Paolo Buffa, Set of Four Splendid High Back Chairs in Light Wood Wit
About the Item
- Creator:Paolo Buffa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 44.1 in (112 cm)Width: 19.69 in (50 cm)Depth: 17.72 in (45 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940
- Condition:Refinished.
- Seller Location:Milano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8258233505702
Paolo Buffa
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milano, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Paolo Buffa, set of four splendid high back chairsBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITCOD-Z23 Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Set of four splendid high back chairs in light wood with original straw seat in very good condition. Italy, 1940'sCategory
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Paolo Buffa Set of Six Dining Chairs in WalnutBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITPaolo Buffa (1903-1970) Set of six elegant dining chairs in walnut with nice carved back and upholsterd seat. Manifactured by Serafino Arrighi, Italy, 1950's. Bibl. Mobili di ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWalnut
- Paolo Buffa 8 elegant walnut chairsBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITCOD-Z200 Paolo Buffa 8 elegant walnut chairs with ebony fillets and open backs. Lietti manufacture late1930s Provenance Domus Livia, Gio Ponti 1933/1938 48 x 50 h 90 seduta 47Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWalnut
- Paolo Buffa, Pair of high back armchairs.By Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITCOD-Z83 Paolo Buffa (1903 - 1970) Pair of high back armchairs with large seat and big armrest. Iconic piece of the period. Italy, 1940's 75x75xh98Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric
- Paolo Buffa Paolo Buffa HighboardBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITPaolo Buffa (1903-1970) Unique Italian highboard with six grinded doors and beautiful handles. Bibl. R.Rizzi, I mobili di Paolo Buffa, p 1...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Buffets
MaterialsWood
- Maurice Prè. Set of Eight Chairs in Light WoodBy Maurice PréLocated in Milano, ITMaurice Prè Set of eight chairs in light wood and fabric upholstery. France, 1950s.Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Pair of Paolo Buffa Chiavari Wood Italian Chairs with Ladder High Back, 1950sBy Chiavari, Paolo BuffaLocated in Puglia, PugliaPair of fantastic high-backed ladder chairs in light walnut-stained beech with original period jute rope seats. These amazing pieces were designed by Paolo Buffa Chiavari in the 1950...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsJute, Beech
- Set of High Back Paolo Buffa Chiavari Chairs, Italy, 1950sLocated in Antwerp, BEVintage 1950s high back chairs. Features original floral upholstery with brass tacks. Dark stained wood. Metal spring seats with cushion.Beautifu...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Paolo Buffa Style Pair of Chiavari Chairs in Italian Wood with High BackrestBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Exquisite, iconic, and famous pair of Italian side entrance chairs...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsBeech
- Pair of Ladder Back Paolo Buffa Style ChairsBy Paolo BuffaLocated in London, GBA set of two elegant curved ladder back hall chairs in the manner of Paolo Buffa. Newly upholstered in scarlet velvet.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsBeech
- Rocking Chair in Cherry Wood by Paolo Buffa, c.1950sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in London, GBItalian rocking chair in cherry wood by Paolo Buffa, circa 1950s. Dimension: H92 x W57 x D80 cm. Paolo Buffa’s (1903-1970) love of the neoclassic is incorporated into sumptuous pie...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
MaterialsWood, Cherry
- Paolo Buffa Two Head Chairs in Wood and Straw 'Attr.'By Paolo BuffaLocated in Milano, ITBeautiful pair of head chairs with arms attributed to the great designer Paolo Buffa in the 1940s. The frame is made entirely of a solid and durab...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsStraw, Wood