“Low Commander” Swivel Armchair by Jorge Zalszupin, Bronze Chenille and Aluminum, Brazil, 1973 – Lot 805

Description

Designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922–2020) and introduced in 1973, the “Low Commander” armchair emerged during a pivotal moment in Brazilian modernism, when industrial materials and contract production began redefining the language of seating. Conceived in response to Brazil’s expanding office and commercial interiors market, the Commander series reflects Zalszupin’s disciplined synthesis of sculptural clarity and functional precision.

This low variant is defined by a single continuous fiberglass shell forming both seat and backrest—a unified volume that establishes structural coherence while maintaining a fluid, uninterrupted profile. Its reclining, low-slung posture emphasizes comfort and horizontality, while solid aluminum armrests introduce material contrast and architectural weight. The restrained geometry aligns with Zalszupin’s broader oeuvre, where modernist rigor is consistently tempered by ergonomic intelligence.

Upholstered in soft bronze-brown chenille, the fiberglass shell retains the integrity of the original design intent, now interpreted through a tactile, contemporary textile. The aluminum armrests maintain a clean, utilitarian finish, underscoring the chair’s industrial lineage. The swivel base and integrated reclining mechanism are discreetly incorporated into the form, reinforcing usability without visual excess.

This example has been professionally refinished and newly reupholstered, with careful attention paid to preserving original proportions, structural clarity, and material authenticity.

An increasingly scarce and resolved design, the “Low Commander” stands as a definitive expression of 1970s Brazilian modernism—where innovation in materials and serial production reshaped the aesthetic and functional possibilities of seating.