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.
Vintage Italian Modern Walnut Divan Sofa Bed Attributed to Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural sofa/divan bed/sofa bed attributed to Paolo Buffa (Italy, ca. late 1940s/early 1950s). Composed of a straight rail back connecting elegantly curved arms above x-form slats...
Leather, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
20th Century White Sheepskin Divano - Vintage Italian Beech Sofa by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage half-rounded Mid-Century Modern Italian three-seat sofa or divano made of Beechwood. Designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. Newly upholstered in white natural sheepskin...
Animal Skin, Sheepskin, Beech
Two-Tone Blue Mohair Paulo Buffa Mid-Century Modern Italian Sculptural Sofa
By Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Italian blue mohair sculptural sofa by Paulo Buffa. Very nice Mid-Century Modern form sofa.
Mohair
Reupholstered Mid-Century Italian Sofa by Paola Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Embrace the beautiful uniqueness of legendary Italian designer Paola Buffa with this fantastic petite wingback sofa. Dating to the 1950s, this charming...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
$3,619Sale Price|35% Off
Paolo Buffa Walnut Sofa, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Rare curved sofa attributed to Paolo Buffa, circa 1950 walnut, original gold velvet, iron very good original condition Measures: 145.5 x 60 cm height 94 cm height seat. 41 cm.
Iron
$5,811
H 36.23 in W 71.66 in D 37.41 in
Gio Ponti N. 512 Mid-Century Modern Italian Sofa for ISA, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, ISA Bergamo
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Elegant and splendid three-seater sofa with high backrest by Gio Ponti, 1950s, for ISA Edizioni, Bergamo, model N. 512. Carved profile, refined lines, sensual and deep comfort. The u...
Beech, Fabric
'Studio' Sofa by Norr11, Modular Sofa, Setup 5, Grey
By Norr11
Located in Paris, IDF
Studio sofa by Kristian Sofus Hansen & Tommy Hyldahl for Nor11 Setup 5 (1x small,1x medium,1x large, 1x corner, 2x ottoman, 2x ottoman classic, 3x armrest): L230-280cm & 220cm / P96...
Foam, Wool
$52,786 / set
H 25.6 in W 37.8 in D 37.8 in
Camaleonda Modular Sofa by Mario Bellini, Italy 70s, White Bouclé Reupholstered
By Mario Bellini
Located in Madrid, ES
Camaleonda modular sofa designed by Mario Bellini (1935) for C&B Italia in 1972. Composed of 4 large modular seats with backrest, 3 small modular seats with backrest, 1 small module without backrest and 1 shoe remover chair. White bouclé wool upholstery. Measurements of large seats (5): W 96 x D 96 x H 40/65 cm. Measures small seats...
Bouclé, Wood
17th Century Walnut Sofa
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A fine 17th century walnut Louis XIII canapé. The original frame was fully restored and newly upholstered by our workshop.
Walnut
Curvaceous Italian Armchair or Desk Chair attributed to Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Atlanta, GA
Curvaceous Italian Armchair or Desk Chair attributed to Paolo Buffa, Italy, circa 1950s. This chair is currently being refinished and reupholstered and can be completed in your choic...
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Sofa in Teal Velvet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, velvet, beech, Europe, 1960s Organic shaped sofa made in Europe in the 1960s. This piece shows fluidity and an ergonomic sitting experience. The arms rise gently from the seat...
Fabric, Beech
$7,400 / set
H 29.25 in W 112 in D 32 in
A Mid Century Modern Sculptural Cloud Sofa in two pieces, C. 1950s.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare and visually arresting pair of sculptural sofas from the 1950s, evocative of cloud-like forms with their softly curved / contoured silhouettes and organic, low-slung profiles....
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Curved Sofa, 1950s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Curved four-seat sofa of Italian design, structure and legs in solid wood, velvet upholstery, 1950s production, Condition as shown in the photos, it is advisable to redo the upholstery.
Velvet, Beech, Fir
Stunning Curved Sculptural Floating Sofa Mid-Century Modern
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Absolutely stunning curved floating sofa with unusual sculpted walnut legs. This is a vintage piece and is very unusual almost a mystery really as we have never seen another with the...
