1950s Brazilian Modern Dry Bar in Hardwood by Jose Zanine Caldas

Available today, this Brazilian modern dry bar, designed by Jose Zanine Caldas in the fifties, is truly one of a kind! This bar is made in pau marfim hardwood and features two scissor-like legs, a rectangular body with a brass handle, and a black formica top. The interior of the cabinet is perfect for storing drinks and the manufacturing seal is under the body structure. In addition, the wood has been refinished and is in excellent condition. The bar is showcased in our gallery next to a Jean Gillon black sofa, a round spider coffee table by Giuseppe Scapinelli, and a Michel Arnault armchair and they look amazing together (images attached). This mid-century gem is a perfect addition for any home and the iconic design makes it an absolute must-have for everyone's mid-century modern collection.

In regards to the author, a self-taught artist, designer, and architect, Jose Zanine Caldas (1919-2001) was born on the southern coast of Bahia in Brazil. At age twenty, he opened an architectural scale model workshop in Rio de Janeiro where he worked with modernist pioneers such as Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer. In 1948, he and two business partners started the company Mo´veis Artisticos Z. Their elegant, simple, and organic shaped pieces in plywood were produced at a price point that made them accessible to the emerging market of collectors, with an eye toward a modern style. In the early 1950s, Zanine left the company and returned to his home state of Bahia. Heavily inspired by the local craftsmen there who carved boats and furniture from felled trees, Zanine began experimenting with chiseling and carving large, sculptural works, which became the focus of his later career. He also set himself apart with his pavilion-type architectural constructions in richly colored hewn logs. Zanine’s work has been exhibited in the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and throughout his native Brazil.

Size: H33.5, W27.6, D13.8 (in) H85, W70, D35 (cm).