Pair of "Concha" Armchairs in Iron and Leather, Carlo Hauner, 1950s

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Designed by Carlo Hauner and produced by Forma Móveis in the mid-1950s, the “Concha” armchair stands among the most recognizable … Read more Designed by Carlo Hauner and produced by Forma Móveis in the mid-1950s, the “Concha” armchair stands among the most recognizable expressions of early Brazilian modern seating. The name—concha, meaning “shell” in Portuguese—refers to the chair’s sculptural seat, whose gently folded form evokes the organic curvature of an open seashell. Hauner’s design balances this soft, enveloping surface with an exceptionally light structural frame, achieving a composition that feels both delicate and structurally precise.

The seat is formed as a continuous upholstered shell, here finished in off-white leather, whose subtle contours create a natural reclining posture. Beneath it, a slender blackened steel base spreads outward in a network of thin rods, giving the chair its distinctive visual lightness. The contrast between the supple, sculpted seat and the taut linear geometry of the metal frame is central to the design, reflecting the Brazilian modernist interest in merging industrial materials with fluid, human-centered forms.

Originally introduced through Forma Móveis in 1955, the “Concha” exemplifies the experimental spirit of the period, when designers such as Hauner explored new structural possibilities while maintaining a strong emphasis on comfort and elegant restraint. The present pair has been refinished and newly upholstered, ensuring excellent condition while preserving the character and proportions of the original design.

Both sculptural and highly functional, the “Concha” armchair remains an enduring icon of Brazilian modernism—equally compelling as a collectible design object or as a refined seating element within a contemporary interior. See less