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.
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs & Ottoman by Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern pair of Italian lounge chairs and a kidney shaped ottoman, stool made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by P...
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Living Room Set by Paolo Buffa, Italy, Circa 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian living room set, composed with one two seater sofa, two lounge chairs and one ottoman, footrest made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by...
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut, Bouclé
$20,133 / set
Paolo Buffa splendid living room set
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Splendid cherrywood living room set consisting of two armchairs and a sofa with seats and backs in padded fabric. Serafino Arrighi Manufacture, ca. 1940.
Cherry
Vintage Ivory Original Fabric Living Room Set of 3 Pieces by Paolo Buffa, Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. This set is very particular and interesting because both the sofa and the armchairs feature vintage brass cones feet. Their fabric is original and, as you can s...
Brass
Living room set by Mobilgirgi, 1970s
By Mobil Girgi
Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna
Experience the fusion of wood and velvet from the 1970s, with this exclusive living room set by Mobilgirgi. The set is composed of 1 sofa (depth: 80cm x width: 152cm x height: 83cm) ...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Colonial Indo-English Living- Room
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful colonial Indo-English living room. It consists of a sofa and a pair of armchairs. The structure is made from native wood and dates from the early twentieth century. The front legs are made of turned wood and end in casters. The set with an interesting design is covered with a vintage mustard yellow tapestry.
Tapestry, Wood
1960s Rare Living Room Oak Set, Finland
Located in Praha, CZ
- Newly upholstered In quality 100% recycled KIRGBY fabric. - Wooden parts have been carefully refurbished. - The dimesnions of the chairs : height 75cm, seat height 44cm, width: ...
Fabric, Wood
Italian Modern Lounge Chair Attributed To Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa, Osvaldo Borsani, Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Lounge Chair Attributed To Paolo Buffa. This gorgeous mid century modern chair has a gorgeous finish and looks great from every angle. Paolo Buffa was born in 1903, in...
Fabric, Wood
$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
$10,483 / set
H 48.43 in W 59.85 in D 25.6 in
Theatrical "Egyptian" Living-Room Set, France, circa 1940s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Unusual and extravagant living-room set comprised of a settee, two armchairs and a table, of Egyptian inspiration. Polychrome decor. The seating pieces are raised on paw feet (front)...
Paolo Buffa attributed Original Italian Lounge Chairs 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Paolo Buffa attributed sexy lounge chairs made Italy. Circa the 1950s selling as a pair No label present, attributed Paolo Buffa. Original floral pattern uph...
Brass
Paolo Buffa, Lounge Chairs, Wood, Velvet, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of yellow brown velvet and wood lounge chairs designed by Paolo Buffa for Hotel Bristol, Merano, Italy, c. 1950s. Wear consistent with age and use. Vintage fabric in fair to ...
Velvet, Wood
Exceptional Paul Frankl rattan living room set
Located in Isle Sur Sorgue, FR
Very rare exceptional rattan living room set by Paul Frankl circa 1970. Constituted of a modular 3 pieces sofa, 2 armchairs and 1 ottoman. High quality very comfortable set in great ...
Rattan
$14,500 / set
H 30.75 in W 26.75 in D 27.5 in
Paolo Buffa Attribution, Lounge Chairs, Walnut, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of walnut and white fabric lounge chairs attributed to Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1940s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 30.75"H x 26.75"W x 27.5"D Seat Height (inches): 16.5" Arm He...
Fabric, Walnut
$3,156 / set
H 30.32 in W 25.4 in D 29.93 in
Mid-Cenutry Lounge Chair with Ottoman, Paolo Buffa Style, Italy 1950s
By Brugnoli Mobili Cantú, Paolo Buffa
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous Mid-Century armchair / lounge chair with ottoman fully made in beechwood. This iconic piece was designed by Paolo Buffa and produced by Brugnoli Cantù in Italy during the 19...
Wood, Cotton, Upholstery, Beech
Italian Lounge Chair Attributed to Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lounge chair attributed to Italian designer Paolo Buffa. The chair features a textured linen upholstery with dark green piping at each side. The birch frame showcases beautiful bentw...
Linen, Birch
Sold
H 32.29 in W 51.19 in D 25.99 in
20th Century Italian Three Piece Suite In Toffee Boucle, Paulo Buffa, c.1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A beautiful set of mid 20th Century Italian armchairs and sofa by Paulo Buffa. These pieces showcase impeccable quality, boasting a ...
Bouclé, Pine
Sold
H 30.71 in W 48.04 in D 28.35 in
Mid-Century Paolo Buffa Wood and Green Velvet Living Room Set from 50s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Catania, CT
Great vintage condition with normal trace of age and use for this living room set composed of a sofa and two armchairs designed by Paolo Buffa and produced in Italy during the 50s. M...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 31.89 in W 25.6 in D 28.75 in
Beautiful Italian Design Cherry Wood Pair of Armchairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful 1950s italian design pair of armchairs in cherry wood, by Paolo Buffa. These loving armchairs have a comfortable seat. This pair of armchairs is made up of first choice mat...
Cherry
Set of Living Room Seats by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Wonderful vintage living room set designed by the great Italian master Paolo Buffa in the 1960s. The set by Paolo Buffa is composed of a large bench, a smaller bench and three chairs, with a structure in fine wood, expertly crafted especially in the upper part of the backs, which have wood scaling. Fabric with a colorful vertical stripe pattern for the seat and back of each piece of the Paolo Buffa set. The seating set comes from a sophisticated living room of a private house in the center of Milan. The Paolo Buffa seating set is in excellent condition of the time considering they are vintage items. The set is ideal to furnish with style and elegance a living room, a conversation corner or a winter garden in mid-century style. Big Bench...
Fabric, Wood
Lot of Four Midcentury Chairs Design Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in taranto, IT
Lot of four chairs in walnut production from the 1950s based on a design by paolo buffa measurements: height 100 cm, depth 50 cm, width 48 cm, seat height from the ground about 47...
Faux Leather, Walnut
Midcentury Fabric Black Shellac and Brass Italian Chairs, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Roma, Lazio
Very elegant and refined chairs by Paolo Buffa, with an all-Italian style, with a magnify backrest in black wood and brass. Very special and refined sets of four chairs; all-wood st...
Brass
Sold
H 35.44 in W 29.53 in D 31.89 in
Floral Fabric Pair of Armchairs by Paolo Buffa with Wooden Legs, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
The armchairs feature wooden legs and are upholstered in a high-quality floral fabric. The fabric is in excellent original condition. They may show slight traces of use since they'r...
Fabric, Wood
20th Century White Italian Pair of Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Mid-Century modern Italian pair of small lounge chairs which have been reupholstered in Pierre Frey fabric, designed by Paolo Buffa. The ...
Metal, Brass
A Paolo Buffa Hotel Bristol Settee
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kent, Dover
An Italian settee by the Milanese architect Paolo Buffa. Designed for the Hotel Bristol in Merano. En suite with a pair of armchairs. Newly upholstered i...
Important Set of 12 Dining Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Set of 12 dining Paolo Buffa chairs, 1940. Upholstery in two different colors. Dark rosewood and bicolored silk. Excellent condition. Misure: height 98cm 45 x 43 cm height, seat 43...
A Paolo Buffa Suite
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kent, Dover
An Italian lounge suite comprising a small settee and two armchairs by Paolo Buffa, Milan. In their original fabric in good condition, ready for ...