Varela Advisory

Category: Joaquim Tenreiro

Essential Books on Brazilian Modern Design – Part I

Oct 15, 2025

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by

Isabella Varela

in Brazilian Design literature, Giuseppe Scapinelli, Jean Gillon, Joaquim Tenreiro, Jorge Zalszupin, Lina Bo Bardi, Percival Lafer, Sergio Rodrigues

I know that sometimes it feels almost impossible to find reliable information on Brazilian Modern Design. So, I thought I’d share a selection of books that are really helpful if you’re looking to start exploring this field. The best part: most of them are bilingual. So, even if you don’t speak Portuguese, you can still…
Joaquim Tenreiro: The Master of Brazilian Modern Furniture

Jul 1, 2025

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by

Isabella Varela

in Joaquim Tenreiro

When people talk about Brazilian modern design, one name always comes up: Joaquim Tenreiro. Born in 1906 in Melo, Portugal, Tenreiro came to Brazil as a young man and, by the 1940s, was already reshaping the way Brazilians thought about furniture. At first, his story looked like many others: immigrant family, studies in arts and…