Fragments of History: L’Atelier and Galeria Sistina: Salon Art + Design 2024

In 1959, Zalszupin founded L’Atelier, focusing on residential furniture that combined meticulous craftsmanship with avant-garde materials. His early designs showcased rich materials like leather, marble, and rosewood, emphasizing handmade joinery and exquisite detailing. Zalszupin actively sought aesthetic freedom, pushing the limits of technology to introduce unprecedented production techniques in Brazil. He revolutionized furniture design through the use of molded laminated rosewood, enabling graceful curves without lengthy manual processes.

This innovation produced iconic pieces such as the Presidencial Sofa and Armchairs, Petalas Coffee Table, and Brasiliana Sofa and Armchairs. His masterful use of marquetry, known as “taqueamento,” involved gluing together various rosewood veneers, reducing waste while enhancing the visual richness of his work, exemplified in the iconic Guanabara tables. Zalszupin’s legacy is marked by his ability to blend creativity with functionality, resulting in pieces that resonate with Brazil’s cultural identity. His work reflects the boldness of the 1960s design movement and solidifies his status as a pivotal figure in modern Brazilian design.

Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) left an enduring mark on Brazilian design, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s with his work through L'atelier. Among his most iconic creations are the Presidential Armchairs and the Presidential Sofa, both designed in 1959. These pieces are crafted from molded rosewood laminated wood, offering a light, organic structure. The wide armchairs provide a throne-like comfort, complemented by voluminous cushions.

Zalszupin also designed a series of modulated units in the 1960s, allowing for customized furniture configurations. This particular piece remained in the designer's possession for over four decades in his personal residence. It features a variety of rosewood tones, covered with rectangular pieces of marquetry wood, enabling the creation of unique furniture pieces by adjusting the modular elements.

The Sesc Stool is structured with only four thick rectangular blocks of plywood pine, different from the traditional thin layers of laminated wood or plywood. The material had been developed by the engineer Vinicio Walter Callia (1923–1994) as a construction material to be used in architectural structures. The stools were manufactured by SESC carpenters using plywood produced by Laminarco, Callia’s company. The pieces are built in a simplified manner that resembles crates, with a single decorative detail: a cutout in a "U" shape on the backrest. The importance of the pieces lay on the revolutionary ideas of Lina bo Bardi on architecture and brazilian culture. 

Dominici Iluminação Moderna, founded by Enrico Furio Dominici in 1934, began as a lighting store in Bologna, Italy, before he relocated to Brazil amidst wartime disruptions. Dominici introduced captivating Italian lighting designs to Brazilian audiences, leading to the establishment of stores in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Transitioning from reliance on Italian imports, Dominici quickly rose to prominence by establishing a local lighting factory, producing exclusive pieces for various industries. By the 1970s, Studio Dominici not only manufactured products but also reintroduced European design to Brazil, solidifying its position as a leading authority in Brazilian lighting design, revered by architects, designers, and connoisseurs alike. This model is a rare ceiling lamp designed and produced by Dominici.

Other amazing lights are part of our collection and some were selected to be on display at the Salon. Their authorship is still in research.