In 1873, a group of wealthy coffee merchants established the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios with the stated aim of supporting future industrialization efforts in Brazil. Seven years later, it became a fully integrated school. For over a century, it has trained the public in fields of agriculture, industry, trade, crafts, the arts and design, including furniture design, leading to the production of incredibly rare student-designed pieces still sought after today.
Borrowing its model from similar European institutions, the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios built upon methods and curricula popular at the time to instruct and train economically disadvantaged locals. In the hopes of making Brazil’s industries more competitive, the school involved eminent volunteers, including two of its directors, Brazilian architects Bettencourt da Silva and Ramos de Azevedo. At times, the school used its own exceptionally talented students as teachers when volunteers were scarce.
The Sociedade Propagadora das Belas Artes maintained the school in a building designed by Ramos in São Paulo. Ramos’s work also included notable buildings such as the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo and the Palácio das Indústrias. The school has provided furnishings for a range of hotels, like the Manaus Tropical Hotel, as well as the Cumbica International Airport.
On 1stDibs find a collection of Liceu de Artes e Ofícios seating, tables and more.
Armchairs by “Liceu de Artes e Ofícios”, Brazil 1960s.
By Liceu de Artes e Ofícios
Located in Barcelona, ES
Armchairs designed and produced by “Liceu de Artes e Ofícios” around 1960’s in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Solid wood, brass details and new upholstery. Rea...
Brass
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchair, Attributed to Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful chair with arms produced in Brazil in the 1950s with a high quality wood called "peroba do campo". The authorship is unknown, but the elegance and the execution of the w...
Upholstery, Hardwood
Parallel Bar Sofa, Model 57, by Florence Knol, USA, 1960s.
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sofa Model nº57, "Parallel bar" series, designed by Florence Knoll in 1959 and produced by “Knoll International” during the 1960s. The sofa, two-seater, with arms at both ends, is...
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Single Bed by "Móveis Cimo", Brazil, 1950s
By Moveis Cimo
Located in Barcelona, ES
Single bed designed and produced by “Móveis Cimo” in Brazil, made of “imbuia” wood and leather in yellow color. Established in 1913 in Santa Catarina by Jorge Zipperer e Willy Jung, ...
Leather, Hardwood
Outdoors bench, attributed to Jorge Zalszupin. Brazil, 1960s.
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outdoors bench, probably designed by Jorge Zalszupin and produced by l’Atelier in 1960s, made of fiber glass and plastic. The bench is perfect for outdoor garden area, with two seats...
Fabric, Fiberglass
Armchair by “Móveis Cimo”, Brazil, 1940s
By Moveis Cimo
Located in Barcelona, ES
Model “201” armchair designed and produced by “Móveis Cimo” in 1940s, made of plywood and solid “imbuia” wood. Very strong and comfortable chair.
Hardwood
Mid-Century Modern Sofa by Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, 1950's
By Liceu de Artes e Ofícios
Located in New York, NY
This unique piece showcases the excellence of Brazilian modernist design. Crafted in solid rosewood of exceptional quality and upholstered in a deep red fabric. Founded in 1873 mids ...
Leather, Upholstery, Rosewood
Liceu de Artes e Oficios lounge sofa Brazil 1955
By Liceu de Artes e Ofícios
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super rare sculptural lounge sofa designed and made by Liceu de Artes e Oficios, Brazil 1955. The sofa has elegant lines and awesome woodworking details. The feet are slightly angled...
Velvet, Rosewood
Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Brazil, 1960s
By Liceu de Artes e Ofícios
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and brown velvet sofa produced by Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, Brazil, c. 1960. Vintage fabric in fair condition.Overall Dimensions (inches): 29.0"H x 85.25"W x 30.0"D Seat Hei...
Fabric, Wood
Liceu de Artes e Ofícios Solid Wood Sofa, Brazil, 1960s
Located in Curitiba, PR
An exceptional Brazilian Mid-Century Modern sofa produced by Liceu de Artes e Ofícios in the 1960s. Expertly crafted from solid wood, this piece exemplifies the institution’s renowne...
Foam, Hardwood
Brazilian Rosewood Sofa by Liceu De Artes e Officios, Midcentury
By Liceu de Artes e Ofícios
Located in New York, NY
Two-seat sofa designed by Liceu de Artes e Oficios in solid rosewood, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1960s. The piece has been recently refinished and newly upholstered in natural leather. Liceu De Artes & Oficios was established in 1873 by a group of elite coffee aristocrats that pretended to train skilled labor for possible future industrialization of Brazil. Seven years after, the institution changed completely the proposal, really becoming a school of craftsmanship, occupying a building design by Ramos de...
Leather, Rosewood
Vintage Rosewood Sofa, Liceu De Artes e Ofícios, Brazil, 1950s, Mid-Century
By Liceu de Artes e Ofícios
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Liceu de Artes e Oficios Vintage Sofa Rosewood, Fabric Brazil, 1950s
Upholstery, Hardwood
