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.
$8,509Sale Price|20% Off
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcase or Cabinet by P.Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti. Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Brass
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti. Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with ...
Brass
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti. Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Brass
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti. Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Brass
$4,217
H 83.86 in W 56.3 in D 23.63 in
A Charming Mid 19th Century French Cherrywood Glazed Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A charming Mid-19th Century French cherry wood cupboard. Displaying a simplistic moulded cornice above a pair of inset glass doors with a further pair of panelled doors below featuri...
Cherry
$6,900
H 87.6 in W 37.6 in D 15.16 in
19th Century Large & Narrow Cupboard or Bookcase with Glass Vitrine, Pine
Located in Miami, FL
19th Century Spanish cupboard or bookcase with glass vitrine, constructed from a pine called "mobila" and original glasses of this period. Features a coffered case fronted by four la...
Pine
$4,500
H 84.5 in W 38.25 in D 15.25 in
Milo Baughman, Mid-Century Modern, Tall Bookcase, Rosewood, Chrome, USA, 1960s
By West Michigan Furniture Co.
Located in Manhasset, NY
A West Michigan Furniture Mid-Century Modern bookcase over commode having an ebony case and rosewood drawer fronts with chrome frame and drawer pulls. Distributed by John Stuart, bea...
Wood
Provincial Ebonized Display Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
Provincial-style pine painted display cabinet. The display case has remarkably subtle details such as slightly splayed legs that are tapered and encase the bottom shelf. Crown moldin...
Wood
Cabinet by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
Exceptional cabinet by Paolo Buffa in walnut with mahogany interior and brass detail. Italy circa 1950. Measures: height 133cm, width 26cm, dept...
Hardwood
Rustic Country Low Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Rustic Country house style walnut four-door low bookcase with an antiqued and ebonized exterior, with glass doors and antiqued brass handles. W...
Glass, Wood
1980s Spanish Bamboo Two-Door Shelved Bookcase
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish bamboo two-door shelved bookcase.
Bamboo, Wicker
French Art Deco Library Bookcase by Maurice Dufrene
By Maurice Dufrêne
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
A French Art Deco Library bookcase in Mahogany and other exotic veneers, the emblem on the two blind doors is excellent work the cabinet has ...
Mahogany
Contemporary Sculpted Cupboard/Bookcase in Solid Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Cupboard made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Measures: 175 x 80 x 40 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative obj...
Oak
$10,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 74.41 in W 79.93 in D 18.71 in
19th Century Large Cupboard or Bookcase with Glass Vitrine, Pine, Spain Restored
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Spanish cupboard or bookcase with glass vitrine, constructed from a pine called "mobila" and original glasses of this period. Features a coffered case fronted by four la...
Walnut, Pine
Provincial Painted Display Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French provincial-style pine painted display cabinet. The white display case has remarkably subtle details such as slightly splayed legs that...
Wood
$9,975
H 96.45 in W 48.81 in D 14.76 in
Spanish Large Pine Cupboard or Bookcase with Glass Vitrine, 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Spanish cupboard or bookcase with glass vitrine, constructed from a pine called "mobila" and original glasses of this period. Features a coffered case fronted by four la...
Pine, Glass
Paolo Buffa Paolo Buffa Highboard
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Unique Italian highboard with six grinded doors and beautiful handles. Bibl. R.Rizzi, I mobili di Paolo Buffa, p 1...
Wood
Paolo Buffa Paolo Buffa Highboard
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Unique Italian highboard with six grinded doors and beautiful handles. Bibl. R.Rizzi, I mobili di Paolo Buffa, p 1...
Wood
Sold
H 90.56 in W 42.92 in D 19.69 in
Paolo Buffa Italian Double Chest of Drawers Cabinet 1960 60's, F249
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Italian designer Paolo Buffa's desk and bookcase from the 50's in art deco style. This piece of furniture is composed of two parts: a desk and an overmantel that can be used as a boo...
Brass
Vintage Bookcase Cabinet in Wood by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Wonderful wooden bookcase cabinet designed by Paolo Buffa in the 50's, fine Italian manufacture. Provenance is from the house on Lake Como. The structure is totally made of bleached...
Wood
Vintage Bookcase in Wood by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful vintage wooden bookcase designed by Paolo Buffa in the 50's, of fine Italian manufacture. The bookcase by Paolo Buffa is made entirely of wood, very fine and elegant. The central body is supported by a wooden base that covers the entire perimeter, very durable and sturdy. The central body is rectangular in shape and includes 3 large doors, decorated with a very beautiful and elegant grissinata technique, typical of Paolo Buffa. The three doors can be opened with a vintage brass key...
Wood
Midcentury Italian Bureau Bookcase Trumeau by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa, Giovanni Gariboldi
Located in London, London
Bureau bookcase or trumeau By Paolo Buffa and Giovanni Gariboldi Made by Fratelli Lietti Mahogany Brass details Sycamore writing level and drawers Swan pediment with brass deta...
Brass
Midcentury Trumeau Bookcases or Cabinets by Paolo Buffa, 1940
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant trumeau bookcases produced by Fratelli Lietti. Exceptional design furniture by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, front finely inlaid decoration with...
Brass
Sold
H 88.59 in W 42.52 in D 20.08 in
Paolo Buffa 20th Century Mahogany Wood Italian Design Trumeau, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Important Italian trumeau from the 1950s-1960s. Exceptional design furniture by Paolo Buffa, in mahogany wood, brass decorations and bronze fe...
Brass, Bronze
Incredible Italian Rosewood Veneered Bookcase
By Paolo Buffa
Located in North Miami, FL
Designed by Paolo Buffa, this wonderful multifunctional Italian cabinet offers drawers, shelves and covered spaces. This is part of a three-piece executive suite. Note: Just arriv...
Brass
Paolo Buffa Bookcase
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Bookcase with drop front desk by Paolo Buffa. Petite bookcase of Italian walnut. Angular front with open storage and drop-front writing surface. Six lower drawers with wide ribbed f...
Pair Of Trumeau Bookcase by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Pair Trumeau Bookcase by Paolo Buffa Produced by Fratelli Lietti. Roberto Rizzi, “I Mobili di Paolo Buffa” pp.56.
Bronze