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.
Paolo Buffa for Arrighim Italy, Mid-Century Dining Table in Cherrywood, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant dining table from Italy, 1940s, featuring a gently curved rectangular form with exceptional craftsmanship typical of the mid-century era. The structure is made of richly grai...
Wood
Paolo Buffa for Esposizione Permanente mobili Cantù Dining Table in Oak
By Esposizione Permanente mobili Cantù, Paolo Buffa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paolo Buffa for Esposizione Permanente mobili Cantù, dining table, oak, Italy, 1940s A truly remarkable piece of furniture that excels in every aspect of design: from its impeccable...
Oak
Paolo Buffa brass and Carrara marble round dining table, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
An exquisite dining table in cast brass and rare "Cremo Delicato" marble from Carrara, Italian manufacture, design by Paolo Buffa, 1950s. Slender yet s...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Paolo Buffa Dining Table for Galdino Maspero, 1948
By Galdino Maspero, Paolo Buffa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Paolo Buffa dining table for Galdino Maspero, wood, Italy, 1948 A rare example of Paolo Buffa’s transition toward more architectural compositions, this dining table, designed in 194...
Wood
20th Century, Paolo Buffa Wooden Table for Marelli and Colico
By Paolo Buffa, Marelli & Colico
Located in Turin, Turin
Paolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclass...
Brass
Italian Midcentury Extendable Dining Table designed by Paolo Buffa in 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Beautiful Dining Table designed by Paolo Buffa in 1950s, great executive quality that is evident from various details, the top in precious green marble from the Alpes, the lateral ba...
Marble, Brass
$7,088
H 30.71 in Dm 46.07 in
1950 Paolo Buffa Permanente Cantu Midcentury Design Marble Wood Dining Table
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Paolo Buffa
Located in Brescia, IT
Paolo Buffa La Permanente Mobili Cantù Italy, 1950s Wood stand with brass details Circle Marble top. Excellent condiction Marble in perfect condiction, no crack and no restorations....
Marble, Brass
Italian Midcentury Rosewood Table Attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This Italian midcentury teak table attributed to Paolo Buffa 1950, is an example of pure Italian design on the period. The round top is completely in rosewood with spectacular colour...
Brass
Italian Midcentury Dining or Conference Table, 1950s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Hugh wooden table with beautiful and particular details in the style of Gianfranco Frattini. Excellent craftsmanship in very good original condition with small signs of wear, please have a look to all pictures. More pictures are available. Could be used as conference table as well as big dining table...
Plywood
$6,616
H 9.45 in W 54.73 in D 11.03 in
Italian Art Deco Cherry Wood and Siena Marble Console By Paolo Buffa, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco hanging console was produced in Italy in the 1940s by Paolo Buffa. It is completely made of cherry wood with a Siena marble top.
Marble
$10,400 / set
H 23.75 in W 24.5 in D 14.25 in
Vintage Italian Nightstands by Paolo Buffa, Mahogany & Glass, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of bed side tables made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. The nightstands are c...
Metal, Brass
Paolo Buffa Wood Coffee Table, Italy 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Paolo Buffa side table, Italy 1940s.
Wood
Side Table by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Italian side table by Paolo Buffa for the Hotel Bristol. Etched rectangular glass with stars and circles motives hold by a mahogany pedestal base...
Brass
$26,583
H 31.5 in W 135.04 in D 43.31 in
Paolo Buffa grand dining/conference table made of oak, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
An imposing table crafted from exquisite oak wood, produced in Italy during the 1940s, stands as a work of great refinement. With generous dimensions (348 x 110 x 80), this represent...
Oak
$9,400
H 32.5 in W 41.25 in D 11.75 in
Vintage Italian Console Table by Paolo Buffa, Ebonized Walnut, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian console table with a small drawer, made of hand crafted ebonized Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The freestanding Neoc...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Paolo Buffa 'Dattilo' Writing Desk, Italy circa 1940
By Galdino Maspero, Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
A 'Datillo' petite writing desk / table by Paolo Buffa and produced by Galdino Maspero in stained beech wood and walnut. With two drawers on the left hand side underneath a rectangul...
