When it comes to mid-century furniture, the innovative work of the Brazilian Modernists has often been overlooked, including the designs of prolific maker Percival Lafer. Lafer studied architecture at São Paulo’s Universidade Mackenzie. After he graduated, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a furniture business that Lafer took over with his brothers.
Taking up the mantle, Lafer made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully designed pieces available at affordable prices. That year, Lafer introduced his supremely popular MP-1 chair, a plush piece of furniture made with iron and wood that he has riffed on throughout his entire career.
The silhouettes of Lafer lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating were distinct from streamlined American and European mid-century modernism, taking on casual, puffed forms thanks to his use of polyurethane layers as padding. He combined such contemporary industrial materials with local natural ones, namely Brazilian hardwoods, which delighted customers around the world as Lafer became one of the country’s leading exporters of furniture.
Lafer has continued to design furniture throughout his career, branching into sofas, tables and lighting. He was at the forefront of mechanical furniture movements, debuting the MP-7 sofa, which could turn into a twin bed, in 1965, the first such piece on the market. One of his most intriguing projects was the MP Lafer, a two-seat fiberglass roadster designed to emulate British sports cars. Some 4,300 units were produced over its 16-year manufacturing run in the ’70s and ’80s, with several ending up in the collections of major car museums.
Still, Lafer’s biggest claim to fame is his seating, which he continues to design, drawing inspiration from modern shapes and local materials. In 2017, a retrospective of his work was organized as part of the São Paulo Design Weekend.
Find vintage Percival Lafer furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Lounge Chairs 'MP-81' by Percival Lafer, Brazil, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
MP-81 lounge chairs by Percival Lafer, designed in the 1970s, exemplary pieces of Brazilian mid-century modern design. These chairs feature beautifully restored red leather paired wi...
Leather, Walnut
MP-81 Armchair by Percival Lafer, Brazil, 1970s
By Lafer, Percival Lafer
Located in VENLO, NL
Rare MP-81 lounge chair by Percival Lafer for Lafer MP, designed in the 1970s, an iconic example of Brazilian mid-century modern design. This sculptural chair combines a solid jatoba...
Leather, Jatoba
$32,000
H 29.34 in W 38.47 in D 37.8 in
Vintage MP-111 Lounge Chair with Ottoman by Percival Lafer, 1970s, Brazil
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
This model was loosely based on the formal concept of the MP-81, with a more brutish shape. The feet, which incilne towards the inside, resemble the supports for a hammock. The cover...
Leather
MP93 Lounge Chair by Percival Lafer, 1970s
Located in Nagykovácsi, Central Hungary
Original MP93 lounge chair designed by Percival Lafer in Brazil, around 1972. The chair has a solid hardwood frame (jatoba) with a single molded seat made of injected foam, covered ...
Leather, Wood
Lounge chair by E. Cobianchi for Insa Italy 1970
Located in Boom, Vlaams Gewest
E. Cobianchi leather one-seater sofa, a beautifully sculptural piece that reflects the soft, generous forms typical of Italian design. Upholstered in its original rich cognac-brown l...
Leather, Wood
$33,800 / set
H 29.14 in W 29.53 in D 33.86 in
Mid-Century Modern MP-91 Lounge Chair by Percival Lafer, 1960s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
Produced by Móveis Lafer and designed by Percival Lafer, the MP 91 lounge chair dates to 1972 and is presented here as a pair. The frames are constructed in solid cedar, finished in ...
Leather, Wood
Armchair by Jean Gillon, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1970s
By Jean Gillon
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A hallmark of Jean Gillon’s sensual and humanistic design philosophy, this 1970s armchair exemplifies his masterful fusion of structure and comfort. The sculptural jacarandá frame, w...
Leather, Rosewood
1970's Brazilian MP-115 design chair by Percival Lafer
By Percival Lafer
Located in Belo Horizonte, BR
The MP-115 features a seat and backrest built around wooden frames entirely encased in a dense foam layer. Both components are joined by an exposed wooden I-shaped element, which con...
Leather, Jacaranda
Jangada Chair by Jean Gillon, 1960's, Brazilian Modern
By Jean Gillon
Located in Culver City, CA
The Jangada Chair: A Brazilian Masterpiece With Stories to Tell Let’s talk about the Jangada Chair; a stunning piece of functional art that’s as much a conversation starter as it is ...
Leather, Rosewood
$30,000
H 23.23 in W 36.62 in D 30.32 in
Lounge Chair by Joaquim Tenreiro, Mid-Century Modern Brazilian, 1953
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This variation of the Curved Armchair (Poltrona Curva) softens Tenreiro’s geometric rigor with raw silk upholstery and gently rounded forms — a sculptural yet comfortable presence.
Upholstery, Rosewood
Lounge Chair with Rounded Edges, by Giuseppe Scapinelli, Brazilian Mid-Century
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This elegant lounge chair, designed by Giuseppe Scapinelli, is an exquisite piece of modern furniture from the mid-20th century, showcasing the elegant intersection of fabric and woo...
Fabric, Hardwood
"MP-05" Armchair by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The MP-05 armchair is an exceptional example of the creative vision of the Brazilian architect and designer Percival Lafer. Originally designed as a variation on the MP-03 armchair, ...
Wood
"Peg-Lev" Lounge Chair by Michel Arnoult — Brazil, 1960s
By Michel Arnoult
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
An icon of Brazilian mid-century design, the Peg-Lev lounge chair by Michel Arnoult marries a solid wooden frame with a relaxed sling seat and back in natural leather. True to Arnoul...
Leather, Hardwood
Lounge Chair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Brazilian Mid-Century
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This Soriana lounge chair is characterized by its substantial, bulbous form, enveloping the sitter in a voluminous, cushioned embrace. The fabric is tufted, a technique that not only...
Metal
'Franco' Lounge Chair with Headrest, by Sergio Rodrigues — Brazil, 1960s
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The "Franco" lounge chairs, designed by Sergio Rodrigues, stand as a distinct representation of Brazilian mid-century design. These chairs are characterized by their robust solid har...
Leather, Hardwood
'Concha' Lounge Chair, by Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner, Brazilian Mid-Century
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Sao Paulo, 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
