Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Italian, 1903-1970
With a surname that loosely translates to a synonym for “bizarre” in Italian, Milanese designer and architect Paolo Buffa is best known for capturing the best of both old and new in his plush, enveloping lounge chairs and wingback chairs as well as his range of modern tables, each dazzling and provocative but built using classical techniques.
Purposely playful and airy, mid-century Italian interiors encouraged merriment and socializing. Buffa’s work was well suited to this, but unlike the postwar designers who established recognizable trademarks and signatures, his vintage furniture for Cassina and other firms — the sculptural side tables and case pieces of walnut and solid oak, the luxurious sheepskin sofas — differed considerably from one design to the next, making them appealing to a range of interior decorators and socialites with specific taste. The son of a highly sought-after artist, Giovanni Buffa, Paolo graduated in 1927 from Politecnico di Milano. He then spent time working under architects and designers Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia. Ponti, who himself crafted thousands of furnishings and endlessly creative rooms, was so taken with the young designer that in 1928 he featured his simple and elegant rosewood dressing table in his new magazine, Domus.
After opening a firm with his regular collaborator Antonio Cassi Ramelli, Buffa became one of the leading tastemakers of Italian mid-century modern furnishings, designing for villas and residential buildings across the country. His style was a mix of Art Deco, Rationalism, neoclassicism and a bit of whimsy. He used high-quality materials and regularly worked with local ateliers known for their fine craftsmanship to produce his designs, such as Serafino Arrighi and Marelli & Colico. In 1940, he partnered with the Mario Quarti furniture studio on the royal palace of Albania’s King Zog, with Buffa designing the furniture, and in 1951, Egypt’s King Farouk enlisted him to redecorate his yacht.
While Buffa’s transcendent pieces are now collector’s items, there are a few still in production, such as those he made with Angelo Marelli. His eponymous firm, the Italian furniture producer Eredi Marelli, still manufactures some designs based on Buffa’s archives.
Find a collection of vintage Paolo Buffa furniture today on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Paolo Buffa
Mid-Century Modern Italian Chest of Drawers by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Italian chest of drawers by Paolo Buffa
Six-drawer dresser, Italy circa 1940
Blonde walnut veneer with inlayed detailing,
Floating loop legs and original ornat...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Paolo Buffa Set of 2 Extra Large Credenza's in Walnut and Mahogany, Italy, 1956
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Exceptional pair of high credenza's by Paolo Buffa in very good condition. What notices most is the size and the quality of these magnificent works of art. They are high and mighty a...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Sideboard with Riser Design Paolo Buffa, 1960s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in taranto, IT
Splendid original sideboard from the 60s, design by paolo buffa, with resealable top riser
it measures approximately 180 cm in length, 48 cm in width, 90 cm in height (part of the...
Category
1960s Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Wood
Paolo Buffa Large Sideboard in Wood, Brass and Glass Top, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Wonderful Italian sideboard - or chest of drawers - designed by Paolo Buffa in the 1950s. Refined and unmistakably unique piece thanks to its painted glass top, its wooden structure ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Italian Rosewood and Parchment Cabinet by Paolo Buffa circa 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very good labeled Paolo Buffa for Arrighi Serafino rosewood and parchment front cabinet circa 1940. Having upper open shelf with sliding glas...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood, Parchment Paper
Italian Midcentury Sideboard or Chest of Drawers by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Wonderful Italian sideboard or chest of drawers designed by Paolo Buffa in the 1950s. Truly refined the used wood combination in maple for the drawers and walnut for the furniture re...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Modern Chest of Drawers by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Wonderful Italian sideboard or chest of drawers designed by Paolo Buffa in the 1950s. Truly refined the used wood combination in maple for the drawers and walnut for the furniture re...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti.
Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Pair of Vintage Walnut Sideboards Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of sideboards made of hand crafted polished Walnut with original hardware. The commodes have a glass top with two drawers and t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass, Metal
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti.
Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Paolo Buffa from Cav. Arrighi Serafino Mobili d'Arte Cantu Bookcase, 1950s Italy
By Paolo Buffa, Cantu
Located in Lucca, IT
Bookcase Trumeau by Paolo Buffa from Cav. Arrighi Serafino Mobili d'Arte Cantu, 1950s, Italy.
Rosewood and legs and handle in original brass. It bears the mark of origin in brass ins...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Italian Design Midcentury Cabinet Vitrine Attributed to Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Well designed and finished with valuable materials. Ormolu-mounted, carved and inlaid with rare woods.
Paolo Buffa was named one of the most important designers in Italy. Architec...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Parchment Sideboard
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century (1930s) sideboard / bar cabinet with parchment veneer & a drop front with wood inlaid cupid figures in chariots & a glass fi...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Parchment Paper, Glass
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti.
Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Italian Design Midcentury Cabinet Vitrine Attributed to Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Well designed and finished with valuable materials. Ormolu-mounted, carved and inlaid with rare woods.
Paolo Buffa was named one of the most important designers in Italy. Archit...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Free Standing Cabinet Bar by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Fine mahogany free standing cabinet bar by Paolo Buffa made in Italy, circa 1950s. Opposing doors swing open to reveal mirrored and fitted interi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Rare Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboard/ Bar / Console by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
An Elegant, Timeless and Enchanting Italian Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical cabinet / bar / sideboard / credenza / console / sofa table by Paolo Buffa, circa 1950.
The cabinet / ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Pair of Cabinet Paolo Buffa Design Mid-Century Modern Bar Furniture
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pair of cabinet Paolo Buffa design Mid-Century Modern bar furniture, mahogany and brass.
It has a large flap door that hides an elegant mirrored bar with glass shelf, noteworthy car...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Italian Midcentury Sideboard with Mirror Attributed Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Beautiful sideboard with mirror i by Paolo Buffa, 1950s. The piece is really rare and important. The sideboard cabinet is supported by two major foot socks with bronze. Handmade edge...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Extraordinary Trumeau by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Rare trumeau by Paolo Buffa.
Palisander with brass inlay by Giovanni Gariboldi.
Brass sabots.
Similar example I mobili di Paolo Buffa di R . Rizzi pag56
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Cabinet by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
Exceptional cabinet by Paolo Buffa in walnut with mahogany interior and brass detail. Italy circa 1950. Measures: height 133cm, width 26cm, dept...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Hardwood
Paolo Buffa (Milan 1903/1970) Italian Double Chest of Drawers Cabinet Published
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Madrid, ES
Paolo Buffa ( Milan 1903 / Milan 1970 ) Italian Double Chest of Drawers Cabinet - Published
Creator:
Paolo Buffa (Designer)
Dimensions...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Italian Art Deco Teak Cabinet By Paolo Buffa , 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Meda, MB
This bar cabinet was produced in Italy in the 1950s by Paolo Buffa.
The external structure is completely made of teak wood.
The beauty of this piece is crowned by the elegant inter...
Category
1950s Italian Art Deco Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Mobile contenitore Paolo Buffa, Italia, anni '50
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rivoli, IT
Bellissimo mobile contenitore in legno, legno impiallacciato con pomoli in ottone attribuito alla maestria di Paolo Buffa
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Sideboard for Serafino Arrighi
By Serafino Arrighi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Large and beautiful Mid-century sideboard designed by Paolo Buffa for the fine Italian manufacture of Serafino Arrighi in the 50s.
The sideboard is entirely made of fine and solid wo...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Vintage Bookcase Cabinet in Wood by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Wonderful wooden bookcase cabinet designed by Paolo Buffa in the 50's, fine Italian manufacture. Provenance is from the house on Lake Como.
The structure is totally made of bleached...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Paolo Buffa case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Paolo Buffa case pieces and storage cabinets are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paolo Buffa case pieces and storage cabinets, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original case pieces and storage cabinets by Paolo Buffa were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider case pieces and storage cabinets by Osvaldo Borsani, Vittorio Dassi, and Ico Parisi. Prices for Paolo Buffa case pieces and storage cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,677 and can go as high as $77,668, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,953.