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.
$4,197Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Armchair with Ears Paolo Buffa 1950s Grey Velvet Wooden Feet
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Original 1950's high-backed armchair with earmuffs typical design by famous architect Paolo Buffa. In dark gray velvet and light wood feet
Velvet
$7,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Paolo Buffa Wingback Lounge Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in North York, ON
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian paolo buffa wingback lounge chairs. Iconic paolo buffa styling, Italy, circa 1960’s. Masterfully restored to its original condition with ne...
Fabric, Wood
Midcentury Pair of Armchairs in Walnut by Paolo Buffa for Framar Made in Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Pair of wingback armchairs by Paolo Buffa with a wood frame in walnut and reupholstered in Italian blue wool. Paolo Buffa is an Italian designer and architect. He is one of the most...
Wool, Walnut
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wing Back Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback / Hi Back Lounge Chairs / armchairs by Paolo Buffa. These chairs are large, deep and comfortable; They have sensuous lines and a ...
Upholstery, Hardwood
Pair of Walnut Mid-Century Modern, Wingback Armchairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of walnut Mid-Century Modern, upholstered wingback armchairs by Paolo Buffa.
Walnut
$11,019 / set
Pair of wing armchairs by Paolo Buffa – Italy 1950
By Framar, Paolo Buffa
Located in Girona, Girona
Pair of wing armchairs in solid french polished cherry, new fillings and redone upholstery in black bouclette fabric. Design by Paolo Buffa for Framar Italy 1950
Fabric, Cherry
Mid-Century Armchair, Paolo Buffa Style, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
This mid-century Italian armchair, attributed to Paolo Buffa, exemplifies the understated, sculptural elegance typical of the Milanese designer. The finely polished solid wood frame ...
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Lounge Chair by Paolo Buffa, Polished Walnut, Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chair made of hand crafted polished Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed club chair is composed with tw...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
$7,410 / set
H 31.5 in W 29.14 in D 33.08 in
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Armchairs, attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Buccinasco, MI
This elegant pair of Italian mid-century armchairs, attributed to Paolo Buffa, beautifully reflects the refined balance between sculptural form and artisanal craftsmanship that chara...
Velvet, Wood, Cherry
$2,856Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 34.65 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Modern Italian Armchairs, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Beautiful pair of armchairs with curved armrests, made by Paolo Buffa in 1950. The structure in curved and padded wood, the upholstery was redone more than twenty years ago but is in...
Fabric, Beech
Italian Modern Lounge Chair Attributed To Paolo Buffa
By Gio Ponti, Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo Buffa, Ico Parisi, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Lounge Chair Attributed To Paolo Buffa. This gorgeous mid century modern chair has a gorgeous finish and looks great from every angle. Paolo Buffa was born in 1903, in...
Fabric, Wood
$8,700 / set
H 34 in W 28 in D 35 in
Mid-Century Italian Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa, Ebonized Walnut
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Hanover, MA
Incredibly stylish and well crafted lounge chairs attributed to Paolo Buffa. Each chair is made of ebonized solid walnut and features exaggerated sinewey armrests that stretch from the backrest to the floor and have solid cherry spindle back and distinctive double X spindle detailing under the arms. The seat deck is woven raffia. These chairs are quite generously proportioned and comfortable even for a larger man (i.e., yours truly!) The lose seat...
Upholstery, Cherry, Walnut
$4,559
H 41.54 in W 27.56 in D 37.01 in
Mid-Century Modern Inspired Italian Style ‘Marcello’ Lounge Chair
Located in London, GB
The high back lounge chair ‘Marcello’ was inspired by stylish Italian design from the 1950s and is now created by English craftsman for the 21st century. We developed a lounge chair ...
Velvet, Walnut
Paolo Buffa, Pair of Reclining Wingback Armchairs, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Distinctive pair of Italian wingback armchairs from the 1940s, combining sculptural elegance with refined craftsmanship. The high, gently curved backs feature exaggerated “ears” that...
