RAFA specializes in Brazilian modernist design from the 1950s and 1960s
Pieces are sourced in Brazil and restored by skilled specialists. Restoration follows a conservation-led approach: original finishes are preserved wherever possible, and any interventions are carefully documented to ensure the integrity and longevity of each work.
Our permanent venue is taking shape just outside Amsterdam, in an early-20th-century heritage stable complex that once formed part of Haarlem’s historic racecourse. Under careful restoration, it will soon offer a tactile, personal environment for the collection.
Founded by Thomas Martojo, RAFA works with collectors, architects and private clients worldwide. For inquiries, collaborations or viewings, we welcome you to get in touch.
Jorge Zalszupin (1922–2020)
Born in Warsaw and trained in Bucharest, Jorge Zalszupin arrived in Brazil in 1949, drawn by the optimism of a young modern nation. After working in Rio with Lucjan Korngold, he settled in São Paulo and in 1959 founded L’Atelier, where he merged craftsmanship with industrial precision.
His work translated the sculptural curves of Niemeyer and the discipline of Scandinavian design into a uniquely Brazilian idiom. Working with jacaranda, marble, and metal, he created forms that were architectural yet sensuous. Among his most iconic pieces are the Pétalas table, inspired by overlapping flower petals, the Presidencial armchair, elegant and monumental, and the JZ trolley, a study in movement and proportion. Each has become a touchstone of Brazilian modernism.
In the 1970s Zalszupin led a design team within the Forsa Group, pioneering molded plastics while maintaining his hallmark refinement. Having fled wartime Europe, he found in Brazil a modernism rooted in optimism, material honesty, and grace. His work remains a lasting synthesis of precision, warmth, and beauty.
