Joaquim Tenreiro was born in Melo, Portugal.
He studied geometric drawing and painting and learned woodworking from his craftsman father, starting to make furniture at a young age. Establishing himself in Brazil, he worked at the furniture factory and interior design studio Laubisch & Hirth and at Leandro Martins, until he set up the Langenbach e Tenreiro workshop in 1943. This workshop gave rise to Tenreiro Móveis e Decorações, which he left in 1968, when he ended his activities as a designer.
He passed away at the age of 86 in 1992 in Itapira, São Paulo.
