Vintage 1970s Copa Brazil Brutalist Hebrew Chai Brass & Amethyst Sculpture

Details

Description

This exceptional, authentic vintage tabletop sculpture is a striking example of 1970s Brazilian Modernist/Brutalist design. Crafted by the celebrated studio … Read more This exceptional, authentic vintage tabletop sculpture is a striking example of 1970s Brazilian Modernist/Brutalist design. Crafted by the celebrated studio brand Copa Collection (led by artist-designer Carvalhu Rio Ernandes), this piece is entirely handmade, featuring a bold, dramatic tactile presence.

The sculpture showcases a large, stylized rendering of the Hebrew symbol Chai (חַי)—meaning "Life"—fashioned from an organic, torch-welded brass sheet with molten-welded decorative borders. A heavy-gauge, fluidly coiled brass wire rises dynamically from the base, adding beautiful dimension and structural contrast to the graphic character forms. The free-form textured base resembles a flowing pool of molten metal adorned with individual droplets, anchored securely by an embedded, raw, unpolished Brazilian amethyst crystal chunk and a prominent multi-faceted mixed copper nugget. The underside retains its original metallic gold "Made in Brazil / Copa Collection" studio foil label.

Origin: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Studio / Designer: Copa Collection / Carvalhu Rio Ernandes

Age: Circa 1970s

Material: Torch-Welded Brass, Accent Copper, and Raw Brazilian Amethyst Crystal

Dimensions: Approximately 4" tall x 4.5" wide at base

Design Significance & Aesthetic Appeal
This piece beautifully encapsulates the expressive energy of the Mid-Century Latin American Brutalist movement. Diverging from the rigid geometries of traditional modernism, the artisan output of the Copa Collection prioritizes deep texture, raw geological elements, and fluid irregularities. The iconic architecture of the Hebrew Chai symbol is reimagined here through a torch-wrought brass sheet, offset by a fluidly coiled spring and grounded by an unpolished amethyst chunk. This object provides a striking piece of narrative-rich "jewelry for the home," integrating flawlessly into Eclectic Modern, Hollywood Regency, or Post-Modern minimalist spaces.

Curator's Note
A stunning example of miniature modernist sculpture, this 1970s torch-welded brass Hebrew 'Chai' sculpture by Brazil’s famed Copa Collection anchors any surface with intentional, tactile elegance. Celebrated as the symbol for life, its brutalist framework pairs high-shine hand-worked brass against a raw, deeply saturated purple amethyst crystal and warm copper accents. It serves as an incredibly powerful, sophisticated statement piece on a desk, mantle, or styled within an upscale bookcase vignette. See less