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.
Pair If Italian Modern Lounge Chairs By Paolo Buffa
By ISA Bergamo, Osvaldo Borsani, Gio Ponti, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Italian Modern Lounge Chairs By Paolo Buffa. Offered is a sculptural pair of mid century Italian lounge chairs or side chairs by renowned designer Paolo Buffa. This pair of I...
Velvet, Walnut
Pair of Paolo Buffa chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Paris, FR
PAOLO BUFFA Pair of bedroom chairs. Solid cherry wood, braided hemp rope. Certificate of authenticity Archivio Eredi Marelli. Dimensions: 85x45x48 cm Very good general condition. R...
Rope, Wood
Pair of Ladder Back Armchairs in the style of Paolo Buffa, c.1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
Pair of Italian Paolo Buffa ladder back armchairs pleasingly proportioned on cylindrical legs and softly curved ladder backs. Italian, c.1950's. Dimensions: H118 x W70 x D62 cm. Paolo Buffa’s (1903-1970) love of the neoclassic is incorporated into sumptuous pieces of furniture, made in sweeping curves of rosewood with simple detailing. There is a perfect blend not only of mid-century pragmatism about pieces, but the centuries of traditions that came before. Working initially under Gio Ponti...
Wood
Emanuele Rambaldi for Paolo Buffa Single Oak Wood and Straw Chair, Italy 1940s
By Emanuele Rambaldi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Emanuele Rambaldi for Paolo Buffa Single Oak Wood and Straw Chair, Italy 1940s
Straw, Oak
$4,480Sale Price / set|20% Off
Four Black Lacquered Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A refined and architecturally striking set of chairs by Paolo Buffa, crafted in Italy in the 1940s. Executed in solid wood with a satin black lacquer finish and upholstered in full-g...
Mahogany, Lacquer, Leather
Paolo Buffa, Set of Six Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Firenze, IT
Paolo Buffa, Set of Six Chairs Six wooden chairs designed by Paolo Buffa, with geometric decoration inlaid in the backrest, seat upholstered in fabric in shades of white. Produced b...
Fabric, Wood
Post Modern Italian Lacquered Set of Four Dining Chairs
By Saporiti
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Set of 4 Postmodern lacquered white dining room chairs. Marked made in Italy, in the style of Saporiti. Minor blemishes to the lacquer is at a...
Naugahyde, Hardwood
$9,772 / set
H 35.04 in W 15.75 in D 16.15 in
Emanuele Rambaldi, 6 Dining Chairs Leggerissima Model, Figli Di Sanguineti, 1951
By Figli Di Sanguineti, Emanuele Rambaldi
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A very rare set of six dining chairs ''Leggerissima'' (ultralight) model designed by Emanuele Rambaldi and manufactured by Figli di Sanguineti G.B. Made of beech painted in a ros...
Cane, Beech
$6,900 / set
H 38 in W 18 in D 17 in
Set of Five Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A green, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian set of five green, stylish Italian chairs. Designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. Original leather seat covers, dark shellac polished ...
Leather, Walnut
$10,725 / set
H 37.8 in W 18.12 in D 18.51 in
Six Sculptural Dining Chairs, Paolo Buffa Attributed Restored, Original Velvet
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Midcentury six sculptural dining chairs, Paolo Buffa attributed , restored, in blond walnut, wax polished with original velvet still usable. On request we can perform the new upholst...
Velvet, Walnut
Mid-Century Lounge Chair by Paolo Buffa, Polished Walnut, Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chair made of hand crafted polished Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed club chair is composed with tw...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
$6,700
H 29 in W 23.25 in D 22 in
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Paolo Buffa, Walnut, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chair made of hand crafted polished Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed living room club chair is comp...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
$7,410 / set
H 31.5 in W 29.14 in D 33.08 in
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Armchairs, attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Buccinasco, MI
This elegant pair of Italian mid-century armchairs, attributed to Paolo Buffa, beautifully reflects the refined balance between sculptural form and artisanal craftsmanship that chara...
Velvet, Wood, Cherry
Mid-Century Armchair, Paolo Buffa Style, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
This mid-century Italian armchair, attributed to Paolo Buffa, exemplifies the understated, sculptural elegance typical of the Milanese designer. The finely polished solid wood frame ...
