1960s Italian Walnut Cabinet by Paolo Buffa
View Similar Items
1960s Italian Walnut Cabinet by Paolo Buffa
About the Item
- Creator:Paolo Buffa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 56.5 in (143.51 cm)Width: 57.5 in (146.05 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU897211010161
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.
- Italian 1960s Murano handkerchief pendantLocated in London, GBHandblown Murano glass sculpted into curved handkerchief shape using the fazzoletto technique. Substantial glass pendant but the patterning inside the glass gives the effect of delic...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- 1960s Scultpured Resin Italian Back-Lit MirrorLocated in London, GBUnusual rectangular mirror with back lighting. The concave frame sculpted in irregular cubes of glowing cool resin.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Resin
- Italian 1960s Murano 'Fazzoletto' Hankerchief PendantLocated in London, GBHandblown Murano 'Fazzoletto' handkerchief ceiling light with unusual rich cream and bronze patterning, edged in bronze. Brass ceiling rose.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- 1960s Italian Murano gold oval mirrorLocated in London, GBVintage Murano rich gold artisan mirror with four decorative brass clasps.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Nest of three 1960s Italian Brass Side TablesLocated in London, GBNest of three Italian brass side tables with octagonal-planed legs. Each table inset with smoked glass top. Middle table measures 13.5in high x 19in wide x 16in deep. Small table mea...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Italian 1960s Murano bell shaped striped pendantLocated in London, GBSubstantial Murano glass pendant with white and amber swirls. Large brass fitting and ceiling rose. Excellent condition. Newly re-wired.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Paolo Buffa Bar Cabinet, Italy, 1950s-1960sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYPaolo Buffa bar cabinet with gold star detailing. Incredible cabinet in perfect condition. This is a rare piece and not many of this model were made.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsMahogany
- Italian Mid-Century Modern Tall Sideboard Cabinet Designed by Paolo Buffa, 1950By Paolo BuffaLocated in Traversetolo, ITMagnificent Italian sideboard designed by Paolo Buffa in the 50s. Underlining the upper floor is wood veneer arranged in a herringbone pattern. The doors have three panels each embel...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- Italian 1940s Cabinet by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in London, GBA fine 1940s Italian cabinet by Paolo Buffa Resting on slender tapered legs with deep brass sabot feet. This piece has wonderful four panelled...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Cabinet by Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in London, GBExceptional cabinet by Paolo Buffa in walnut with mahogany interior and brass detail. Italy circa 1950. Measures: height 133cm, width 26cm, dept...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsHardwood
$28,178 - Italian Console 1960s Marble Style Paolo Buffa VintageBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Lyon, FRElegant Italian console from the 1960s in the style of the work of Paolo Buffa. Solid wood and veneer structure with a nice marquetry work on the three drawers. Marble top supported ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
MaterialsMarble, Brass
- Italian Mid-Century Cabinet By Paolo BuffaBy Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Houston, TXItalian Mid-Century Cabinet By Paolo Buffa. This versatile chest is a perfect as a bedside chest or where space is limited. Great workmanship. Paolo Buffa was born in 1903, in Milan,...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWalnut