Paolo Buffa Vintage Petite Writing Desk/ Console Table
About the Item
- Creator:Paolo Buffa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73.03 cm)Width: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)Depth: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Normal vintage condition with minimal wear and use.
- Seller Location:East Hampton, 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: East Hampton, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Early 20th C. Louis XVI Petite Desk/ Writing TableLocated in East Hampton, NYA wonderful early 20th Century French Louis XVI style writing desk in ebonized black finish. Dating to around the 1940’s with original brass mounts and leather top. This is the epi...Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Vintage Jaguar Green Lacquered Louis XVI Style Writing DeskLocated in East Hampton, NYBritish Jaguar green lacquered Louis XVI style desk with original embossed leather top and two drawers. This desk sits on brass casters. Simply stunning and elegant.Category
Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Espresso Finish Art Deco Style Vanity/ Writing DeskLocated in East Hampton, NYThis Parsons style, simple and stylish desk has an added feature of a flip top vanity area with storage. Perfect for storing a laptop computer! Two push ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMirror, Wood
- Exceptional Coconut Tiled Veneer Writing Desk with Ebony Wood AccentsLocated in East Hampton, NYIncredible detail work in the small coconut shell mosaic tiles - natural and organic. Very heavy and well constructed. Finished in front and back for floating in a room. Lovely Asian...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsEbony, Coconut
- Chic Vintage Curved Lucite DeskLocated in East Hampton, NYThis sexy and unique curved Lucite desk with a lower tier for storage. Chrome stretcher to base provides additional stability and heft. THIS ITEM IS LOC...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Orange Acrylic Top Desk/ Game TableLocated in East Hampton, NYThis waterfall design all acrylic desk or game table has perfect lines and scale, heavy and perfect for any space. The top is a VIVID orange and the side panels are 2 inches thick cl...Category
2010s American Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsAcrylic
- Italian Midcentury Writing Desk Attributed to Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Rome, ITThis stunning and impressive Italian executive desk with finished brass sabots and seven drawers.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Vintage Desk in Cherrywood by Paolo Buffa, 1950sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Los Angeles, CAExtraordinary Cherrywood desk/writing table with crossing legs by Paolo Buffa. This table has approximately 70 years and has been restored as you can s...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsCherry
- 20th Century Italian Rosewood Writing Desk by Osvaldo Borsani & Paolo BuffaBy Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo BuffaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA dark-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian half-round writing desk with a clear glass top, made of hand crafted polished Rosewood, designed ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Mid-Century Double-Sided Desk by Paolo Buffa, 1950sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Traversetolo, ITStunning Italian double-sided desk of the 1950s, attributable to the design of Paolo Buffa. It’s equipped with eight drawers per side, all lockable, and it’s in very good condition o...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Paolo Buffa grissinato wood desk with four drawers, Italy 1940sBy Galdino Maspero, Paolo BuffaLocated in Milan, ITSplendid and essential Paolo Buffa Desk in grissinato wood with four drawers and saber legs. Iconic Paolo Buffa design manufactured by Galdino Maspero, Italy 1940sCategory
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Italian Modern Neoclassical Walnut and Black Onyx Glass Console, Paolo BuffaBy Paolo BuffaLocated in New York, NYAn exceptional Italian Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical Walnut Wood and Black Onyx glass console or writing table attributed to Paolo Buffa circa 1950. T...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
MaterialsOnyx, Brass