Upholstery, Walnut
Italian Modern Lounge Chair Attributed To Paolo Buffa
By Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi, Paolo Buffa, Osvaldo Borsani
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
Stunning 20th Century Beech Wood Sofa with Dual Designs
Located in London, GB
This stunning sofa features a blue velvet textile that is soft to the touch and adds a touch of luxury to any room. One side of the sofa features a playful design of lion and swan, w...
Beech
Italian Modern Sofa of Chrome and Black Leather by Paolo Lomazzi
By Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Austin, TX
A fine, comfortable Italian sofa in the Modern style, featuring a stylish, bowed tubular chrome body with upholstered cushion back and sides of black leather, two fitted seat cushion...
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 31.89 in W 51.58 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Modern Sofa in the style of Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Sofa in the style Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s Paolo Buffa was an Italian furniture designer whose main creative period was between the early 1930s and 1960s. He wa...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 61.03 in D 32.29 in
Two-Seater Green Velvet Sofa by Paolo Buffa for the Hotel Bristol, Italy, c.1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A beautifully restored two-seater wingback sofa designed by Paolo Buffa, Italy, c.1950. Originally designed for the Hotel Bristol in Merano, this 1950s settee has been completely res...
Velvet, Wood
2-Seater Sofa in Cherry by Paolo Buffa, 1960s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Montelabbate, PU
2-Seater Sofa in Cherry by Paolo Buffa, 1960s
Fabric, Cherry
Paolo Buffa Bench in Walnut and Fabric, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Hellouw, NL
Unique Paolo Buffa bench in walnut and fabric from Italy, the 1950s. The combination of the warm wood color, the beautiful shapes, and the fabric mak...
Fabric, Wood, Walnut
Rare Large Paolo Buffa Cherrywood Green Sofa, 1940
By Serafino Arrighi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Very rare large sofa designed by Arch. Paolo Buffa and produced by Serafino Arrighi Cantù, 1940 cherrywood and green velvet eight feet very good original conditions Measures: H 82...
Velvet, Cherry
Paolo Buffa Velvet and Beechwood Sofa, 1960
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Roma, Lazio
Unmistakable sofa by the great Italian designer Paolo Buffa, embellished with a multi-colored velvet from the Zoagli silk factories and a beautiful patina for the wooden part. The s...
Velvet, Beech
Vintage Sofa by Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Roma, IT
This is an elegant and refined sofa realized by Paolo Buffa in the 1950s. It is a two-seat sofa characterized by a wooden structure and a tissue upholstery. The tissues used are a mix of blend cotton and stain-resistant velvet. The colors used are four variants, from light purple, dark purple, pale pink...
Velvet, Hardwood
Sofa and Armchairs Set by Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Roma, IT
This sofa and armchairs set is a fine design furniture realized by the architect and furniture designer Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) during the 1950s. It is a three-seat sofa with two ...
Hardwood, Fabric
Sofa by Paolo Buffa, 1948
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Berlin, DE
Sofa with solid walnut construction, loose sitting and back upholstery, renewed wool cover. Dimensions / W 190cm, D 80cm, H 83cm, SH 36.5cm Design / Paolo Buffa, circa 1948.
Walnut
Sold
H 35.44 in W 59.45 in D 34.26 in
Floral Fabric Sofa by Paolo Buffa for Hotel Bristol Merano, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
This sofa features wooden legs and is upholstered in a high-quality floral fabric. The fabric is in excellent original condition. It is a vintage item, therefore it might show sli...
Fabric, Wood
Paolo Buffa High Wing Back Three-Seat Sofa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
A large Paolo Buffa Italian 1940s moderne sculptural sofa with walnut rounded feet and a light yellow/green cotton velvet upholstery.
Cotton, Walnut
1950S Paolo Buffa Sofa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1950S three seater sofa in blue/grey suede with rounded form.Designed by the Paolo Boffa in 1950s Need to be uphostered
Suede, Wood