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.
Paolo Buffa, elegant console table in reeded Oak with a beautiful marble top.
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo Buffa Elegant console table in reeded Oak with a beautiful marble top. 1940's manufacturing. Bibl: Roberto Aloi, Esempi Arredamento Moderno, Milano, 1950, pag. 217.
Marble
$1,889Sale Price / item|62% Off
Console Neoclassical Style Paolo Buffa design 1950 Italy Brass marble Wood
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Elegant lines of great class as Paolo Buffa knew how to do.
Marble, Brass
Large Paolo Buffa Wooden Console with Six Drawers, Italy 1957
By Marelli & Colico, Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Sublime and Modernist Paolo Buffa large Console with six drawers. Adjustable brass feet Manufactured by Marelli & Colico, Cantù Italy 1957 Reference: I mobili di Paolo Buffa, Page ...
Brass
20th Century Italian Demi-Lune Neoclassical Marble Console Table by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian console table with a small drawer, made of hand crafted ebonized Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The freestanding Neoc...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Mid Century Vintage Italian Paolo Buffa Rosewood Dining Table Set Chairs 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Dublin, Ireland
This is a wonderful Mid Century Dining Table and Chairs by The Famed Italian architect/designer, Paolo Buffa (1903-1970). Thi...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Art Deco Console by Paolo Buffa Per Permanente Mobili Cantù
By Paolo Buffa, La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid Century Modern Art Deco console from Cantu, by Paolo Buffa, in solid hand carved carved maple and walnut veneered, handle in gilt brass. Measures cm: H 83, W 102, D 34 About...
Maple, Walnut
Rare Large 1940s Console by Paolo Buffa in Oak and Green Alpi Marble
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A rare and elegant console table designed by Paolo Buffa in the 1940s, showcasing his unmistakable design language and exceptional Italian craftsmanship. This piece features a stunni...
Marble, Brass
Mid-Century Italian Console Wood Marble Portoro Solid Brass Paolo Buffa style
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Mid-century Italian console wood marble Portoro solid Brass Paolo buffa design, Elegance and refinement for your home.
Marble, Brass
Large Rosewood Console by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A refined and architecturally elegant rosewood console by celebrated Milanese architect and designer Paolo Buffa. Long and precisely proportioned, this piece features Buffa’s hallmar...
Rosewood
20th Century Paolo Buffa Wall Console with marble top
By Serafino Arrighi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Turin, Turin
Paolo 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...
Marble, Brass
Console by Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1960
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Refined 1960s console by Paolo Buffa featuring elegant Art Deco lines, a warm wood structure, and a distinctive circular mirror supported by a s...
Wood
$4,329Sale Price|20% Off
Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Sideboard in Wood
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful wooden sideboard designed by Paolo Buffa in the 1950s of fine Italian manufacture. The sideboard is made of a very beautiful and distinctive light wood. There are two wood...
Brass
Italian Art Deco Cherry Wood and Siena Marble Console By Paolo Buffa, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco hanging console was produced in Italy in the 1940s by Paolo Buffa. It is completely made of cherry wood with a Siena marble top.
Marble
$14,320Sale Price|20% Off
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 / cons...
Marble
$3,787Sale Price|30% Off
Consolle Rettangolare in Noce e cristallo Paolo Buffa Design Mid-century
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Elegante Consolle realizzata in fascia di legno di noce Intrecciato con mensola spessa in cristallo Verde Nilo , dato il design e bellezza teniamo opportuno che sia stata disegnata d...
Crystal
$2,475Sale Price|30% Off
H 31.11 in W 65.75 in D 18.9 in
Mid-Century Italian Console Table by the Consorzio La Permanente Mobili
Located in London, GB
Vintage Italian console table by the Consorzio La Permanente Mobili (circa 1960s). Impeccably restored, this console table will delight just about everyone. Quintessentially Mid-Cent...
Brass
$2,801
H 22.45 in W 47.25 in D 13.39 in
Art Deco Console, Walnut Root by Paolo Buffa for Permanente Mobili Cantù
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Paolo Buffa
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Elegant Mid-Century modern low console with three drawers by Paolo Buffa for Permanente Mobili Cantù in walnut root. Accessories such as handles and...
Nutwood
$5,411
H 34.26 in W 41.74 in D 13.78 in
Mid-Century Italian Console Wood Marble Portoro Solid Brass Paolo Buffa style
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Mid-century Italian console wood marble Portoro solid Brass Paolo buffa design, Elegance and refinement for your home.
Marble, Brass
$3,499
H 32.29 in W 35.04 in D 51.97 in
Small Mid-century Italian Console Table in the style of P. Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, IT
Small mid-century Italian console table in the style of P. Buffa, 1950s Portuguese Rose marble top, brass accessories, decorations. Good condition. Width 89 cm, depth 32 cm, height ...
Marble, Brass
Italian Console Table In The Style of Ico Parisi, Milan
By Ico Parisi, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Vittorio Dassi, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Houston, TX
Italian console table in the style of Ico Parisi, Milan, with three legs terminating in bronze sabots, circa 1950. This outstanding Italian Mid-Cen...
