Jacaranda + Leather ‘Sheriff’ Lounge Chair by Sergio Rodrigues, 1957 - 2 Avail

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Description

An iconic ‘Sheriff’ lounge chair by renowned Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues. This chair design was originally created as a commission … Read more An iconic ‘Sheriff’ lounge chair by renowned Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues. This chair design was originally created as a commission in 1957 for photographer Otto Stupakoff and gained little recognition until it won the first prize in the IV Concorso Internazionale del Mobile in Italy in 1961. It was subsequently manufactured in Italy for European consumption and became an icon of Brazilian modern design.

The frame is crafted in jacaranda, with a weight and presence that anchors the piece. A system of leather straps supports the seat beneath, a method tied to the materials and traditions of the South American pampas. The cushions settle into this structure with a natural drape, softening the lines of the frame and giving the chair its relaxed, low-slung posture.

The leather has been newly upholstered in a warm cognac tone, chosen to sit closely with the depth of the wood.

Examples of the ‘Sheriff’ chair are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Original maker’s label present on frame.

Sold and priced individually.

Condition: Newly upholstered in Venerando leather by Leather Miracles in a warm cognac tone, this is a top-grain hide with a pronounced character and depth. Sourced from New Zealand and finished in Italy, the leather carries a natural, small-scale grain beneath a high-sheen, semi-aniline finish.

Oils within the surface create a subtle two-tone effect that shifts with light and use, lending it a gently distressed, lived-in quality. At a thickness of 1.2–1.4 mm and vacuum dried to deepen its color, the material is both substantial and responsive—designed to soften and develop a richer patina over time.

Each chair is composed of four individual cushions, joined by leather ties and structured to sit with both flexibility and support. The interiors remain true to traditional methods—down-filled cores layered with curled hair and coco fiber, with cotton and horsehair reinforcing the edges to hold shape over time.

The seat is suspended on a network of leather straps, adjusted for tension; one chair retains a previously replaced set, now fully integrated and stable.

Our restoration atelier undertook a comprehensive rebuild over approximately 86 hours. Seams were double-stitched, cushions deeply tufted where they meet the frame, and discreet air vents introduced to regulate compression and return. These are not surface updates but structural decisions—made to extend the life of the chairs while preserving their original construction.

Frames remain solid and well-balanced. The chairs sit comfortably for daily use, with a softness that reflects both the materials and the hand behind them.

Additional Dimensions: 22"AH See less