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.
$8,613Sale 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
$12,500Sale Price|30% Off
Paolo Buffa & Giovanni Gariboldi Inlaid Brass Secretary Cabinet c 1950, Restored
By Giovanni Garibaldi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Experience the elegance of mid-20th century Italian craftsmanship with this beautifully restored secretary cabinet, crafted circa 1950. Designed by the renowned Italian artist Paolo Buffa (1903-1970), and featuring intricate brass intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi (1908-1971), this piece is a testament to both artistry and functionality. The upper section is framed by glazed doors adorned with brass star inlays. Unlocking these doors reveals a burgundy velvet-lined interior with two fixed glass shelves. Above, a majestic brass-inlaid swan neck split-pediment design crowns the case. Opening the secretary desk door unveils a gorgeous fruitwood fitted interior accented with inlaid trim. A central brass crest with a working lock and decorated brass key adds a touch of security and sophistication. Flanked by three drawers on either side, each adorned with decorated brass knobs in similar style of Tommi Parzinger, the desk provides ample storage with its five central file dividers. The lower cabinet features a pair of finely reeded doors that open to reveal additional finished storage space. Supported by brass sabots, every detail of this secretary showcases exceptional craftsmanship and enduring beauty, making it a prized addition to any collection of fine furniture. The two parts can separate for easier transportation and shipping. There are brackets on the reverse that help to hold the top in place while in use. This Italian secretary cabinet...
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
$4,285
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
$13,159
H 55.12 in W 40.36 in D 17.52 in
Italian Midcentury Sideboard or Cabinet Bar designed By Paolo Buffa in 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This elegant cabinet bar, designed in the 1950s, fully represents the elegant and refined language of classical origin characteristic of Buffa's works. Great executive quality, the w...
Brass
$10,766
H 61.03 in W 47.25 in D 17.72 in
Fine Mid-Century Trumeau Bar Cabinet Attr. to Paolo Buffa, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Dry bar, walnut, Italy, 1940s Elegant Italian bar cabinet in walnut and ebonized wood, inside with Mosaic mirrored glass attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1940. Lower part with two draw...
Brass
$3,495
H 80 in W 36.5 in D 19 in
Federal Style Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk / Display Cabinet & Brass Eagle
By Mahogany Associates
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful inlaid flame mahogany Federal style secretary desk with tambour doors. It has two glass shelves. The body has several areas with inlaid satinwood designs. It date...
Glass, Mahogany
Paolo Buffa, walnut bar cabinet with maple inlaid front
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2534 Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Rare walnut bar cabinet with maple inlaid front and lacquered metal interior. Two maple drawers with glass fronts, mirrors and hidden light. Drawing...
Maple
$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
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
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
Paolo Buffa Dry-Bar Cabinet, Italy, circa 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional and rare Paolo Buffa, Italy, circa 1950 mahogany cabinet with molded front panel, rectangular top and dentil carved moldings. (A pair available; the other a drop-down ...
Brass
$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
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
$51,000 / set
H 46 in W 40.75 in D 15.75 in
Paolo Buffa Pair of Cabinets, Dry-Bar Cabinet and Secretary, circa 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional and rare pair of Paolo Buffa, Italy, circa 1950 mahogany cabinets with molded front panels, rectangular top and dentil carved moldings. One, a dry-bar cabinet and the...
Brass
Paolo Buffa Cabinet in Chestnut
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paolo Buffa, cabinet, chestnut, Italy, 1940s. This rare cabinet has a subtle decorative character and is created by the talented Italian designer and architect Paolo Buffa (1903-197...
Chestnut
Sold
H 49.75 in W 40.25 in D 15.75 in
20th Century Light-Brown Italian Walnut Cabinet, Small Cupboard by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian cabinet made of hand carved polished Walnut with two doors and two shelves, designed by Paolo...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Paolo Buffa Italian 1950s Side Cupboards / Bedside
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A beautiful pair of Italian 1950's rosewood cupboards in the manner of Paolo Buffa, perfect to be used as bedside tables. A very rare and stylish design, this pair comprise of th...
Rosewood
Italian Sideboard by Paolo Buffa in Walnut and Brass, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant and solid Italian sideboard by Paola Buffa from the 1950s. The large sideboard Paolo Buffa is totally made of walnut with 4 hinged doors of a graduated and well defined shap...
Walnut
Sold
H 51.19 in W 59.45 in L 51.19 in
Piece of Furniture Attributed to Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s F.lli Lietti
By Lietti 1, Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Piece of furniture with drawers and extension with folding door, teak veneered wood, inlaid decorative treading, grooved band, back-treated glas...
Brass
Sold
H 40.95 in W 109.85 in D 21.26 in
Cupboard, Mahogany Burl Brass Glass Mirror, Paolo Buffa, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo Buffa style cupboard with central compartment set up as bar; mirror and glass covering, mahogany veneered and burl doors, embellished with inlaid decoration on the central door...
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