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.
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...
Wool, Walnut
$6,124Sale Price / set|25% Off
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 ...
Velvet, Wood
$3,782Sale Price|30% Off
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
Velvet
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
$7,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
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...
Fabric, Wood
$11,348 / set
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
Fabric, Cherry
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.
Walnut
Paolo Buffa, Set of Six Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Firenze, IT
Paolo Buffa, Set of Six Chairs Six wooden chairs designed by Paolo Buffa, with geometric decoration inlaid in the backrest, seat upholstered in fabric in shades of white. Produced b...
Fabric, Wood
$10,808 / set
H 37.8 in W 18.12 in D 18.51 in
Six Sculptural Dining Chairs, Paolo Buffa Attributed Restored, Original Velvet
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Midcentury six sculptural dining chairs, Paolo Buffa attributed , restored, in blond walnut, wax polished with original velvet still usable. On request we can perform the new upholst...
Velvet, Walnut
$6,900 / set
H 38 in W 18 in D 17 in
Set of 5 Italian Walnut Dining Chairs by Paolo Buffa, Dark Green, 20th century
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A green, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian set of five green, stylish Italian chairs. Designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. Original leather seat covers, dark shellac polished ...
Leather, Walnut
$4,203 / set
H 34.65 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Modern Italian Armchairs, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Beautiful pair of armchairs with curved armrests, made by Paolo Buffa in 1950. The structure in curved and padded wood, the upholstery was redone more than twenty years ago but is in...
Fabric, Beech
$6,700
H 29 in W 23.25 in D 22 in
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Paolo Buffa, Walnut, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chair made of hand crafted polished Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed living room club chair is comp...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Lounge Chair by Paolo Buffa, Polished Walnut, Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chair made of hand crafted polished Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed club chair is composed with tw...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
$4,800
H 38.25 in W 27.25 in D 35.5 in
Fritz Hansen Model 1582 Wingback Lounge Chair Danish Mid-Century
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very cool low swung wing back lounge chair made by Fritz Hansen in Copenhagen, Denmark as model 1582. The wooden armrests and legs are made of varnished oak wood showing great grain ...
Wool, Oak
Italian Modern Lounge Chair Attributed To Paolo Buffa
By Ico Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti, 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
Unavailable|$9,847 / set
H 30.32 in W 25.99 in D 29.14 in
Pair of Italian Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa, Italy 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs, attr. to Paolo Buffa and produced in Italy around the 1940s. The chairs are constructed from walnut wood with a black satin finish...
Nutwood
Mid-Century Armchair, Paolo Buffa Style, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
This mid-century Italian armchair, attributed to Paolo Buffa, exemplifies the understated, sculptural elegance typical of the Milanese designer. The finely polished solid wood frame ...
Fabric, Wood
$14,800 / set
H 34.75 in W 25 in D 30.25 in
20th Century Italian Pair of Modern Vintage Walnut Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage pair of Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chairs made of hand crafted Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed club armchairs are composed with a lon...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Maple, Walnut
$11,500 / set
H 30.25 in W 25.75 in D 29 in
Paolo Buffa attr, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Camel Mohair, Lounge Chairs, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Stamford, CT
Paolo Buffa attr, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Camel Mohair, Lounge or Armchairs, 1940s Gorgeous pair of Italian lounge chairs in black satin finished Walnut and camel mohair attribu...
Mohair
Sold
H 38.19 in W 33.86 in D 35.44 in
20th Century Italian Pair Of Velvet Wingback Armchairs By Paolo Buffa c.1960
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A lovely pair of wingback armchairs from the 1960s that exemplify Italian mid-century sophistication. Designed in the manner of the renowned Paolo Buffa, they are upholstered in thei...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 30.32 in
Vintage Authentic Floral Fabric Wingback Armchair by Paolo Buffa, Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. The armchair features wooden legs and is upholstered in a high-quality light blue floral fabric, which is original and in excellent condition. Its padding is ...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 39.38 in W 26.78 in D 38.19 in
Paolo Buffa High-Back Armchairs with Floral Upholstery, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Almelo, NL
Paolo Buffa high-back armchairs with floral upholstery, Italy, 1940s Paolo Buffa high-back armchairs with floral upholstery, Italy, 1940s. These armchairs are featured with the or...
Fabric, Walnut
Pair of Wingback Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of wingback chairs by Paolo Buffa recently upholstered with zebra print leather, Italy circa 1950.
Fabric
Pair of Rare Red Sky Palo Buffa Armchairs, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Interesting pair of rare wing back armchairs by Paolo Buffa circa 1959 original upholstery in vintage red sky sky fabric and wood feet good condition some little sign on the s...
Fabric, Wood
Vintage Armchair Designed by Paolo Buffa, 1960s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Italy - Made of teak wood, original upholstery - Partially restored - Good condition.
Fabric, Wood
Vintage Armchair Designed by Paolo Buffa, 1960s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Italy - Made of teak wood, original upholstery - Partially restored - Good condition.
Fabric, Wood
Midcentury Paolo Buffa Lounge Chair
By Paolo Buffa, Framar
Located in Chireno, TX
Midcentury Paolo Buffa lounge chair by Framar, circa 1950s. Sturdy walnut Italian wingback frame newly-reupholstered in a fine green wool with...
Wool, Walnut
Sold
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Paolo Buffa, Italian Mid-Century Wingback Armchair from the 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Paolo Buffa, Italian Mid-Century Wingback Armchair from the 1950s
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Wingback Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Pair of wingback lounge chairs by Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s. Beautifully restored with dark mahogany frames and charcoal velvet. See this item in our private NYC showroom! Refine...
Mahogany, Velvet
Large Paolo Buffa Armchair
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
A splendid Paolo Buffa armchair
Pair of Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Stunning set of wingback chairs by Italian designer Paolo Buffa which date to the late 1940s. Stunning lines and angles to these with the Buffa...
Velvet