Brazilian Modern Pair of Armchairs in Rosewood, Mohair & Steel by Carlo Hauner, 1950s — Lot 184A

Description

Designed by Carlo Hauner (1927–1997), this refined pair of Brazilian Modern armchairs embodies the designer’s disciplined approach to structure, proportion, and material clarity — principles that defined his pivotal contribution to postwar Brazilian design. Rooted in industrial rationalism yet softened through sculptural contour and tactile richness, the model reflects Hauner’s characteristic ability to balance architectural rigor with understated sensuality.

Each armchair is anchored by a black-painted steel frame whose slender linear armature establishes a precise geometric silhouette. The exposed structure remains intentionally legible, allowing the load-bearing elements to articulate the chair’s construction with visual honesty and restraint. Within this disciplined framework, the seat and backrest introduce measured softness through generous curvature and controlled volume, creating a dynamic tension between industrial austerity and bodily comfort. Subtle button tufting punctuates the backrest with rhythmic refinement, reinforcing the composition’s vertical cadence without relying on ornamentation.

The armrests, executed in richly figured Brazilian rosewood (jacarandá), provide a deliberate material counterpoint to the coolness of the steel frame. Their sculpted profile, warm tonal depth, and finely finished grain reveal the integrity of native hardwood while grounding the composition in the tactile language of Brazilian craftsmanship. The juxtaposition of blackened metal and dense tropical wood reflects a broader modernist dialogue between machine-age precision and artisanal warmth — a recurring theme throughout Hauner’s work during the 1950s.

The upholstery has been newly executed in antique champagne gold mohair velvet with muted brass undertones and a soft metallic luster. The dense short-pile mohair possesses a refined directional nap that shifts naturally between warm champagne, pale bronze, toasted oat, and soft camel depending on the angle of light. Its satin-matte finish introduces subtle luminosity while maintaining a restrained, editorial elegance entirely consistent with the period. 

Each leg terminates in a custom round brass-capped rubber foot, thoughtfully integrated to protect flooring surfaces while subtly reinforcing the armchairs’ elegant proportions and delicate stance. This discreet detail further enhances the visual rhythm of the steel framework without compromising the purity of the original design.

Thoughtfully restored and materially coherent, this pair exemplifies Carlo Hauner’s enduring contribution to Brazilian modernism — where discipline, proportion, structural clarity, and tactile sophistication converge in seating that remains both architecturally rigorous and deeply inviting.