Fabric, Wood
$4,190 / set
H 34.65 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Modern Italian Armchairs, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Beautiful pair of armchairs with curved armrests, made by Paolo Buffa in 1950. The structure in curved and padded wood, the upholstery was redone more than twenty years ago but is in...
Fabric, Beech
$8,700 / set
H 34 in W 28 in D 35 in
Mid-Century Italian Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa, Ebonized Walnut
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Hanover, MA
Incredibly stylish and well crafted lounge chairs attributed to Paolo Buffa. Each chair is made of ebonized solid walnut and features exaggerated sinewey armrests that stretch from the backrest to the floor and have solid cherry spindle back and distinctive double X spindle detailing under the arms. The seat deck is woven raffia. These chairs are quite generously proportioned and comfortable even for a larger man (i.e., yours truly!) The lose seat...
Upholstery, Cherry, Walnut
$5,400 / set
H 38 in W 27 in D 36 in
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wing Back Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback / Hi Back Lounge Chairs / armchairs by Paolo Buffa. These chairs are large, deep and comfortable; They have sensuous lines and a ...
Upholstery, Hardwood
Paolo Buffa Easy Chair
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paolo Buffa, easy chair, wood and beige red fabric, Italy, 1950s This easy chair is made of wood and fabric. The aesthetics of this chair is natural, classic and robust. The set fe...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 37.8 in W 17.33 in D 18.12 in
1950s set of 6 chairs by Paolo Buffa. Upholstered in Pierre Frey satin.
By Paolo Buffa
Located in MADRID, ES
Set of 6 Italian ebonized chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s. Upholstered in Pierre Frey satin with bronze studs and rivets. Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) was one of the great figures of mid-20...
Bronze
Paolo Buffa sculptural side chair Mario Quarti Italy 1949
By Paolo Buffa, Mario Quarti
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This rare, sculptural side chair by Paolo Buffa, created for Mario Quarti Milano in Italy in 1949, is a true masterpiece of mid-century Italian design. Recently added to our collecti...
Linen, Walnut
Paolo Buffa Pair Newly Upholstered Side Chairs, Italy, Mid Century
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Mid century Italian pair Paolo Buffa side chairs. Signature separation of arm from back. Separate seat cushion. Very comfortable. Newly reupholstered.
Upholstery
Single Paolo Buffa Canework and Wood Chair, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Single Paolo Buffa Double Canework and Wood Chair, Italy 1950s
Cane, Wood
Five chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Baranzate, IT
Stunning set of five chairs by Paolo Buffa in mahogany and upholstered fabric. Italian manufacture. C1950s.
Fabric, Wood
Paolo Buffa 8 elegant walnut chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
COD-Z200 Paolo Buffa 8 elegant walnut chairs with ebony fillets and open backs. Lietti manufacture late1930s Provenance Domus Livia, Gio Ponti 1933/1938 48 x 50 h 90 seduta 47
Walnut
Sold
H 30.5 in W 25.5 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modernist Sculptural Hand-rubbed Walnut Desk Chair by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
This sleek and stylish chair by esteemed Mid-Century Modernist designer Paolo Buffa originates from italy, Circa 1950. A rare and elegant piece, the sculptural and aesthetic quality ...
Fabric, Walnut
Sold
H 31.5 in W 17.72 in D 22.84 in
Paolo Buffa, Chair with Cherry Wood Frame, New Upholstery, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Rare chair by Paolo Buffa. Cherry wood frame and newly upholstered seat.
Upholstery, Wood
Set of 1950s Paolo Buffa Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Anteroom or hall chairs in Citronnier wood and high backrest characterized by shaped horizontal elements and marked by ‘button’ terminations. Same theme that recurs in the endings o...
Wood
Paolo Buffa Set of Six Dining Chairs in Walnut
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Set of six elegant dining chairs in walnut with nice carved back and upholsterd seat. Manifactured by Serafino Arrighi, Italy, 1950's. Bibl. Mobili di ...
Walnut
Rare Pair of Armchairs by Paolo Buffa in Walnut and Rope
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Great and very rare pair of armchairs by Paolo Buffa from the 1950s. The pair of armchairs is made of walnut wood, with elegant geometric markings present in their backs. In fact, th...
Rope, Wood