Jorge Zalszupin

JORGE ZALSZUPIN (Warsaw, Poland, 1922-Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2020) for L'Atelier, Brazil.
Pair of armchairs model "Brasiliana", 1965.
In jacaranda wood, with aluminum and brass details.
Upholstered in white fabric.
In very good condition, with slight signs of use consistent with the age.
Measurements: 93 x 104 × 62 cm; 38 cm (seat height).

Elegant pair of armchairs of the "Brasiliana" model, one of the most recognized designs of the designer Jorge Zalszupin. The structure has wide curved sides made of solid jacaranda, whose deep and warm grain gives a strong sculptural presence to the set. These side panels, joined by metal elements, contrast with the light volume of the upholstered seat and back, creating a balance between structural solidity and comfort.

Designed in the 1960s and produced by L'Atelier, the workshop founded by Zalszupin himself in São Paulo, these pieces fully reflect the spirit of Brazilian modernism, characterized by the combination of modern lines, noble materials and careful craftsmanship.

The "Brasiliana" armchairs are today considered one of the most representative creations of Brazilian design, appreciated both for their historical value and their remarkable aesthetic presence.

Jorge Zalszupin was one of the pioneers of modern Brazilian design. Of Polish origin, he arrived in Brazil in the 1950s after studying architecture in Romania. In 1959 he founded L'Atelier in São Paulo, one of the first factories dedicated to modern furniture mass production in the country.

Throughout his career he designed furniture for homes, offices and public buildings, many of which have become icons of Brazilian design, such as the Presidential chair, the Dinamarquesa chair, the Clube armchair and the Brasília sofa. After closing L'Atelier in the 1980s due to the economic crisis, he devoted himself mainly to architecture and later to painting. His legacy was recognized internationally, and in 2013 he received the Designers' Saturday Lifetime Achievement Award. Today some of his pieces continue to be produced through the firm ETEL.