Bronze
$6,734
H 9.45 in W 54.73 in D 11.03 in
Italian Art Deco Cherry Wood and Siena Marble Console By Paolo Buffa, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco hanging console was produced in Italy in the 1940s by Paolo Buffa. It is completely made of cherry wood with a Siena marble top.
Marble
Italian Mid-Century Dining Table Attr. to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant dining table, Paolo Buffa, 1950s. The piece is really rare and important. The marble top is supported by a center column on four bronze finished feet. Available as well the ...
Walnut
$6,613
H 33.47 in W 18.9 in D 57.49 in
Rare Large 1940s Console by Paolo Buffa in Oak and Green Alpi Marble
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A rare and elegant console table designed by Paolo Buffa in the 1940s, showcasing his unmistakable design language and exceptional Italian craftsmanship. This piece features a stunni...
Marble, Brass
$7,215
H 30.71 in Dm 46.07 in
1950 Paolo Buffa Permanente Cantu Midcentury Design Marble Wood Dining Table
By Paolo Buffa, La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in Brescia, IT
Paolo Buffa La Permanente Mobili Cantù Italy, 1950s Wood stand with brass details Circle Marble top. Excellent condiction Marble in perfect condiction, no crack and no restorations....
Marble, Brass
Italian Midcentury Rosewood Table Attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This Italian midcentury teak table attributed to Paolo Buffa 1950, is an example of pure Italian design on the period. The round top is completely in rosewood with spectacular colour...
Brass
20th Century Paolo Buffa Wall Console with marble top
By Serafino Arrighi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Turin, Turin
Paolo 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...
Marble, Brass
$3,006
H 33.08 in W 39.38 in D 11.03 in
Refined mid-century Italian console table, Paolo Buffa Style, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
This mid-century Italian console table from the 1950s enchants with its revisited neoclassical elegance. The top is made of cream marble with delicate yellow veining, slightly chamfe...
Marble
A Large Neo-Classical Console Table By Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kent, Dover
A fine Italian console table by Paolo Buffa in the Neo-Classical manner. With six frieze drawers lined in birch, with brass handles and sabot.
Brass
Paolo Buffa console table with wavy line front
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2829 Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Splendid console table with wavy line front, three drawers in reeded wood on the front and sides with a top in bardiglio marble and six long legs wi...
Marble
Sold
H 31.7 in W 39.38 in D 11.42 in
Italian mid-century modern marble, wood and brass console by Paolo Buffa, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern marble, wood and brass console by Paolo Buffa, 1940s Wall console with a semi-round top in white-pink marble. The three legs structure is in dark wood with...
Marble, Brass
20th Century, Paolo Buffa Wooden Console with Marble Top
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Turin, Turin
Paolo 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...
Marble
Sold
H 34.26 in W 37.8 in D 11.82 in
Mid-century modern palisander marble brass italian console by Paolo Buffa 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Mid-century modern palisander marble brass italian console by Paolo Buffa 1950s This console by Paolo Buffa, crafted in the 1950s, is a masterpiece of Italian design that embodies lu...
Marble, Brass
Paolo Buffa walnut consolle 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in bari, IT
Elegant wooden console table with stained glass top in the late 1950s Paolo Buffa.
Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 37.01 in W 59.06 in D 16.93 in
Large Cherrywood Console Table by Paolo Buffa with Three Drawers and a Glass Top
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1948 - 1950. This refine and elegant console table features a glass top, a solid cherrywood frame with three drawers and brass handles. This piece is vintage, therefor...
Brass
Sold
H 33.08 in W 46.46 in D 16.74 in
Paolo Buffa 1940s Console with a Drawer in Wood, Brass and Onyx Top
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Paolo Buffa Modernist 1940s Console with a Drawer in Wood, Brass and Onyx Top A splendid chiseled brass handle.
Onyx, Brass
Sold
H 35.04 in W 50.79 in D 13.78 in
large Paolo Buffa demi-lune console, marble top, bronze details, three feet 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
important large and fine demi-lune shaped console designed by Paolo Buffa, circa 1940 ebonized walnut, bronze details and rare top "striato Carrara marble " three graceful saber-sh...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 31.11 in W 53.55 in D 15.75 in
Paolo Buffa, Art Déco Console table in wood and brass, Italy, 1930s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) , Console in Walnut, rosewood veneer and silvered brass, Italy 1930s Very rare console designed by Paolo Buffa and exhibited for the first time at the IV In...
Brass
Mid Century Italian Rosewood and Marble Console By Paolo Buffa 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Mid Century Italian Rosewood and Marble Console by Paolo Buffa, crafted in the 1950s, is an exquisite piece of furniture that exudes timeless elegance. Designed by the renowned I...
Marble, Brass
Art Deco Period Paolo Buffa Console
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Austin, TX
Console, Art deco, by Paolo Buffa, of finely cast curule bronze legs and stretcher. The ebonized and French polished apron features a dovetailed drawer. The console is topped with it...
Marble, Brass