MOLE SOFA
Sergio Rodrigues
YEAR: 1961/2002
DIMENSIONS W x D x H (cm): 110 x 185 x 82 , 110 x 220 x 82 cm
FINISH: Fabric or Leather.
TIMBER : Imbuia or Brazilian Cherry (available in 5 colour tones)
WARRANTY: 1 Year
LEAD TIME: Approx. 18-20 weeks
Original licensed product of the Insituto Sergio Rodrigues and part of the LinBrasil collection.
Challenged by an order from photographer Otto Stupakoff for a chair that allowed him to ‘spread out like a sultan’ in his studio Rodrigues responded with the ‘Mole’,the Portuguese word for ‘soft’; his iconic classic that expressed Brazil in design and identity. In 1961 it was entered in the International Furniture Contest in Cantú, Italy, where it was awarded First Place and international acclaim, despite huge competition from 438 entries from 27 countries.
Clement Meadmore considered it one of the most important seats of the 20th century and is included in the design collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
SERGIO RODRIGUES
1927 - 2014
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1927. He graduated as an architect in 1952 and went on what he described as a ‘frantic search’ for design that could represent the ‘spirit of our people’.
He has been dubbed the ‘father’ of Brazilian furniture; his creations came at a time when Brazil was building a new federal capital, Brasilia, and the people were living in an atmosphere of invention and of ‘Brazilianness’ in fine arts, music (Bossa Nova) and architecture. Sergio sensed that modern Brazilian architecture lacked contemporary furniture to keep up. Sergio’s vision for modern, comfortable furniture suited for the Brazilian climate, resulted in his furniture being a huge success. Around the world, furniture designers still to look to the work of Sergio Rodrigues for inspiration.
