When it comes to mid-century furniture, the innovative work of the Brazilian Modernists has often been overlooked, including the designs of prolific maker Percival Lafer. Lafer studied architecture at São Paulo’s Universidade Mackenzie. After he graduated, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a furniture business that Lafer took over with his brothers.
Taking up the mantle, Lafer made the jump from architecture to furniture design in 1961, putting a focus on thoughtfully designed pieces available at affordable prices. That year, Lafer introduced his supremely popular MP-1 chair, a plush piece of furniture made with iron and wood that he has riffed on throughout his entire career.
The silhouettes of Lafer lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating were distinct from streamlined American and European mid-century modernism, taking on casual, puffed forms thanks to his use of polyurethane layers as padding. He combined such contemporary industrial materials with local natural ones, namely Brazilian hardwoods, which delighted customers around the world as Lafer became one of the country’s leading exporters of furniture.
Lafer has continued to design furniture throughout his career, branching into sofas, tables and lighting. He was at the forefront of mechanical furniture movements, debuting the MP-7 sofa, which could turn into a twin bed, in 1965, the first such piece on the market. One of his most intriguing projects was the MP Lafer, a two-seat fiberglass roadster designed to emulate British sports cars. Some 4,300 units were produced over its 16-year manufacturing run in the ’70s and ’80s, with several ending up in the collections of major car museums.
Still, Lafer’s biggest claim to fame is his seating, which he continues to design, drawing inspiration from modern shapes and local materials. In 2017, a retrospective of his work was organized as part of the São Paulo Design Weekend.
Find vintage Percival Lafer furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Percival Lafer, Coffee Table, Patchwork Wood, c. 1970
By Percival Lafer
Located in PARIS, FR
This exceptional coffee table by Percival Lafer is a striking example of 1970s design, seamlessly blending natural materials with contemporary finishes. The tabletop, crafted from an...
Glass, Hardwood
Percival Lafer, Patchwork Square Coffee Table, Wood and Glass, c. 1970
By Percival Lafer
Located in PARIS, FR
This exceptional coffee table by Percival Lafer is a striking example of 1970s design, seamlessly blending natural materials with contemporary finishes. The tabletop, crafted from an...
Glass, Hardwood
$950
H 12.5 in W 22.5 in D 23.75 in
Percival Lafer Rosewood and Smoked Glass Coffee or Side Table, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Miami, FL
Rosewood and smoked glass top coffee or side table by Percival Later. Brazil, 1970s; maintains original label.
Smoked Glass, Rosewood
$1,637
H 13.19 in W 50.01 in D 25.01 in
Percival Lafer Exotic Wood and Glass Coffee Table MP 97, 1970's
By Lafer, Percival Lafer
Located in Lisboa, PT
This coffee table, model, MP 97, was designed and produced by Percival Lafer, in Brazil, during the 1970's. It has a simple structure in solid exotic wood and the top in smoked glass...
Glass, Smoked Glass, Wood
$1,499
H 13.5 in W 23.5 in D 22 in
1970's Mid-Century Brazilian Modern Percival Lafer Rosewood Side Table
By Sergio Rodrigues, OCA Brazil, Percival Lafer
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage original Midcentury Modern side table for sale. Designed by Percival Lafer in the 1970's, and is an original Brazilian Modern table with the original foil label still intact....
Chrome
Percival Lafer, Side Tables, Wood, Marble, Brazil, 1970
By Percival Lafer
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood and marble side tables designed and produced by Percival Lafer, Brazil, c. 1970. Light scratching present on wooden legs and one of the corners of one marble top is w...
Marble
Percival Lafer, Side Tables, Fiberglass, Brazil, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of orange-lacquered fiberglass side tables produced by Percival Lafer, Brazil, c. 1970s. Scuffs, marks and wear as illustrated. Overall Dimensions (inches): 16.5"H x 23.5"W ...
Fiberglass
Burl Wood Brass Glass Top Square Coffee Table
By Mastercraft, Milo Baughman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern massive burl wood frame glass top square coffee table. Gorgeous burl wood grain pattern. Nice design proportions.
Brass
Percival Lafer Folding Coffee Table
By Percival Lafer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Percival Lafer brutalist coffee table is made out of teak, jacaranda, and rosewood in different heights and lengths. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to move and has a s...
Teak, Jacaranda, Rosewood
Percival Lafer Side Table
By Percival Lafer
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful wood, please see all pictures. Table has a smoke glass top.
Glass, Wood
Rosewood and Lacquered Copper Coffee Table by Percival Lafer
By Percival Lafer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Lacquered copper patchwork mosaic coffee table designed by Percival Lafer. Base made of Brazilian Rosewood with exposed metal hardware. Percival Lafer is a Brazilian industrial desi...
Copper
Percival Lafer Folding Rosewood Coffee Table, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in Culver City, CA
This coffee table is fabulous! Designed by Percival Lafer a Brazilian furniture designer known for his innovative and modern designs. One of his most iconic creations is the Percival Lafer folding table, which was first introduced in the 1970s. Coming in a number of sizes, this is the large coffee table. The Percival Lafer folding tables are versatile functional pieces of furniture that can be used in a variety of settings. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to move, with a simple folding mechanism that allows it to be set up or stored away quickly and easily. The table features a sleek and minimalist design, with a rosewood parquette type design that featured different pieces of rosewood arranged at different heights, creating an uneven, heavily textured, almost brutalist look-- topped with glass. This eye catching design is one of his most iconic designs. A wonderful piece that can be easily folded and stored away if necessary. This table would look incredible in any mid century modern, Brazilian modern, or contemporary home. Place both tables together to have a larger functional coffee table. We currently have this table in the gallery alongside a Sergio Rodrigues sofa as well as a Jorge Zalszupin mesa...
Steel
$8,820
H 15.75 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
"MP-79" Coffee Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This beautiful MP-97 coffee table, made of solid Jatobá wood, is another great example of the imaginative and innovative mind of designer and architect Percival Lafer. With its iconi...
Wood
Percival Lafer, Side Tables, Wood, Marble, Brazil, 1985
By Percival Lafer
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood and marble side tables, model MP-85, designed and produced by Percival Lafer, Brazil, c. 1985. Dimensions: 13.75” H x 27.3” W x 25.125” D
Marble
Sold
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 47.25 in
'MP-79' Center Table, by Percival Lafer, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Design
By Percival Lafer
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The MP79 center table, designed by the illustrious Percival Lafer, stands as a paragon of mid-century modern Brazilian design, reflecting an era where functionality met elegance in a...
Limestone
Sold
H 13.25 in W 50 in D 25 in
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table in Jacaranda by Percival Lafer, Brazil, c. 1970s
By Percival Lafer, Lafer
Located in Deland, FL
Attention collectors! This alluring coffee table, designed by the incomparable Percival Lafer, is the epitome of Brazilian minimalism for which Lafer and his furniture company are re...
Glass, Wood, Jacaranda
Sold
H 14 in W 50 in D 25 in
Percival Lafer Rosewood Frame Travertine Marble-Top Rectangle Coffee Table
By Percival Lafer
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern rosewood frame travertine top long rectangle coffee table by Percival Lafer.
Travertine
Percival Lafer Jacaranda Cocktail or Coffee Table
By Percival Lafer
Located in London, GB
A Brazilian coffee or cocktail table with a wonderful sculptural quality. A relief of various tropical hardwoods in different heights and lengths to create a Brutalist effect, edged ...
Glass, Jacaranda, Mahogany, Rosewood