The Brasilia Connection specializes in vintage pieces, hardware, even upholstery. Here’s what they say about the history of the line:
The Brasilia line by Broyhill was created in 1962. The signature lines and waves of Brasilia furniture were inspired by the distinct architecture of the city of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The city of Brasilia was planned and developed between 1956 and 1960. When viewed from above, the city’s shape resembles a plane or bird, which is mimicked on much of Broyhill’s original fabric and tiles. Most of the city’s architecture was the vision of a man named Oscar Niemeyer. Some of his most notable works are the Palacio de Alvorada and the Cathedral of Brasilia. These both feature clean lines and simple, modern design. What stands out most about the architecture is the use of hyperboloid structures, as in the cathedral and it’s parabolic columns, which are said to represent two hands moving upwards towards heaven. This particular building is one of Brasilia’s most recognizable attractions, due to its unique design and grand scale. When viewing the architecture of Brasilia, it is clear to see the inspiration in the design of the Broyhill Brasilia line of furniture. This line was first featured at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962 representing the city of Brasilia. These unique pieces were created throughout the 1960’s in various forms.
- A pdf of an original sales brochure.
- Reader Troy recommended this story on Modern Capital, which explains the genesis of this beautiful line of midcentury modern furniture
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how about that…I found a china cabinet not too long ago in a thrift store:
http://surfacetoairmedia.com/sparklythings/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/cab4.jpg
I don’t remember the hutch part as being too remarkable, but it did have some neat pulls on the doors:
http://surfacetoairmedia.com/sparklythings/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/cab4-knobs.jpg
these are all cell phone pics, so not the best quality. But something more for your archive!
I have a six-piece dining set of Brasilia that I bought on eBay (and sadly, paid much more than the other posters here). I love, love, love the look of the credenza, as well as the dining chairs, but none of it is very sturdy and it has taken a beating over the years that I don’t know if I can repair. Mostly, the veneer on the top of the credenza and the sides of several chairs is chipped and smushed (some of this happened in shipping the set to me). And the table is super-wiggly and loud when people are eating or typing on a laptop…
To Mad Sarah – We are so sorry to hear of the condition of your Brasilia. We specialize in the purchase and sale of this beautiful furniture. It is exceptionally well made and will last several generations if cared for in a reasonable manner. From what you describe, it has been terribly abused. Veneer is almost impossible to repair and reflects abuse and neglect. We have bought and sold 100′s of pieces and rarely find any issues with the veneer. When we do it is heavily discounted or used for parts. The table movement is likely caused by the bolts not being tight. Contact us through our web site and we will try to help you with the furniture. If beyond help we can replace some of the pieces for you. It is highly unusual to hear of the condition that you purchased. The story above refers to our web site. Art and Bonnie
Do you have a resource for the gold with white birds fabric that is original to the dining chairs?
not me…
I am the proud owner of several pieces of this amazing line of furniture. They are a statement in every room they are placed!
For me, the thrill is to have pieces of art that work as furniture.
Do not be shy, go to estate sales, stop by local thrift shops, collect this treasures!
My greatest achivment: To keep 2 dining sets (both styles) in a house of 1000 sq ft, without getting divorced…
Buying or Selling: Please post on the Forum (not here on the main site): http://retrorenovation.com/forum/
I just found an awesome dresser by this company in the trash. It really looks awesome in my living room. .
Hi. I also have a Brasilia dresser (the one with the two doors) in my living room. The condition was not the greatest so I refinished it in a dark mahogany stain and polyurethaned it shiny and repainted the pulls matte silver. It looks fabulous. Plus, I have a Noguchi coffee table in the same color in the room, so they complement each other. I am seriously considering redoing them both in a matte black.
My wife and I negotiated the purchase of our home last year to include (what I now know is) an 8 piece Brasilia dining room table and chairs with a drop leaf. The chair seats have been reupholstered, but the wood is in mint condition throughout. We fell in love this furniture without even knowing what it was until I turned over one of the chairs to repair a skid pad on one of the legs. I like this set (which we use for everyday use) better than our newer mission set in the dining room. The simple elegance and beauty are truly amazing, and I sense the desire to find more of this magnificent furniture for our home.
I was making my weekly round of the local thrift store and found a Broyhill Brasilia Serving Cart in excellent condition for $20.00. Was the steal of the decade. Did not know what it was when I found it, but the style and wood quality caught my eye.
I am so excited ! I acquired an almost complete Brasilia bedroom set that included the queen headboard, 1 commode, the Magna Dresser, the triple dresser and 2 portrait mirrors. The most amazing part is that it is in great condition (needs cleaning) and the entire set was $100, I know WOW! I am still grinning like a Cheshire cat. I would love to find another commode end table, any ideas? I wood also like to find the bed rails and footboard if possible.
Can I decode the serial number on the back of a Broyhill premier hutch to determine the year. The number reads as follows. (6141-10) / (12-666-71) Not for sure on the second digit (#2) in the second set of numbers(12-666-71) or it may be (1-666-71) ? very faint. Thanks, Randy.
I am so excited that I found a triple dresser with mirror and a queen size headboard for $150. I couldn’t even ask them to take less, just too excited to see my first pieces in real life and be able to afford to take them home. The hunt continues!!
Congrats, Sarah!
My mom just found a drop-leaf dining table, 4 chairs with original upholstery and the medium-sized hutch at an antique store in West TN. We paid $410 for it – I think we got a deal!
Does anyone have recommendations on what to use to care for this line of furniture? Thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing your passion. Your advice and passion helped me decide to purchase a Brasilia desk. I have just purchased my second Brasilia. I now have the desk and the small china cabinet/hutch. It looks great in my 1920s Portland bungalow.
Congrats, Seth!
I’m looking for a Brasilia Broyhill kingsize / king headboard / bed / bedframe to match my exsisting night tables and dressers. I live in Frederick Maryland just north of Washington DC. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mark, I actually have a King size headboard in my garage. Unfortunately I do not have the rails that go along with it. The headboard belonged to my grandparents when they were married, and before my grandmother moved she gave the headboard to me. The piece is in fairly good condition. If you are interested, I can send pictures. Please let me know.
thanks, Cherie
Cherie:
I recently purchased a Sculptra headboard because I could not find a Brasillia one. However, I am still interested in yours. I guess I can always resell the Sculptra one. Could you please send me pics and pricing?
Mark
mposthuma@comcast.net
we recently purchased a Brasila dining set with 6 chairs. The table has a formica-like veneer top. Does anyone know if there were different types of table tops? We were hoping the table would have been solid wood and are considering replacing just the top/table
I’m hoping this may help – http://www.brasiliaconnection.com/files/Brasilia%20brochure(2).pdf
Thanks Mark, we do have a copy of that but, it doesn’t give anything but dimensions. We were hoping for details on selected pieces.
Hey! I am about to purchase a Brasilia chest of drawers, dresser with mirror, coffee table, end table, and dining room set I found at a consignment shop. I am curious about how to refinish the pieces. I keep seeing mixed things about the pieces being solid wood, and some pieces having veneers on them. Can you refinish pieces that have veneers on them?
I am not an expert on this subject, however, I would caution about refinishing if it’s really unnecessary. Original patina, even if imperfect, usually is desirable for preserving value.
I have a ton of Brasilia and I actually had an entire dining room set (table and chairs), serving cart, coffee table and a china hutch completely refinished. It was done so beautifully, you would seriously think the pieces are new. If you find the right person, they should be able to match the stain.