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Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

Italian, 1903-1970

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.

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Creator: Paolo Buffa
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wing Back Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wing Back Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa

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 ...

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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Hardwood

Italian Armchair with Ears Paolo Buffa 1950s Grey Velvet Wooden Feet
Italian Armchair with Ears Paolo Buffa 1950s Grey Velvet Wooden Feet

Italian Armchair with Ears Paolo Buffa 1950s Grey Velvet Wooden Feet

By Paolo Buffa

Located in Palermo, Sicily

Original 1950's high-backed armchair with earmuffs typical design by famous architect Paolo Buffa. In dark gray velvet and light wood feet

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Set of 8 Ebonized Velvet High Back Chiavari Dining Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950
Set of 8 Ebonized Velvet High Back Chiavari Dining Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950

Set of 8 Ebonized Velvet High Back Chiavari Dining Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950

By Fratelli Marelli, Paolo Buffa

Located in Rome, IT

Rare set of eight high back side Chiavari ebonized dining chairs, by Paolo Buffa. Manufactured by Marelli & Colico, Italy Ebonized wood, white velvet fabric Very good condition ...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Midcentury Pair of Armchairs in Walnut by Paolo Buffa for Framar Made in Italy
Midcentury Pair of Armchairs in Walnut by Paolo Buffa for Framar Made in Italy

Midcentury Pair of Armchairs in Walnut by Paolo Buffa for Framar Made in Italy

By Paolo Buffa

Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio

Pair of wingback armchairs by Paolo Buffa with a wood frame in walnut and reupholstered in Italian blue wool. Paolo Buffa is an Italian designer and architect. He is one of the most...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

Materials

Wool, Walnut

Pair of Walnut Mid-Century Modern, Wingback Armchairs by Paolo Buffa
Pair of Walnut Mid-Century Modern, Wingback Armchairs by Paolo Buffa

Pair of Walnut Mid-Century Modern, Wingback Armchairs by Paolo Buffa

By Paolo Buffa

Located in Montreal, QC

Pair of walnut Mid-Century Modern, upholstered wingback armchairs by Paolo Buffa.

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1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

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Pair of wing armchairs by Paolo Buffa – Italy 1950
Pair of wing armchairs by Paolo Buffa – Italy 1950

Pair of wing armchairs by Paolo Buffa – Italy 1950

By Paolo Buffa, Framar

Located in Girona, Girona

Pair of wing armchairs in solid french polished cherry, new fillings and redone upholstery in black bouclette fabric. Design by Paolo Buffa for Framar Italy 1950

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

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Fabric, Cherry

Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Paolo Buffa Wingback Lounge Chairs
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Paolo Buffa Wingback Lounge Chairs

Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Paolo Buffa Wingback Lounge Chairs

By Paolo Buffa

Located in North York, ON

Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian paolo buffa wingback lounge chairs. Iconic paolo buffa styling, Italy, circa 1960’s. Masterfully restored to its original condition with ne...

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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

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Italian Modern furniture is defined by unique design, perfect execution, and exclusivity. This pair of armchairs is attributed to Italian design icon, Paolo Buffa. Coinciding with contemporary debates about the role of design and its responsibility to the larger population, Buffa reworked the presiding neoclassical idiom. The architect incorporated simplified forms into his designs in order to streamline production techniques, whilst always retaining a high regard for materials and harmonious portions. This pair of armchairs is said to have been designed by Buffa during the 1950s and elegantly balances comfort and functionality with high-quality craftsmanship and materials: the refined, articulated lines of the armchairs’ frames counter the volume of its cushions and uniquely patterned upholstery. By the mid-1930s, Buffa had established his own studio, where the Milanese architect designed expertly crafted furniture featuring intricate details and combined luxurious materials for an elite clientele. Buffa developed close relationships with cabinetmaking workshops in Brianza, renowned for their traditional furniture manufacturing, and during the following decades collaborated with some of the period’s most skilled artisans. These relationships enabled Buffa to introduce a modern vocabulary into his work whilst adhering to Milan’s heritage of artisan furniture production, in order to realize inventive furniture designs that revealed a skilful union of design and execution. These chairs embody this patently, with their most intricate feature being the upholstery covering the elegant, stylish shape of the solid wood frames. The elaborate pattern invites the eyes to spend time observing and exploring it, therefore the overall impression is interesting and stylish, while it also makes these chairs a one-of-a-kind pair. The exposed architectural, tapered legs supporting the comfortable seats and curved backs complement the design of this model greatly. The slim look serves as a counterweight to the voluptuous bodies, and the colour of the wood complements the pattern as well. The overall design is focused on elegant and measured proportions, balanced compositions, and refined décor elements including the exclusive materials. Besides the upholstery, the versatile shapes, from the curving, rounded edges on the top to the characteristic armrests and tapered legs, make these chairs stand out. Buffa’s designs were featured in important publications, such as Roberto Aloi’s L’arredamento moderno series, through which a coherent evolution can be traced in Buffa’s work as he interpreted the formal elegance of Italian design with a subtle yet recognizably modern rigour evidenced by this pair. Paolo Buffa was especially passionate about furniture and product design, an area where he remained faithful to a figurative repertoire of substantial classicism, while not disdaining impulses of authentic modernity. He was extremely active in the Milanese design scene that was just as vibrant and unique as these armchairs. In an atmosphere committed to the reinterpretation of the Lombard classicism and Milanese architecture, exceptional pieces were created, as this pair shows. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Small scratches and marks on the wood. The chairs have been reupholstered recently in a premium patterned fabric. Each of our items can be reupholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information. Dimensions: 29.52 in W x 34.44 in D x 37 in H; Seat height 15.15 in; Arm height 22.44 in 75 cm W x 87.5 cm D x 94 cm H; Seat height 38.5 cm; Arm height 57 cm Literature: 'Alcuni Mobili di Paolo Buffa', Domus, no. 178, October 1942, p. 431 for a similar example Roberto Aloi, L’Arredamento Moderno, quarta serie, Milan, 1949, fig. 366 for a similar example Roberto Rizzi, I mobile di Paolo Buffa, exh. cat., Mostra Internazionale dell'Arredamento, Cantù, 2002, pp. 30, 34-35 for a drawing and images of a similar example About the (attributed) designer: Paolo Buffa (born 1903, Milan – died 1970, Milan) was an Italian furniture designer who defined his own unique design aesthetic to become one of the most sought-after Italian designers of his day. Renowned for pairing elements from both the opulent Neoclassical and the streamlined Art Deco styles around a more modern sensitivity, Buffa excelled in creating high quality pieces that spoke to the well-to-do clientele of the time. Born in Milan in 1903, Buffa trained at the Politecnico di Milano. Following his graduation in 1927, he worked briefly for Gio Ponti, and in 1928, he partnered with architect Antonio Cassi to establish their own design studio in Milan. By 1936, Paolo Buffa opened his own independent studio where he became particularly successful, in part because he had already tapped into his unique combination of stylistic elements. His incorporation of more traditionally Neoclassical motifs or materials – for example, rich rosewoods or supple, velveteen fabrics – with the relatively avant-garde forms and themes of a lighter Art...

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Paolo Buffa wingback chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Paolo Buffa wingback chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider wingback chairs by and Gio Ponti.