Cleto Munari Cabinets

Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) architect, designer Paolo Buffa was the son of artist Giovanni Buffa, long-considered a modern innovator of early 20th century applied arts. The elder Buffa was renowned for his studio works in stained glass, often collaborating with Eugenio Quarti and other important architects. After graduating in 1927 from Politecnico di Milano, Paolo began training in the studio of Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia. The following year he opened his own studio with the architect Cassi Ramelli, designing private villas and residential buildings with a strong focus on fine furniture done in the neoclassical style of the Milanese School and its luminaries: Ponti, Lancia, Buzzi, Marellin, and Albini. His designs (which included lighting and textiles) were characterized by perfect execution, for homes of the wealthy middle class with a taste for modern design, that blended functionality and comfort with quality materials. His pieces were primarily executed by the highly skilled artisans of the Mario Quarti studio in Milan, by Serafino Arrighi, and later by the Angelo Marelli workshop. In 1930 Buffa and Cassi Remelli participated in The International Exhibition of Decorative Arts,which would later become the Triennale di Milano. At this time he also began his first collaboration with Gio Ponti's Domus magazine, to which he would contribute many writings in the years to follow. The 1933 Triennale, "Mostra dell Arredamento," presented a solo exhibition on Buffa, as well as a group show that featured his textile designs alongside works by Buzzi, Albini, and Pollini in the display hall of the government institution National Crafts and Small Industries (ENAPI). By the time of his participation in the 1936 VI Triennale, Buffa was considered one of the elite arbiters of modern taste and style. The painter Roberto Aloi, director of “L’Arredamento Modern” (the Hoepli periodic review of modern design) dedicated more space to Buffa in his publication than to any other Italian architect in future editions. 1940 saw an intense collaboration with the acclaimed Mario Quarti furniture studio in Milan, in which Buffa created the furnishings for the Royal Palace of King Zog, in Tirana, Albania. In 1945 Ico Parisi organized the exhibition "Prima Mostra dell Arredamento" in Como. Together he and Buffa designed 12 environments, displayed as real rooms in a home. The following year the show travelled to Milan as “Mostra Mercato per la Reconstruzione” (Exhibition of Reconstruction). In addition to Buffa and Parisi, among the participants were Cassi Ramelli, Gio Ponti, and Guillermo Ulrich, all working under an objective to foster a profound collaboration between architect and expert craftsman. In 1947 Buffa was invited by esteemed textile designer Fede Cheti to participate in the exhibition “Lo Stile nell Arredamento Moderno” (The Style of Modern Furniture), celebrating the rebirth of quality execution and technical perfection in the reinvention of classic Italian furniture...

Large Vittorio Dassi Credenza in Wood, Glass and Brass from Italy, ca the 1950s. This is a true eye-catcher. It has five doors with shelves behind it and three original keys availabl...

Circa 1970, we offer this Mid-Century Modern petite disc cabinet by Michael Van Beuren, made in mahogany plywood and brass details, includes VB original l...

The Kuro cabinet’s character and personality are the aftereffects of highly developed applications of industrial design materials into the surface design of this piece, making it an ...

Rare Componibili storage unit components in vibrant hot pink. Will come with 2 “body” units and 1 “top” The Componibili Storage Unit (1969) takes its name from componibile, Italian ...

A tall Italian wooden storage and display cabinet from the early 18th century. This antique cabinet from Italy, which stands approximately 6.75 feet tall, has a flat top and upper section is fitted with a pair of wooden doors with spindle tops over lattice at door fronts, which open to reveal three shelves for displayed objects inside. Upon closer inspection, you will find that the wood framing and hardware is decorated with hand-punched floral carvings throughout. The mid-section has a pair of solid-wood doors...

Beautifully Carved Antique French Oak Breton Jam Cabinet with Drawer~~c. 1890s Highly requested classic French Breton design~~Breton (sometimes known as Brittany) furniture orig...

This incredible handcrafted late 19th century antique American solid wood farmhouse cabinet is perfectly aged with great rustic character. The unique...

Beautiful vintage modern Thomasville bar cabinet in burl. Unique design with smoked glass cabinet doors, burl front drawers, and brass trim along the b...

The eccentric Italian post-modern sideboard from the late 1980s to early 1990s is a striking blend of bold design and natural elements. Upholstered entirely in bamboo canes, it exude...

This Japanese antique cabinet was produced in the Taisho period (1912-1926). This piece of furniture was made using the same traditional and advanced techniques used in the producti...

Beautiful midcentury low credenza cabinet with sliding doors by Paul McCobb circa 1950 planner group #1513 - solid maple construction has a Blonde maple finish. All original Wood sliding front doors with brass finger hole pull sits on 4 tapered maple legs. Good vintage condition. Normal wear on top surface. No inside shelves. Wire hole in back and center dividers for stereo equipment...