Percival Lafer Biography
Percival Lafer was born in Brazil in 1936, he is an architect, product and furniture designer who was able to create pieces characterized by a refined design at accessible prices. Despite often being considered the "best kept secret" of post-World War II modern design, Lafer is relatively unknown outside his country, although he has left an indelible imprint on the field of Brazilian design.
After graduating in architecture from the prestigious Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo, his father suddenly passed away. The children then found themselves having to manage the family furniture shop, and at that moment Lafer decided to abandon his career as an architect, dedicating himself to furniture design instead. This choice was facilitated by the nature of the inherited business and allowed him to undertake this new career more easily.
In 1961, Lafer launched the famous "MP-1" armchair, which was an immediate success. This armchair featured a T-shaped steel base, covered with thin pieces of solid rosewood, and a seat padded with layers of foam instead of springs. This success provided Lafer with the springboard to create his own company, which has established itself as an innovative and original company in design, earning numerous patents. The brand chosen by Lafer for his creations is Lafer MP, where MP stands for Moveis Patentados, or "Patented Furniture".
Lafer constantly looked for ways to create quality modernist designs affordable for the middle classes, paying particular attention to mass production. In 1965, the MP-041 series introduced seats with solid wood frames and pre-formed, hand-upholstered cushions. What made this collection particularly significant was its ease of disassembly and reassembly, allowing for flat-pack delivery that minimized shipping costs.
In addition to other noteworthy creations, such as the MP-89 armchair, designed in 1970 with cut plexiglass legs, mesh seat and leather cushions, or the MP-071 armchair from 1973, Lafer also created the S1 collection in 1975 , composed of sofas, armchairs and coffee tables, and the MP-163 armchair, better known as the "Earth Chair", in 1976. By using polished steel as a supporting structure in his designs, Lafer managed to ensure a modern aesthetic while maintaining the predominant use of materials that characterize most of his creations, such as exotic woods and high quality leathers.
Lafer also demonstrated its reputation for innovation in the case of the Mini Sala in 1966, which, due to poor marketing, was immediately transformed into the well-received Mirage armchair in 1967. In the 1970s, Lafer's company expanded its business, exporting to the United States and Europe, maintaining this position until 1985.
