and materials for all our items. With the reupholstery we will keep the originality in mind so the piece doesn’t lose its value and will be ready for years of use again.

Creator:
Jorge Zalszupin (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 25.99 in (66 cm)Width: 39.38 in (100 cm)Depth: 37.41 in (95 cm)Seat Height: 12.21 in (31 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Faux Leather
Place of Origin:
Brazil
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Roosendaal, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU933031809482

Shop All Jorge Zalszupin

Jorge Zalszupin

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.

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