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Paolo Buffa & Giovanni Gariboldi – Set of Four Gilt and Lacquered Side Chairs

$79,480

£59,654.50

€69,609.11

CA$112,289.42

A$112,578.60

CHF 65,238.49

MX$1,375,621.97

NOK 756,021.28

SEK 772,024.42

DKK 520,308.50

About the Item

This elegant set of four chairs embodies the refined Milanese design sensibility of the mid-20th century. It was born from the collaboration between architect Paolo Buffa and designer Giovanni Gariboldi. Produced around 1950 by cabinetmaker Serafino Arrighi in Cantù, these chairs combine sculptural sophistication with artisanal craftsmanship. The back stiles with finials are a medieval revival form inspired by Hugo Gorge and the Neues Wiener Wohnen, yet they depart from these styles in ways that define Paolo Buffa’s distinctive vision. For the backrests, Buffa incorporated the floral motifs of Giovanni Gariboldi (1908-1971). Gariboldi is among the most influential figures in the history of Italian decorative arts. He was the Artistic Director at Ginori. The acanthus leaf has historical significance. It symbolizes immortality, longevity, and resilience, as well as nature’s abundance and the cycle of life. Significant is the treatment of the front legs. Rather than tapering, they grow stronger and more substantial toward the base, a typical Buffa design element with a futuristic aesthetic. By the 1960s, the sculptural qualities of his leg design had reached their zenith, resonating with a broader cultural readiness to embrace this kind of shape. In contraposition to this, Buffa incorporated the atavistic opulence of Gariboldi, transforming the chair into a work of art that embodies futuristic abundance. The design reflects postwar Italy’s search for beauty through tradition and innovation. These chairs are exquisite examples of collectible Italian design, representing the harmony between two of Milan’s most celebrated creative minds and the exceptional skill of Lombardy’s master artisans.

Creator:
Paolo Buffa (Designer),Giovanni Gariboldi (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 40.16 in (102 cm)Width: 17.72 in (45 cm)Depth: 15.75 in (40 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
Style:
Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Lacquer,Wood,Carved,Gilt,Lacquered
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1950-1959
Date of Manufacture:
1950
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Some loss of lacquer and gilt.
Seller Location:
Petershagen, DE
Reference Number:
Seller: 4551stDibs: LU10332246209102

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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