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Rare Brazilian Modern Design - Percival Lafer MP-123 Modular Sofa Bench, 1973

$44,900

£33,948.55

€39,746.48

CA$63,881.57

A$64,979.21

CHF 37,291.43

MX$781,126.34

NOK 435,003.14

SEK 439,098.31

DKK 297,141.09

About the Item

Rare MP-123 modular sofa bench designed by Percival Lafer in Brazil in 1973. Originally conceived as a fully demountable modular seating system for corporate and reception spaces, the MP-123 reflects Lafer’s sophisticated approach to industrial design, combining architectural clarity, comfort and versatility. This authentic vintage example is composed of two seating modules and one wooden side module, all connected to a tubular steel structural axis. The piece features solid and veneered freijó wood, steel supports, leather cushions and a leather magazine holder, preserving the constructive logic and proportions of the original 1970s design. The MP-123 is among Lafer’s most distinctive modular projects, conceived for flexible use in lounges, offices, galleries and public interiors. Its composition can be read both as a sofa, a bench or a modular reception piece, with a refined combination of Brazilian hardwood, leather and exposed metal structure. Please note: As shown in the last photo, we have recently made new cushions for this piece in genuine leather in an antique red tone, especially for its presentation at the important SP-Arte fair in São Paulo in 2026. The color was carefully chosen to complement the freijó wood and the original character of the design. The black leatherette cushions have also been preserved and are included as an alternative upholstery option. The model is catalogued in the book “Percival Lafer — Design, Indústria e Mercado”, published by Olhares, page 144, where the MP-123 is described as a modular system designed for corporate spaces and the American market, with constructive details in steel and solid wood. An exceptional and highly collectible example of Brazilian modern design from the 1970s, combining modularity, refined proportions and Lafer’s unmistakable constructive language. Designer: Percival Lafer Model: MP-123 Country: Brazil Year: 1973 Materials: Freijó wood, tubular steel, genuine leather, leatherette alternative cushions Dimensions: W 209 × D 66 × H 67.5 cm Seat height: 42 cm Documentation: Catalogued in Percival Lafer — Design, Indústria e Mercado, Ed. Olhares, p. 144 Exhibitions: SP-Arte, São Paulo, 2026 Condition: Authentic vintage condition, with original period components preserved. Newly made genuine leather cushions in antique red tone; black leatherette cushions also included as an alternative configuration. Provenance / Curated by: Lora Ronco Galeria, São Paulo.

Creator:
Percival Lafer (Designer),Lafer (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 26.58 in (67.5 cm)Width: 82.29 in (209 cm)Depth: 25.99 in (66 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Freijó,Leather,Stainless Steel
Place of Origin:
Brazil
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1973
Condition:
Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. Authentic vintage condition, with original period components preserved. Newly made genuine leather cushions in antique red tone; black leatherette cushions also included as an alternative configuration.
Seller Location:
São Paulo, BR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU10213251078542

Shop All Percival Lafer

Percival Lafer

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.

Materials

Iron

We Spotted This ’70s Percival Lafer Sofa in Michael Shannon’s Brooklyn Home

“It’s had some use over the years, but I think that’s what gives it a lot of the character,” the actor told AD.

Rare Brazilian Modern Design - Percival Lafer MP-123 Modular Sofa Bench, 1973

About the Item

Percival Lafer

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We Spotted This ’70s Percival Lafer Sofa in Michael Shannon’s Brooklyn Home