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Price category: 50,000+ usd / eur

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"I can't live well with too much rigidity. The 90-degree angle, for example, is something I love, but I can't do it. The things I do end up being a little lyrical, a little sensual, in short, there is always an element that does not come from purity or cleanliness."

This beautiful pedestal table visualizes the above quote from Jorge Zalszupin. It was designed in 1959 and produced by his own company, L'atelier. Essentially, the sizeable top rests on one concrete base finished with soft leather. The solid wood patchwork on the tabletop is mesmerizing, showcasing the many shades of Brazilian hardwood. This was not a purely aesthetic choice, but also an initiative for the rationalization and use of leftover scraps of wood available at the factory, allowing at the same time a combination of their different colourings. The way the large top is supported by the thick metal structure shows architectural precision and the use of materials of the highest quality. At the time of its creation, this table was presented as a dynamic piece that could be used in both the corporate and the domestic places thanks to its casual elegance. Today, its versatility is still recognized, a mark of good design. Zalszupin’s L’Atelier was a design collective comprised of architects, engineers, craftsmen and a full-scale team of professionals who did everything from researching materials to finalizing the product. Therefore, the quality of L’Atelier furniture has transcended time and his pieces have become timeless.

The name is said to be a reference to the famous Baia de Guanabara, a traditional postcard image of Rio de Janeiro. Zalszupin's production established a dialogue very close to the artisanal traditions of working with wood, ensuring quality in the aesthetics and manufacturing of his work.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some minor scratches on the wooden tabletop. The leather covering on the base is a later replacement.

Dimensions:

98.82 in W x 49.21 in D x 29.13 in H

251 cm W x 125 cm D x 74 cm H

Literature :

Jorge Zalszupin, Design Moderno no Brasil – Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos, Olhares Edition, São Paulo, 2014, p. 142

About the designer:

Jorge Zalszupin was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1922. He graduated as an architect in Romania in 1945. His importance for Brazilian design has been articulated in several publications so far. In addition to being the owner of the l'Atelier furniture factory of modern furniture, Zalszupin led a unique initiative: he coordinated a team of designers working for four different factories in the same business group, the Forsa Group.
Zalszupin immigrated to Brazil in 1949 and after a brief stay in the capital, he settled in São Paulo, a city that was then entering a cycle of great industrial growth and great cultural transformations. In the first half of the 1950s, he opened an architecture office, having José Gugliota as a partner. When he got tired of designing exclusive furniture manufactured for his clients' homes, he decided to join a group of woodworkers and started to produce smaller series. This was how l'Atelier came into being, which eventually began to manufacture office furniture and went from a carpentry shop with handcrafted products to an industry with serial production. The first piece in this series was an armchair nicknamed 'Danish' by employees. It was first created in 1959.

After the crisis of the 1980s, Jorge Zalszupin dedicated himself exclusively to architecture, an activity he had never abandoned. From 2005, the company Etel Marcenaria started to produce several of the items designed by Zalszupin for l'Atelier - among them the 'Danish' armchair -, privileging the objects of the company's artisanal phase. ~H.

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Price category: 7,500 - 10,000 usd / eur

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Giuseppe Scapinelli was known as a designer who successfully combined “the classic” with “the modern”, and this table stands as evidence. Scapinelli was a Brazilian designer from São Paulo who did not use any means of mass production. His furniture alternated and combined elements from Italian classicism, innovative aerodynamic lines, and biomorphic shapes.

This rare circular table has an amazing construction that praises the firm, Angelini & Delneri. Upon first sight, this model is an elegant circular table made of beautifully grained wood. However, when the table is extended, the elaborate system is revealed by which the extra wooden leaves can be added to extend the length. The artisanal level craftsmanship is as stunning as the design itself, with traditional joinery techniques such as pegs and so-called ‘biscuit’ joints. Besides the extension system, the craftsmanship is also evident in every edge and angle, such as the legs’ curve and the ring strengthening them. This table is very successful at balancing large volumes with clean lines. The legs have rounded edges and are slightly splayed below the wooden ring.

This memorable design is from a designer committed to pushing the boundaries of modernist design in Brazil. The form is functional and elegant with subtle flourishes like intricate wooden details and the evident emphasis on functionality. This dining table is a grand piece that will stand out and add character to any interior.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use.

Dimensions:

47.24 in Ø x 28.34 in H

120 cm Ø x 72 cm H

About the designer: ⁣

⁣Giuseppe Scapinelli was born in Reggio Emilia in Italy on the 2nd of July 1911 and was the 6th of thirteen sons. He graduated after studying architecture in 1941. However, just as his career was starting, it was abruptly interrupted by WW2, and he was forced to live in seclusion in an antique furniture shop, where he further studied the styles and production methods of old furniture. After the devastations of the war, the promise of a better life in South America oriented Scapinelli towards the continent. Finally, in 1948, Scapinelli decided to leave for Brazil, more specifically to the metropolis of São Paulo.

At first Scapinelli worked for the architect and well-known “Paulista” Francesco Matarazzo, who opened many doors for him and other Italian refugees. Later, in 1950, Scapinelli opened his own studio. Because of his modern and complete style in interior decoration, he soon settled as an architect / decorator backed by a great team of skilled Italian woodworkers.

Scapinelli was constantly studying all forms of visual arts and frequently integrated ceramics in his works. He was described in Brazil’s Casa e Jardim magazine at the time as: "{…} a classic who does not forget to be modern - or if you prefer - a modernist who does not forget to be classic". After a fruitful life, Giuseppe Scapinelli died in São Paulo in 1982, at the age of 71.

