20th Century Italian Pair of Beech, Maplewood Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
About the Item
- Creator:Paolo Buffa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 27.5 in (69.85 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1940 - 1950
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:West Palm Beach, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1622236645642
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: West Palm Beach, FL
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 20th Century Italian Pair of Vintage Walnut Lounge Chairs by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of lounge chairs made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. The backrest and the sides of the armchair...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
- 20th Century White Italian Pair of Vintage Velvet Lounge Chairs by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of lounge chairs were designed by the famous Italian designer Paolo Buffa. In Walnut with a hand polished Shellac finish in good conditio...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Walnut
- 20th Century White Italian Pair of Walnut Lounge Chairs & Ottoman by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA dark-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of lounge chairs and a kidney shaped ottoman, stool made of hand crafted polished Walnut, d...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- 20th Century Italian Pair of Mid-Century Maplewood Nightstands by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of nightstands made of hand crafted polished Maplewood, designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. The bed side tables are composed with a glass shelf and two small doors, detailed with its original brass hardware. The small side chests...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- 20th Century White Sheepskin Divano - Vintage Italian Beech Sofa by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA vintage half-rounded Mid-Century Modern Italian three-seat sofa or divano made of Beechwood. Designed by Paolo Buffa in good condition. Newly upholstered in white natural sheepskin...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAnimal Skin, Sheepskin, Beech
- 20th Century Italian Pair of Vintage Brass Eye-Shaped Side Chairs by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of high sculptural side chairs made of hand crafted ebonized Rosewood, designed most likely by Paolo Buffa in good condition. The detailed d...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Paolo Buffa Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy, circa 1950By Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYA pair of Paolo Buffa lounge chairs, designed in 1950 for the Hotel Bristol, Merano, an Italian resort. The chairs are indicative of Buffa's signature style, modernist and sleek but...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
- Paolo Buffa Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy, circa 1950By Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYA pair of Paolo Buffa lounge chairs, designed in 1950 for the Hotel Bristol, Merano, an Italian resort. The chairs are indicative of Buffa's signature style, modernist and sleek but ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
- Pair Of 20th Century Italian Lounge ChairsBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Westport, CTA lovely vintage pair of curved arm lounge chairs composed overall of a brown shellac polished beechwood. The slats to the back of the chairs a...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWalnut
- Paolo Buffa Italian Mid Century Lounge ChairBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Los Angeles, CAPaolo Buffa Italian mid century lounge chair Italy, circa 1950’s This chair is equal parts comfy and stylish A timeless classic newly reupholstered in vintage Italian wool bouclé We ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood, Bouclé
- Pair of Italian Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs Inspired By Paolo BuffaBy ISA Bergamo, Minotti, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Houston, TXPair Of Italian Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs Inspired By Paolo Buffa. This unusual pair of Italian mid century modern walnut lounge chairs are recently upholstered in white boucle...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé, Walnut
- Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950By Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYAn Elegant and Timeless Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical Lounge Chairs / Armchairs or Club Chairs by Paolo Buffa circa 1947 -1955. The chairs have a classic profile wi...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Hardwood
