20th Century Paolo Buffa Armchair & Pouf in Wood and Upholstery for Marelli, 50s
About the Item
- Creator:Eredi Marelli (Manufacturer),Paolo Buffa (Author)
- Dimensions:Height: 33.47 in (85 cm)Width: 25.99 in (66 cm)Depth: 24.81 in (63 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Turin, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5450233700192
Paolo Buffa
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Turin, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- 20th Century Paolo Buffa Pair of Nightstands in Wood for Serafino Arrighi, 50sBy Serafino Arrighi, Paolo BuffaLocated in Turin, TurinPaolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclass...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- 20th Century Paolo Buffa Desk and Chair in Wood for Lietti, 50sBy Paolo Buffa, Paolo Lietti & FigliLocated in Turin, TurinPaolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclass...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
- 20th Century Paolo Buffa Wooden Daybed with Mattress for Serafino Arrighi, 1940sBy Serafino Arrighi, Paolo BuffaLocated in Turin, TurinPaolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclassical inspiration, in 1928, Buffa opened his own studio with Cassi Ramelli...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsWood, Upholstery
- 20th Century Paolo Buffa Console Yellow Marble Tabletop and Wooden Structure 50sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Turin, TurinPaolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclass...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
MaterialsMarble
- 20th Century Paolo Buffa Wall Console with marble topBy Serafino Arrighi, Paolo BuffaLocated in Turin, TurinPaolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclass...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
MaterialsMarble, Brass
- 20th Century Fontana Arte Decorative Box in Wood and Glass, 50sBy Fontana ArteLocated in Turin, TurinFontanaArte is an Italian company founded in Milan (as Fontana Arte) in 1932 by Luigi Fontana and Giò Ponti and specializing in glass processing and the production of furnishing acce...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsGlass, Wood
- 20th Century Italian Pair of Mid-Century Maplewood Nightstands by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of nightstands made of hand crafted polished Maplewood, designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. The bed side tables are composed with a glass shelf and two small doors, detailed with its original brass hardware. The small side chests...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- 20th Century Italian Walnut Nightstands - Vintage Bed Side Tables by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA dark-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of nightstands, bedside tables made of hand crafted polished Walnut with one large drawer and one small drawer, composed with de...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Fine Double Bed Frame in WoodBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITBeautiful frame of a double bed designed by the great Paolo Buffa in the 1950s of fine Italian manufacture. The bed is made entirely of solid and durable wood, the frame is very impr...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Sets
MaterialsWood
- 20th Century Italian Pair of Vintage Mahogany Bed Side Tables by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of bed side tables made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. The nightstands are c...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Paolo Buffa Bedroom Set with Vanity Mirror, Armchairs and OttomanBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITWonderful bedroom set designed by the great designer Paolo Buffa in the 1950s for fine Italian manufacture. The set consists of dressing table cabinet with vanity mirror...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Sets
MaterialsFabric, Mirror, Wood
- Paolo Buffa Bedside Tables Wood Brass, 1940, ItalyBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITPaolo Buffa bedside tables wood brass, 1940, Italy.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Night Stands
MaterialsWood