Pair of Side Tables

Joaquim Tenreiro was a pioneer of modernist Brazilian furniture, earning him the title of the “father” of modern furniture in Brazil.

Tenreiro was born in Portugal into a family of woodworkers and carpenters. In the late 1920s, he emigrated to Rio de Janeiro and began working for the firm Laubisch Hirth. In the early 1940s, Tenreiro established his own furniture studio, where his work started to gain wider recognition.

His design philosophy centered around the concept of “lightness,” focusing on elegance, grace, and the use of space.

This vision strongly resonated with architects who embraced modernism, and his most notable client was Oscar Niemeyer, for whom he designed furniture for various projects.