Rocking Chaise Longue
early 1950s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Joaquim Tenreiro (Portuguese, 1906-92) was born to a Portuguese family of wood workers and emigrated to Brazil in 1928. He worked as a furniture maker and designer, eventually setting up his own workshop in 1943 called Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda. Tenreiro’s lifelong desire to create a new Brazilian furniture based on indigenous materials and forms, together with his significant influence on other leading mid-20th century Brazilian furniture designers and artists, have led to him being considered the father of modern Brazilian furniture design.
The materials and techniques used in this rocking chaise longue convey the main characteristics of Tenreiro’s work. Firstly, the use of rosewood (also known in Brazil as jacaranda, from the tree of that name), a strong, native Brazilian wood, gives the piece the indigenous qualities that Tenreiro strived for in his designs. Secondly, plaited cane work is a feature used in many of Tenreiro’s furniture pieces. He used cane both because of its long history in colonial furniture-making, and also because of cane’s suitability for the Brazilian climate. Plaited caning had been a dying craft in Brazil when Tenreiro started using it in his designs.
The materials and techniques used in this rocking chaise longue convey the main characteristics of Tenreiro’s work. Firstly, the use of rosewood (also known in Brazil as jacaranda, from the tree of that name), a strong, native Brazilian wood, gives the piece the indigenous qualities that Tenreiro strived for in his designs. Secondly, plaited cane work is a feature used in many of Tenreiro’s furniture pieces. He used cane both because of its long history in colonial furniture-making, and also because of cane’s suitability for the Brazilian climate. Plaited caning had been a dying craft in Brazil when Tenreiro started using it in his designs.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 5 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Rosewood and cane |
| Brief description | Rocking chaise longue made of rosewood and cane, designed by Joaquim Tenreiro ca. 1947, made by Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early 1950s. |
| Physical description | Rocking chaise longue made with a solid wooden frame, plaited cane work and an elongated D-shaped rocking base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Design and the diaspora
As a consequence of empire, people have moved between countries. Often expressed in creative practice, designers draw on influences from their birthplace, family heritage and the places they call home. From the 1970s onwards, the Sudanese-born, UK based ceramicist Siddig El Nigoumi popularised ancient African and Arabic pottery techniques like unglazed, burnished clay in British studio ceramics. And similarly, in the post-war years, Joaquim Tenreiro, who came from a Portuguese family of woodworkers, forged a new style of furniture design in his adopted country, Brazil. Using indigenous woods and traditional making techniques, his designs were suited to the South American climate and lifestyle.
Two-spouted water vessel
‘Ibreeq’ (jug), 1980
Designed and made by Siddig El Nigoumi, UK
Hand-built earthenware, unglazed and burnished clay with incised decoration
Museum no. C.56-1980
Rocking chaise longue
About 1947
Designed by Joaquim Albuquerque Tenreiro
Manufactured by Langenbach & Tenreiro, Brazil
Rosewood and woven cane
Given by Vanishing Points Gallery, London
Museum no. W.6:1 and 3-2014
The object sits in the 'Crisis and Conflict' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
(2021) |
| Credit line | Given by Vanishing Points Gallery, London |
| Summary | Joaquim Tenreiro (Portuguese, 1906-92) was born to a Portuguese family of wood workers and emigrated to Brazil in 1928. He worked as a furniture maker and designer, eventually setting up his own workshop in 1943 called Langenbach & Tenreiro Ltda. Tenreiro’s lifelong desire to create a new Brazilian furniture based on indigenous materials and forms, together with his significant influence on other leading mid-20th century Brazilian furniture designers and artists, have led to him being considered the father of modern Brazilian furniture design. The materials and techniques used in this rocking chaise longue convey the main characteristics of Tenreiro’s work. Firstly, the use of rosewood (also known in Brazil as jacaranda, from the tree of that name), a strong, native Brazilian wood, gives the piece the indigenous qualities that Tenreiro strived for in his designs. Secondly, plaited cane work is a feature used in many of Tenreiro’s furniture pieces. He used cane both because of its long history in colonial furniture-making, and also because of cane’s suitability for the Brazilian climate. Plaited caning had been a dying craft in Brazil when Tenreiro started using it in his designs. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.6:1 to 5-2014 |
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| Record created | June 20, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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