Chair in Rosewood & Cane, Alexandre Rapoport, 1960s

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Description

Alexandre Rapoport, Brazil, c. 1960s. This chair exemplifies the measured refinement of Brazilian modernism: a spare, well-proportioned silhouette in which … Read more Alexandre Rapoport, Brazil, c. 1960s. This chair exemplifies the measured refinement of Brazilian modernism: a spare, well-proportioned silhouette in which the logic of structure and the integrity of material are the primary means of expression. The composition is quietly sculptural—slim, slightly splayed legs support a pared seat rail while a rectilinear back formed of three horizontal slats provides an economy of line and a poised verticality.

Formally restrained, the chair balances line and surface with precision. The front rail is gently uplifted to articulate the seating plane; the rear posts rise with a discreet cadence that unites back and leg. The visible sightlines—tapered uprights, crisp rail edges and the narrow profile of the back slats—distill Rapoport’s concern for proportion and the elegant use of negative space so typical of mid-century practice.

Crafted in jacaranda (Brazilian rosewood), the frame has been sympathetically refinished to a warm, satin-matte field that foregrounds the wood’s fine grain and tonal depth. The seat is newly caned in a tight, period-appropriate weave; the caning reads as a tactile, breathable field that complements rather than competes with the wood’s figure. Construction favors honest joinery and efficient detail—refined pegs and neatly executed mitres keep the vocabulary direct and material-led.

Function is integral to the design: the geometry yields upright, supportive seating where comfort is described as considered support and repose rather than plush softness. Condition: in excellent vintage condition. The jacaranda has been professionally refinished and the seat re-caned; age-appropriate marks are minimal and confined to discrete edges and feet. Restoration has been conservative and transparent. See less