Brazilian Modern Sofa in Hardwood & Light Blue Fabric, Joaquim Tenreiro, c. 1960

This “Curva” (curve in Portuguese) sofa was designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in the 1950s for his own company Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçãos. It fits four people comfortably. The shell-shape-like hardwood structure is original. The legs are painted in black. The ultra suede light blue upholstery is brand new. This is one of Tenreiros most iconic designs.

The sofa appears in the vignette next to a Paulistana and coffee table by Jorge Zalszupin and a set of armchairs by Sergio Rodrigues and the convo looks nothing less than perfect.

Joaquim Tenreiro was born in Portugal in 1906 but spent most of his life and career in Brazil, where he became one of the country's most celebrated furniture designers. He started his career as a cabinetmaker and set up his own furniture workshop in 1943.

He quickly gained recognition for his innovative designs and his use of traditional Brazilian materials like cane and jacaranda wood. His work was heavily influenced by past furniture-making techniques and emphasized the importance of technical mastery, aesthetic experience, craftsmanship, and cultural context.

He often used clean, simple lines and geometric shapes in his furniture designs, which were a departure from the ornate and heavily decorated pieces that were popular at the time. His work was also notable for its functionality and practicality, as he believed that furniture should be both beautiful and useful. Tenreiro retired from furniture design in the late 1960s to focus on painting and sculpture, but his legacy in furniture design lives on. He died in Itapira, Brazil in 1992 at the age of 86.