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Paolo Buffa Mahogany and Maple Sideboard, Buffet, or Console, Certificate, 1950s

About the Item

Paolo Buffa rare and exceptional sideboard, buffet, or console table believed to have been executed by Fratelli Lietti fu Paolo, Cantù, Italy, circa 1955. Masterfully handcrafted in Cuban mahogany with a finely finished maple interior, this elegant piece displays Buffa's signature blend of traditional Neoclassicism and mid-century modernism. Its sculptural silhouette features a gracefully bombé central section fitted with two drawers, flanked by two end cabinets. The cabinet doors and drawers are accented with mahogany detailing and distinctive brass ring pulls, lending both visual balance and refined decorative appeal. The sideboard or console rests on elegant square-section tapered legs terminating in finely cast brass collars and ferrules or sabots. A particularly striking feature is the substantial top, exquisitely inlaid with a geometric Greek-key motif in contrasting boxwood, showcasing the remarkable precision of the cabinetmaker's craft. The interiors of both the cabinets and drawers are beautifully finished in maple, reflecting the meticulous attention to detail throughout. From its harmonious proportions to its superb construction and luxurious materials, this console exemplifies the highest standards of Italian craftsmanship during the postwar period. An outstanding and highly collectible work, this rare and sophisticated Paolo Buffa sideboard or console brings timeless elegance, architectural presence, and refined luxury to any distinguished interior. Fratelli Lietti was among an elite group of Cantù prominent cabinetmaker workshops (alongside artisans like Angelo Marelli and Serafino Arrighi) trusted by Buffa to bring his highly detailed, luxurious custom residential commissions to life. Buffa did not mass-produce his early and mid-career works in massive factories. Instead, he drew highly technical blueprints and partnered with Cantù's elite specialized master craft shops. His relationship with the Lietti workshop began in the early 1930s and extended into the 1950s. Sold with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Paolo Buffa Archives. Literature: Paolo Buffa designer: 30 opere dal 1939 al 1968, Eredi di Angelo Marelli, Cantù, 1993, pp. 18-19

Creator:
Paolo Buffa (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 37 in (93.98 cm)Width: 63 in (160.02 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Boxwood,Brass,Mahogany,Maple
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1950-1959
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1955
Condition:
Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. In very good condition, fully restored including new polish.
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: BUF2081stDibs: LU2917350835222

Shop All Paolo Buffa

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.

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