Paolo Buffa Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy, circa 1950
About the Item
- Creator:Paolo Buffa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34.75 in (88.27 cm)Width: 28.25 in (71.76 cm)Depth: 29 in (73.66 cm)Seat Height: 16.75 in (42.55 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Reupholstered. Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs have been professionally restored, the legs re-finished, the whole re-upholstered in new fabric with down filled cushions.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- 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 Italian Modernist Lounge Chairs, Italy, circa 1950Located in New York, NYA pair of grand scale Italian modernist lounge chairs with great sculptural form, the large and comfortable seat supported on elegantly appointed black metal and brass tapered legs. ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Pair of Italian Modernist Leather Lounge, Slipper Chairs , Italy, circa 1950Located in New York, NYA pair of Italian modernist lounge or slipper chairs; highly sculptural in form, with metal cross-hatch motif tapered legs. Newly re-upholstered in our professional studio with Ital...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Italian Modernist Leather Scalloped Lounge Chairs, Circa 1950Located in New York, NYA charming and whimsical pair of Italian 1950's leather lounge chairs with scalloped shaped wide back rests, the rich cognac leather contrasts with the nail head trim and elegantly s...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Paolo Buffa Carved Wood Sideboard / Credenza, Italy, circa 1950By Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYA charming hand-carved walnut and oak credenza or sideboard by Italian designer Paolo Buffa, circa 1950. The four doors with scalloped carving open to reveal internal shelves, with...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Modernist Pair of Reclining Lounge / Armchairs, Italy, circa 1950Located in New York, NYA pair of Italian modernist reclining lounge chairs / arm chairs, the geometric metal frames accentuate the molded walnut surround on the sides of the back and seats, the legs tapere...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- 1950s Paolo Buffa attributed Sexy Lounge Chairs ItalyBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Chula Vista, CA1950s Paolo Buffa attributed sexy lounge chairs made Italy. selling as a pair No label present, attributed Paolo Buffa. original floral pattern upholstery. sculptural solid brass le...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Paolo Buffa Pair of Lounge Chairs in Light Blue Velvet, Italy, 1950sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYPaolo Buffa pair of lounge chairs or armchairs with curved wingback and back buttons, cushion seat, rounded armrests and elegantly tapered legs, Italy, 1950s. These incredibly chic lounge chairs or modernist wingback chairs have been fully restored and newly upholstered in a light blue cotton velvet. Beautifully proportioned with gently graceful curved lines throughout, these stylish and sophisticated lounge chairs have a more sculptural and sleek form unlike traditional wingback chairs...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Walnut
- Pair of Leather Italian Lounge Chairs Attributed to Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in North York, ONPair of Leather Italian lounge chairs attributed to Paolo Buffa. Featuring unique curved design in a burnished yellow leather. Leather does have some fading on seat corner and back. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- 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
- Pair Italian Paolo Buffa Style Serenissma Brown Velvet Lounge ChairsBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Houston, TXPair of Paolo Buffa style lounge chairs newly upholstered in Scumacher's Serenissma cut velvet.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
- Italian Lounge Chair Attributed to Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Los Angeles, CALounge chair attributed to Italian designer Paolo Buffa. The chair features a textured linen upholstery with dark green piping at each side. The birch frame showcases beautiful bentw...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLinen, Birch
