Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler Magazine Rack for Forma, Brazil, 1950s - Lot 670

A sculptural exercise in material contrast, this magazine rack designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma in the 1950s captures the experimental spirit of early Brazilian Modernism. A hammered copper sling — richly patinated and texturally dimpled — is suspended within a minimalist black painted metal frame, creating a refined dialogue between warmth and restraint.
The copper’s hand-worked surface introduces depth and movement, catching light with subtle tonal variation, while the linear iron structure grounds the composition with architectural clarity. Both functional and decorative, the design holds periodicals, books, or folios with effortless elegance, making it equally suited to residential interiors or executive settings.
Hauner and Eisler’s partnership at Forma helped define a new modern vocabulary in Brazil — one that embraced material honesty, sculptural simplicity, and European rigor filtered through a distinctly Brazilian sensibility. Pieces such as this demonstrate their ability to elevate utilitarian objects into collectible design statements.
An increasingly sought-after example of mid-century Brazilian decorative metalwork.