Percival Lafer sofa

This rare 3-seat sofa were designed by Brazilian modernist Percival Lafer and produced in the 1960s by Lafer MP, a furniture manufacturer known for its innovative and accessible design during the mid-20th century. This piece is a strong representations of Lafer’s approach to comfort-focused modernism, where bold structural expression is integrated with luxurious materials and ergonomic form.

The frames are constructed from solid rosewood, a material widely used in Brazilian modernist design due to its structural strength and rich, expressive grain. The wood is left partially exposed, revealing the architectonic lines of the construction and highlighting joinery elements. Leather support straps form part of the visible structure beneath the seat and back cushions, an intentional design feature that emphasizes both transparency in construction and visual rhythm.

The upholstery is rendered in yellow leather, a warm and vibrant tone that contrasts with the darker rosewood base. The leather is generously tufted across all cushions—seat, back, and armrests—contributing to both visual texture and user comfort. The upholstery shows signs of wear and patina consistent with age and use, including soft creasing, surface variation, and tonal shifts. These qualities enhance the pieces’ authenticity and underscore their vintage character.

Percival Lafer, active since the early 1960s, is known for designing innovative furniture that combined affordability with high design values. His work departed from the minimalist rationalism of European modernism by embracing comfort, organic materials, and bold formal expression. The integration of leather, visible structure, and modular forms was a signature of Lafer’s furniture produced under the Lafer MP label.

The sofa measures 200 cm in width, 93 cm in depth, 66 cm in height, with a seat height of 37 cm. In imperial units, this equates to approximately 78.7 inches wide, 36.6 inches deep, 26 inches high, with a seat height of 14.6 inches.