Etel
The Design Collection comprises one century of Brazilian furniture. With its pioneering reedition work, ETEL brings back graceful designs of the modern Brazilian production - which was only discovered lately and is now considered as one of the most relevant worldwide for that period. Pieces characterized by skillful handiwork and the use of exquisite materials, created by architects and artists intent on unveiling the local culture, under the influence of the international avant-garde. This retrieval is based on a strict methodology, faithfulness to the originals, and intensive collaboration with the institutes and families that represent each creator’s oeuvre. The collection includes pieces by Oscar Niemeyer, Lina Bo Bardi, Jorge Zalszupin, Sergio Rodrigues, Oswaldo Bratke, Branco & Preto and Giuseppe Scapinelli, among others. The modern legacy continues with remarkable contemporary creators such as Isay Weinfeld, Arthur de Mattos Casas, Claudia Moreira Salles, Carlos Motta, Etel Carmona, Lia Siqueira and Dado Castello Branco.
Jorge Zalszupin
A Polish Jew, Jorge Zalszupin fled from his country amidst during World War II to take refuge in Romania, where he earned his degree in architecture. After working in France, he traveled by ship to Rio de Janeiro in 1949 with only a motorcycle, his architecture diploma, a return ticket, and a special issue of the French magazine L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui; which praised Brazilian architecture. Just as he was preparing to use his return ticket, he received an invitation to work at an architectural firm in São Paulo. After becoming a Brazilian citizen in 1953, he began to work on his own, designing not only the houses but also taking charge of creating furniture. Giving rise to opening his wood working shop L’atelier, in 1959. Hugely successful, L'atelier grew to 200 employees, and today designs like the Dinamarquesa Chair alongside many others are considered Brazilian classics. The collection being exhibited at Avenue Road represents the North Americ