Credenza in Cherry Wood, Joaquim Tenreiro for Laubitch & Hirth, 1942

Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro in 1942, this credenza dates to the designer’s final year at Laubisch & Hirth, a leading furniture manufacturer in Rio de Janeiro. The work marks a formative moment in Tenreiro’s career, as he began to move away from European-influenced decorative traditions toward a more restrained modernist language. Shortly after this period, Tenreiro would establish his independent practice, making early works from this phase particularly significant within his oeuvre.

The credenza is crafted from cherry hardwood, it features four hinged doors opening to two interior shelves, along with two integrated drawers. The composition is elevated on four slender legs, lending visual lightness while maintaining architectural balance. The design reflects Tenreiro’s early exploration of proportion and functional clarity, elements that would later become central to Brazilian modern furniture.

Originally from a private residence in Teresópolis, the piece retains the original Laubisch & Hirth manufacturer’s seal and dated stamp on the rear, confirming its production and period. The wood has been professionally refinished, restoring surface depth while preserving material integrity. Presented in excellent vintage condition, this credenza stands as an important early example of Tenreiro’s transition toward a distinctly modern Brazilian design vocabulary. | Depth: 17 in