The quest for cultural identity after the First World War split the artistic community into two camps: those supportive of tradition and those in favor of modern furniture production and use of contemporary material. It was Paolo Buffa's ability to combine traditional elements with modern design and forms, applying "ancient solutions to modern problems," that enabled him to establish himself as a point of reference in this debate.
Paolo Buffa Pair of armchairs, 1950s. Drawing courtesy Archivio Paolo Buffa, Courtesy Eredi Marelli s.a.s. Cantù - Italy.
Buffa acquired architectural experience while working for acclaimed architects and designers including Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia. After 1928, Buffa started his independent practice and turned his attention to cabinetmaking workshops in Brianza, an area renowned for traditional manufacture of the highest standard. His position as an established architect allowed him to work with the most skilled artisans, including Fratelli Lietti, Marelli e Colico and Cassina di Meda. Guiding these cabinetmakers and acquainting them with the fast pace of modernity allowed Buffa to produce furniture of the highest quality manufacturing while simultaneously introducing a modern language.
Geometric inlays representing a more traditional aesthetic are counterbalanced with the voluminous contemporary base.
Paolo Buffa Rare dining table, circa 1949. Drawing courtesy Archivio Paolo Buffa, Courtesy Eredi Marelli s.a.s. Cantù - Italy.
This September, we are excited to be offering three highly characteristic pieces by Paolo Buffa in our biannual Design auction in London. The important and rare dining table perfectly demonstrates Buffa's approach to furniture production: geometric inlays representing a more traditional aesthetic are counterbalanced with the voluminous contemporary base, executed with the greatest attention to detail. His innate sense of traditional elegance is evident in the delicate lines of both the armchairs and their side table. As with every Buffa design, the forms at first glance seem highly recognizable; under closer inspection, however, his modern interpretation become evident.
Paolo Buffa Occasional table, circa 1940. Drawing courtesy Archivio Paolo Buffa, Courtesy Eredi Marelli s.a.s. Cantù - Italy.
As Domenico Raimondo, Phillips' Senior International Specialist of Design, has said about this Italian powerhouse: "On the one hand, his designs reassure people, and on the other, they throw everything up in the air."