Beech, Walnut
$2,752
H 22.45 in W 47.25 in D 13.39 in
Art Deco Console, Walnut Root by Paolo Buffa for Permanente Mobili Cantù
By Paolo Buffa, La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Elegant Mid-Century modern low console with three drawers by Paolo Buffa for Permanente Mobili Cantù in walnut root. Accessories such as handles and...
Nutwood
Italian Vintage Dining Table with Glass Top, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Hellouw, NL
This Italian vintage dining table brings the refined aesthetic of the 1950s into contemporary interiors. A sophisticated blend of form and material, this piece encapsulates the grace...
Glass, Mahogany
Paolo Buffa Italian Midcentury Brass Glass Wood Round Dining Table 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design round dining table or gueridon designed by Paolo Buffa with wooden frame and top, into which the glass top is fitted, with chiseled brass foot detail...
Brass
Elegant Paolo Buffa italian Mid Century Dining Table
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Italian 1950s table by Paolo Buffa - Elegance and craftsmanship in postwar design A table that tells a story of style, art, and refinement: this 1950s tall bar cabinet, attributed t...
Wood
Paolo Buffa, Dining table, Prod. Marelli and Colico, Cantù, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa, Marelli & Colico
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rare round table designed by Paolo Buffa and produced by Marelli and Colico, Cantù, 1950s Central wooden leg, brass supports and wooden top Small defects
Brass
Dining Table by Paolo Buffa (1903-1970)
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
An oak dining table by Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Italy, 1950s
Oak
Paolo Buffa Center Table
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible table by Paolo Buffa - Italy, 1950s Sculptural solid brass base with fluted walnut wood and gorgeous black marble top.
Marble, Brass
Paolo Buffa Marble Dining Table by Marelli & Colico, Italy 1955
By Paolo Buffa, Marelli & Colico
Located in Aachen, NW
Fine and very nice marble dining table by Paolo Buffa for Marelli & Colico. This stunning piece was made in Italy around 1955. Only a few pieces were made and this edition is quit...
Marble
Sold
H 31.5 in Dm 48.04 in
20th Century Paolo Buffa Center Table in Marble, Wood and Glass Tabletop, 50s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Turin, Turin
Paolo Buffa (Milan 1903-1970), architect and designer, worked in the field of furniture design. Trained in the studio of Ponti and Lancia, from where he borrowed elements of neoclass...
Crystal, Marble, Brass
Rare Italian Dining Table by Paolo Buffa in Brass
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Important Italian dining table designed by the great master Paolo Buffa in the 1950s. Beautifully made by the Italian manufacture of the time. Features important lines and great wood...
Brass
Paolo Buffa Italian rosewood maple black glass desk table 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Paris, IDF
This beautiful desk table or dining table was designed by Paolo Buffa in Italy in the 1940s. The warm mix of rosewood and birdseye maple remains looking healthy and smooth eighty plus years later. The waving shaped feet is really a beautiful work. The table top is made of black opaline glass. The piece feels delightfully modern for the period and charmingly vintage now...
Opaline Glass, Maple, Rosewood
Paolo Buffa table in wood late forties
By Paolo Buffa
Located in bari, IT
Elegant inlaid and worked wood table attributed to Paolo Buffa's early work late 1940sFurniture by the Milanese architect and designer (1930-1970) is mostly one-of-a-kind pieces, based on the needs of his clients, and therefore always different. What unites them, in addition to perfection of execution, is the neoclassical style absorbed during his training at Gio Ponti's studio in the 1920s: the solid, elegant lines Buffa applies to his furniture maintain a kind of continuity between the 1800s and 1900s, and characterize all his production. The use of fine woods, often decorated with fine grooves on the surfaces and brass ornaments, is another recognizable feature of his pieces. His most assiduous collaboration is with the historic Milanese furniture...
Walnut
Paolo Buffa Round Wooden Table for Serafino Arrighi
By Paolo Buffa, Serafino Arrighi
Located in Milano, IT
Lovely round table designed by the great designer Paolo Buffa for the fine Italian manufacture Serafino Arrighi in the 1960s. The table is made of fine wood with excellent workmansh...
Brass
Paolo Buffa Dining Table, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, PA
Paolo Buffa dining table, 1940s. Dimensions: H= 74 cm; D= 110 cm.
Brass