Zanini de Zanine

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1978, Zanini de Zanine grew up watching his father, José Zanine Caldas work. He studied industrial design at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, and upon graduating in 2002, he began training with Sergio Rodrigues. In 2003, he started producing solid wood furniture, and carried on the beliefs his father emitted into his own work, specifically the importance of respecting natural materials and forms. He is now one of Rio de Janeiro’s most celebrated designers, and even founded the Museum of Brazilian Chairs.

In 2001, Zanine was invited by Giulio Capellani to collaborate with the Capellani brand - a huge honour for designers. Although Zanines own practice builds on his father’s legacy, such as using salvaged materials from demolished homes, he also has paved his own new trajectory for himself. His work also embraces ceramics, woven textiles, and other unexpected materials. Zanine also experiments with more streamlined and linear aesthetic articulations.

"I could tell that my work style is experimental. My process is very free! I like to test the aesthetics and processes, but always having as a starting point the Brazilian identity. - Zanini de Zanine