Today Scapinelli's style is still easily recognizable because of the curvy lines and soft sensual shapes, very much away from the mainstream works of his fellow designers at the time. With works beautifully crafted from traditional Brazilian woods like caviuna and jacaranda, he is remembered for his unique works combining the classic with the modern. ~H.

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Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur‎

Made upon order. Lead time ca 8-10 weeks

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This Água table by contemporary artist Domingos Tótora, is an exceptional piece. The name, meaning water in Portuguese speaks for itself as the sight of this table’s design is akin to the process of sediment settling into a riverbed. There may be no artist who demonstrates sustainability as wholly as Tótora. His masterworks have journeyed full circle, narrating the story of sustainable earth without uttering a single word.

Designed by Domingos Tótora, the Água Table demonstrates lightness through heavy elements. With his special but traditional technique, this table was created with recycled cardboard with added graphite pigment. A smooth, matte surface and the organic shape characterize the designer’s work and are witness to his extensive experience in object design. During the creation process Tótora reduces the cardboard to a semi-liquid pulp, hand moulds it into the desired shape and dries the almost finished product in the Brazilian sun. With a smooth finish, the three large “stones” and the glass top evoke the image of a river with crystal clear waters. Sustainability is essential for the Brazilian artist and accordingly, this table was made in a certified sustainable way. In this beautiful and labour-intensive process, the cardboard that originated as wood is essentially brought back a full cycle by taking on a wood-like quality again. For Tótora “sustainability happens through actions and not words”.

In 2008, this table-sculpture won first place and an honourable mention in Craft + Design and second place in the Brazilian Object. A year later, it was ranked first in the Sustainable Design category at Top XXI and won the Brazil Design Awards, in the furniture category. In 2010, recognition came at the Ibero-American Design Biennial in Spain.

Condition:

New.

Dimensions:

61.02 in ⌀ x 12.99 in H

155 cm ⌀ x 33 cm H

About the designer:

Domingos Tótora (1960-) is a contemporary Brazilian designer whose work falls between art and design. Born and raised in the mountainous region of Maria da Fé, nature is an essential part of Tótora’s aesthetic. Being true to nature means that imperfections are a welcome part of Tótora’s designs, embracing asymmetry and unevenness in the spirit of wabi-sabi.

Following his studies in São Paulo, Tótora found inspiration on the streets in the form of discarded cardboards. He created a process in which cardboard can be recycled by breaking it down to small pieces, transforming it to cellulose plaster. With the addition of water, glue and natural pigments, the cardboard can be shaped into new forms. Through this sustainable process, waste cardboards are turned into a wood-like material. Tótora and his small team believe sustainability happens through actions and not words.

His studio, Domingos Tótora Estúdio de Artes Design, was founded in 2005 in his hometown, Maria da Fé. The beauty of his work manifests itself in its philosophy of creation and respect for the environment. The production process of Tótora’s designs is 100% manual and the cardboard he uses is fully recycled. Domingos Tótora is a true mixture of artist, designer, and craftsman. In recent years, the originality and elegance of his creations have been recognized in several exhibitions. ~H.

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‎‎‎Price category: 5,000 - 7,500 usd / eur

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This bookcase is made out of thick plywood and features a sculptural and raw look that give it a lot of character.

The sides have rounded out edges that are wider at the base and gradually become narrower towards the middle. The slightly raised angle at the top gives this bookcase a distinctive appearance. At the base, a sculpted arch forms the four legs from the sideboards. The two shelves and top have the same measurements despite the illusion that the round shape of the sideboards create. The bookcase has its original bolts and rings on both sides and a beautiful, strong patina.

The shape of the design, the use of plywood and the distinctive bolts and rings are typical for the work of José Zanine Caldas and his manufactory, Fábrica de Móveis Artísticos Z of this period. However, official documents - as with many Brazilian works - have not yet appeared.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Wood has marks and cracks.

Dimensions:

35.63 in W x 11.82 in D x 31.5 in H

90.5 cm W x 30 cm D x 80 cm H

About the designer:

José Zanine Caldas was born in Belmonte, at the southern coast of Bahia, in 1919. Son to a doctor, Zanine was an autodidact who, from a young age, was fascinated with his environment, especially with trees.

While most architects of his generation studied extensively, Zanine developed his own style through doing and making, and at the age of 20 decided to exchange Bahia for Rio de Janeiro. There he opened up a workshop for architectural scale-models and had the chance to work with pioneering modern architects like Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer.

Large scale furniture with modern design and affordable prices. This was the great advantage of the joinery Móveis Artístico Z founded in 1948 by the architect Zanine Caldas, in partnership with Sebastião Pontes and Paulo Mello, was a great success at the time. Headquartered in São José dos Campos (SP), it maintained its production for almost two decades. The form of creation, idealized by Zanine, was opposed to the market of the time, which was either based on the production of handmade furniture, in solid wood, or in pieces produced in series with an unattractive design. Breaking these paradigms, Móveis Artísticas Z revolutionized manufacturing pieces with improved design and great popular appeal.

Inspired by the local craftsmen who carved boats and furniture from fallen trees, Zanine began experimenting with chiselling and carving large, sculptural works, which became the focus of his later career. Zanine became a big advocate for preservation and in the 1980's, he established the Foundation Center for the Development of the Application of Brazilian Woods (DAM), in an effort to educate and attempt to reverse the rampant destruction of Brazilian rainforests.

Up until his death in 2001, Zanine kept his natural visions alive, and would plant a new tree in place of any tree that was taken down for one of his projects. ~H.