Brazilian design

Brazil is famous for bikini waxing, hair straightening, carnivals and an imposing statue on a mountain top, but less well known is that in the twentieth century Brazil produced some of the most beautiful and unique pieces of mid-century modern design. Unlike Scandinavian designers such as Saarinen or Americans Charles and Ray Eames, Brazilian designers have until very recently been ignored. Now furniture by Sergio Rodrigues, Oscar Niemeyer and others is appearing at auction houses and antique dealers outside Brazil.

I've been searching for four years for the right 1960s or 70s table to go under the chandelier in the great room and I was lucky enough to hit upon this great 1978 Michel Arnoult Alagoas Collection rosewood and teak table with two pink suede slingback chairs. Michel Arnoult (1922-2005) was born in France but studied at Rio de Janerio’s Faculdade Nacional de Arquitetura and was a trainee in the office of Oscar Niemeyer. His designs include this 1968 Peg Lev chair that resembles the two I bought, which is in the Museu da Casa Brasileira, Sao Paulo and his last creation, the Pelicano chair that was featured in Marie Claire Maison in December last year.

So where did I get my Brazilian treasure? From my favourite New Jersey ebay sellers vintage 747 who have been a fantastic source of modernist furniture that has now found a home at the Cool House.