There are many Brazilian Midcentury Furniture Designers that I want to talk about, but this time, I will focus on Sergio Rodrigues [1927-2014]. Sergio was an architect and his designs highly evoked Brazilian culture. While furniture design in the 1950s and 60s was often informed by industrialization´s methods and materials, Sergio continued to build furniture with wood and other natural materials. Here is one of the designs that illustrate how he shaped Brazilian furniture design.
I wonder what people’s first reaction is when they see the Tonico Lounge Armchair. Because when I first saw it, I remember feeling intrigued and even a bit confused before completely falling in love with it. I had never researched Sergio’s design concept for it, but I learned through the years that he wanted to make it as comfortable and cost-effective as possible, so it could be easily selected to furnish student dorms, for example.
Tonico was named after Sergio’s brother-in-law, who was a man of simple tastes. Apparently, Tonico would not pay much attention to the aesthetics of a chair if it was comfortable. When he first sat on this lounge chair, he thought it was very comfortable and said: “I do not want anything else, just this here, this is beautiful.” This is exactly what Sergio wanted to confirm: that the beauty of his lounge chair was informed by its comfortability versus its aesthetics.
However, as a designer, we want to understand the references, and when I first saw it, I was thrown off by the oversized head roll and the wood frame construction that reminded me of bunk beds. Interestingly enough, Tonico, which is a nickname in Portuguese for “Antonio”, a very common name, made me think of a country man and it all came together.
That name association triggered an emotional memory. Although I am from Sao Paulo capital, my parents are from a small town 400 miles west. So, I remember, when traveling to their town, feeling intrigued by those country men and women who lived in rural areas and would move around on horses. The construction of the chair made me think of farm gates. For strength, these gates are built with alternating layers of wood slats that are attached to a pole. Tonico´s frame is built with wood slats attached to their legs. Moreover, the oversized leather head roll strapped to the chair frame made me think of a rolled sleeping assembly that this country man would carry behind him, strapped to his horse saddle during a short trip. Lastly, the wooden spheres initially looked like simple adornments, but when you sit on the lounge chair, you use the lower ones as support points to get up, because Tonico has no arms.
I am not sure what Sergio Rodrigues would find of my narrative for his lounge chair, but it definitely made me emotionally connected to it, and I cannot wait for the opportunity to own one.
Tonico´s base structure is available in Natural or Stained Freijó wood [a typical Brazilian species]. Upholstery is offered in a variety of fabrics, leather, or COM/COL. Also, there is an optional matching ottoman.
-Andy
