Pair of “Lucio Costa” Chairs in Rosewood & Caning, Sergio Rodrigues, 1956 - Lot 701
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Description
Designed by Sergio Rodrigues (1927–2014) in 1956, the “Lucio Costa” chair (model CD-7) marks an important moment in the development of modern Brazilian furniture. The design emerged after architect Lucio Costa (1902–1998) remarked that Rodrigues had created the first truly modern Brazilian chair infused with the spirit of traditional craftsmanship—a comment that ultimately gave the model its name.
The chair reflects Rodrigues’ effort to reinterpret historic Brazilian seating traditions through a modern lens. Its structure is crafted from solid Brazilian rosewood (jacarandá), shaped into a compact and well-balanced frame defined by rounded members and restrained proportions. The seat is woven in natural cane, introducing a lightness that contrasts with the density of the wood while maintaining continuity with 19th-century Brazilian vernacular furniture.
This synthesis of traditional materials and modern construction reflects Rodrigues’ broader design philosophy—rooting modernism in local culture rather than imported formalism. The result is a chair that distills Brazilian domestic heritage into a refined mid-century form.
The pair has been professionally refinished, with the cane seats preserved and in excellent condition, maintaining both the material integrity and historical character of the design.