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 Martin Eisler Concha Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1950
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning and comfortable ‘Concha’ (shell) lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and manufactured by Forma Moveis, Brazil 1950. This chair has a solid steel structur...
Metal
$13,750
H 27.17 in W 42.52 in D 28.75 in
Vintage 'Reversivel' Armchair, Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1955, Brazil
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler 'Reversivel' or 'Reversible' Armchair Forma S/A, Brazil, 1955
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
$4,607
H 31.5 in W 28.35 in D 28.35 in
'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
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
$58,400 / item
H 28.75 in W 31.5 in D 80 in
Mid-Century Modern Reversivel Armchair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler. 1950's
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler in the 50's, this armchair is considered one of the most important armchairs of Brazilian modern design. The moving seat rests on an iron...
Brass, Iron
Carlo Hauner Lounge Chair, Móveis Artesanal, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner
Located in Barcelona, ES
Lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner, produced by “Móveis Artesanal” around 1954 in São Paulo (Brazil). Original condition, yellow worn fabric as pho...
Brass, Iron
Carlo Hauner, Lounge Chair, Fabric, Iron, Brazil, 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner
Located in High Point, NC
A black-painted iron and green fabric lounge chair designed by Carlo Hauner and produced by Forma, Brazil, c. 1950s. Dramatic patina on iron frame consistent with age and use. Over...
Iron
$21,027
H 66 in W 71 in D 102 in
Martin Eisler & Carlos Hauner Model "Reversible" modern Brazilian armchair 1955
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler(1913-1977) & Carlos Hauner (1927-1997) Armchair model “Reversible” Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1955 Iron structure, brass, cotton upholstery Measurements: 10...
Iron
$519
H 27.17 in W 27.96 in D 27.56 in
1960s Italian Mid-Century Lounge Chair in the Manner of Marco Zanuso
Located in Praha, CZ
Italian mid-century lounge chair, 1960s, featuring a sculptural upholstered shell, tapered black metal legs and articulated feet designed to adapt to uneven flooring. The form and co...
Fabric
'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
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
'Odilon' Lounge Chair, by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The Odilon lounge chair is a robust and elegant piece of furniture that embodies the distinctive design characteristics of the Brazilian furniture designer Sergio Rodrigues. It featu...
Fabric, Hardwood
Lobby Armchair by Brazilian Designer Jorge Zalszupin, Mid-Century Modern Design
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This gorgeous "Lobby" lounge chair is a true masterpiece of mid-century Brazilian design, created by the renowned architect and designer Jorge Zalszupin in the 1970s. The chair's per...
Aluminum
"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
Mid-century Lounge Chair with ottoman by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
In the landscape of mid-century modern furniture, the collaborative genius of Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler shines through in the lounge chair and ottoman set that exemplifies the B...
Fabric, Velvet, Hardwood
