Set of 8 Dining Chairs in Hardwood & Leather, Giuseppe Scapinelli, 1950s - Lot 471

Description

Designed by Giuseppe Scapinelli (1891–1982) in the 1950s, this set of eight dining chairs reflects the designer’s distinctive synthesis of Italian modernist training and Brazilian material sensibility. Scapinelli’s work is defined by sculptural line and expressive woodworking, and this model exemplifies his ability to transform structural necessity into gesture.

Each chair is articulated in hardwood, finished in a deep ebony tone that heightens the graphic clarity of the silhouette. The backs rise in a gently tapered crest rail, from which a series of finely attenuated vertical spindles descend in a subtle, rhythmic arc. This controlled curvature introduces movement within an otherwise disciplined framework. The legs, slender and sharply profiled, extend with poised verticality, reinforcing the chairs’ sense of elevation and lightness.

The seats have been newly reupholstered in beige leather, selected to provide tonal contrast against the darkened wood. The upholstery remains restrained, allowing the sculptural backrests to retain visual primacy. Comfort is integrated into the design through the slight rake of the back and the proportional depth of the seat—ergonomics resolved within a formally rigorous composition.

The wood has been professionally refinished and presents in excellent vintage condition. Acquired from a private residence in Rio de Janeiro, the set retains a clear connection to its period context.

Thoughtfully composed and materially articulate, these chairs distill Scapinelli’s enduring contribution to Brazilian modernism—where line, proportion, and craftsmanship converge in a dining form of sculptural clarity.