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< Back ICONS OF BRAZILIAN MODERNISM Cadeira de Três Pés (Three Legged Chair) is a design work of sculptural quality, resulting from the juxtaposition of five native woods from Brazil. The trapezoidal design of Cadeira de Três Pés comes from a unique piece that shapes both its seat and backrest with rounded edges, molded in curves, one of Brazilian modernism favorite themes. By combining five distinct native woods from Brazil, Tenreiro masterfully creates parallel and rhythmical lines that further elevate the fluidity of the chair’s structural curves, complemented by the elegance of the three legs in conic shape, tapered at its base. The seeming simplicity of this three legged chair reveals a skillful execution and complex geometrical formulation, through which Joaquim Tenreiro produced a timeless work of art, an iconic Brazilian modernist design that’s still relevant 70 years later. more details about this artwork Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) Portuguese-born designer, Brazil “ It was not I who created the modern furniture piece, I’ve sought to give a modern character to Brazilian furniture. I created stripped and clean furniture, taking into account the Brazilian artisanal tradition .” Joaquim Tenreiro, 1985 Considered to be the pioneer of Brazilian modernist mid-century furniture, Portuguese-born designer Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992) came from a family of carpenters, developing woodworking skills and techniques early on, which he would later apply on his design production upon moving to Brazil in 1928. Concluding his artistic formation in Rio de Janeiro’s Academia Nacional de Belas Artes, the design engaged with modernist artists groups whose ideals were opposed to those of the traditional philosophy of the Academy. 
 While furthering his connections in the modernist art world, Joaquim Tenreiro’s career took off with the help of Brazilian modernist master Oscar Niemeyer, who would later invited Tenreiro to work on one of Niemeyer’s own design projects. 
 Tenreiro also collaborated with important Brazilian furniture design companies such as Laubisch-Hirth, which gave him the unique opportunity to showcase his pursuit towards Brazilian furniture and modernist design.
 Much like Niemeyer’s prestigious design, Joaquim Tenreiro developed an original, simple, curvy and light design production, shaping modernist furniture design in Brazil and launching his design firm. One of the most outstanding examples of Joaquim Tenreiro’s design philosophy and expertise is Cadeira de Três Pés .

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< Back PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Ceramics & Terracotta Before the arrival of the Europeans, a series of long-established and sophisticated civilizations flourished in North and South America. Beyond the more familiar civilizations such as the Incas and the Maya, smaller ethnic groups were able to develop their own distinctive cultures and artistic styles. Pre-Columbian Art encompasses the artifacts created by indigenous peoples from the second millennium BC to the time of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, when the existing cultures were colonized by the Europeans. A very large proportion of Pre-Columbian Art is made of terracotta, of which many examples have survived, especially from the traditions in Colombia and Ecuador, although the most prolific in South America were the ancient Peruvians, where terracottas span from 900 BC to the Spanish colonization. Mexico has some of the most well-known ceramics are from the Maya, similar to ancient Greek pottery in that they feature great painted narratives on the vases, while Costa Rica has a very different but rich tradition. Ceramics were frequently ornamented in a variety of different methods, from stamping, incision, excision and applique in geometric designs and motifs, to polychrome painting of ritual scenes with dignitaries and prisoners. Effigy urns and vases were also popular, depicting a variety of human, animal and imaginary characters. PRE-COLUMBIAN CERAMICS in ARCHEOLOGY

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