Liceu de Artes easy chair

This easy chair was produced by the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios de São Paulo in Brazil and exemplifies the organic and sculptural tendencies of Brazilian modernist furniture from the mid-20th century. The design integrates traditional woodworking with expressive material contrasts, resulting in a relaxed and architectural seating object.

The chair features a frame in solid Brazilian rosewood (jacarandá), exhibiting deep, reddish-brown tones with prominent dark veining characteristic of the species. The wood is shaped into a fluid structure with outwardly curving armrests and a low-slung silhouette that emphasizes horizontal lines and open negative space. The joinery is visually minimal but structurally robust, contributing to the chair’s elegant yet stable presence.

The seat, backrest, and integrated armrest supports are constructed from natural saddle leather, suspended from the wooden frame in a sling-like configuration. The leather has developed a warm patina and displays soft creasing and tonal variation, consistent with age and use. Its caramel-brown tone contrasts harmoniously with the darker rosewood frame, enhancing the chair’s tactile and visual richness. The backrest is fixed with grommeted straps, and the leather conforms subtly to the sitter’s body.

Liceu de Artes e Ofícios de São Paulo, established in the 19th century, became an important workshop and educational institution in Brazilian design and craftsmanship. During the mid-20th century, it produced some of the most sophisticated and materially rich pieces of modern furniture in Brazil, often working with master craftsmen and designers who emphasized precision joinery, tropical hardwoods, and artisanal methods within a modernist framework.

The style of the chair is consistent with Brazilian modernism, known for its use of indigenous hardwoods, sculptural lines, and a sensuous approach to form and comfort. While the designer of this particular chair is not identified, its formal and structural qualities suggest influence from figures such as José Zanine Caldas or the more architectural compositions of Lina Bo Bardi and Joaquim Tenreiro.

The chair is in good vintage condition with visible wear to the leather in the form of surface creasing and slight scuffing. The wooden frame retains a consistent finish with light, natural patina and only minor abrasions consistent with careful use.

Dimensions are 70 cm wide, 88 cm deep, 81.5 cm high, with a seat height of 41 cm. In imperial measurements, this equates approximately to 27.6 inches wide, 34.6 inches deep, 32.1 inches high, and a seat height of 16.1 inches.