Wood
$16,500 / set
H 37.5 in W 26 in D 28 in
Mid-century Wingback Recliner Lounge Chairs, Renzo Franchi, 1950's, Italy
Located in New York, NY
Mid-century Wingback Recliner Lounge Chairs, Renzo Franchi, 1950's, Italy Reclining lounge chairs with cherry frames and brass details. These armchairs ...
Cherry
Pair of Vintage Wingback Armchairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage wingback armchairs with beautiful wood carved claw foot legs. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Fabric
$14,800 / set
H 34.75 in W 25 in D 30.25 in
20th Century Italian Pair of Modern Vintage Walnut Lounge Chairs by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage pair of Mid-Century modern Italian lounge chairs made of hand crafted Walnut designed by Paolo Buffa, in good condition. The detailed club armchairs are composed with a lon...
Fabric, Walnut, Maple, Upholstery, Bouclé
Pair of Italian 1950's Leather High Back Wing / Lounge Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A pair of sculptural high-back Italian wing chairs, with beautifully curved arm and back supports, supported on splayed and tapered black painted metal and brass legs. The chairs exp...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 38.19 in W 33.86 in D 35.44 in
20th Century Italian Pair Of Velvet Wingback Armchairs By Paolo Buffa c.1960
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A lovely pair of wingback armchairs from the 1960s that exemplify Italian mid-century sophistication. Designed in the manner of the renowned Paolo Buffa, they are upholstered in thei...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 30.32 in
Vintage Authentic Floral Fabric Wingback Armchair by Paolo Buffa, Italy
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. The armchair features wooden legs and is upholstered in a high-quality light blue floral fabric, which is original and in excellent condition. Its padding is ...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 39.38 in W 26.78 in D 38.19 in
Paolo Buffa High-Back Armchairs with Floral Upholstery, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Almelo, NL
Paolo Buffa high-back armchairs with floral upholstery, Italy, 1940s Paolo Buffa high-back armchairs with floral upholstery, Italy, 1940s. These armchairs are featured with the or...
Fabric, Walnut
Pair of Wingback Chairs by Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of wingback chairs by Paolo Buffa recently upholstered with zebra print leather, Italy circa 1950.
Fabric
Pair of Rare Red Sky Palo Buffa Armchairs, 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Interesting pair of rare wing back armchairs by Paolo Buffa circa 1959 original upholstery in vintage red sky sky fabric and wood feet good condition some little sign on the s...
Fabric, Wood
Vintage Armchair Designed by Paolo Buffa, 1960s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Italy - Made of teak wood, original upholstery - Partially restored - Good condition.
Fabric, Wood
Vintage Armchair Designed by Paolo Buffa, 1960s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Italy - Made of teak wood, original upholstery - Partially restored - Good condition.
Fabric, Wood
Midcentury Paolo Buffa Lounge Chair
By Framar, Paolo Buffa
Located in Chireno, TX
Midcentury Paolo Buffa lounge chair by Framar, circa 1950s. Sturdy walnut Italian wingback frame newly-reupholstered in a fine green wool with...
Wool, Walnut
Sold
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Paolo Buffa, Italian Mid-Century Wingback Armchair from the 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Paolo Buffa, Italian Mid-Century Wingback Armchair from the 1950s
Fabric, Wood
Large Paolo Buffa Armchair
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
A splendid Paolo Buffa armchair
Pair of Paolo Buffa Wingback Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Stunning set of wingback chairs by Italian designer Paolo Buffa which date to the late 1940s. Stunning lines and angles to these with the Buffa...
Velvet
Stunning Paolo Buffa Bi-Colour Wing Chair, 1949
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rome, IT
Paolo Buffa wing Amrchair 1949 upholstered bicolored cotton and walnut ; sky blue and grey details H 100, 84 x 74 cm Literature: Roberto Aloi " Esempi di Arredamento moderno"...