Italian Modernist Display Cabinet by Paolo Buffa, 1950s

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About This Piece

Vintage Design

Elegant 1950s display cabinet, most likely of Italian origin.

This piece features a wood frame with warm-toned veneers, resting on tapered legs characteristic of Italian modernist design of the period. The upper section comprises sliding glass doors and glass shelves, ideal for displaying objects, while the lower section offers closed storage space with carved doors and brass handles.
The cabinet is distinguished by its balanced proportions, subtle decorative details, and high-quality craftsmanship, combining functionality and elegance in the spirit of post-war Italian production.
Good vintage condition, with minor signs of wear consistent with age.

This type of display cabinet is characteristic of Italian production in the 1950s, often from high-quality workshops, though not always signed.

Click here for full description Close description

Creator	Paolo Buffa
Design Period	1950 to 1959
Production Period	1950 to 1959
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	The style of the design is reminiscent of the designer and/or manufacturer
Style	Italian, Midcentury, Italian Modern, Hand-Crafted, Modernist, Postmodern
Detailed Condition	Good — This vintage/antique item may have some wear such as scratches and other signs of ageing.
Restoration and Damage Details	Patina consistent with age and use
SKU	AVC-2501689
Materials	Palisander, Glass
Color	Brown
Width	100 cm 100 cm
Depth	45 cm 45 cm
Height	157 cm 157 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	France
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

About the Creator

Paolo Buffa

Italian architect-designer Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) was active between the 1930s and 1960s. He is known for an array of furniture designs that marry Neoclassical and Art Deco motifs with modernist principles. His pieces rarely include identifying marks, making them difficult to authenticate.

Born and raised in Milan, Buffa studied architecture at the city’s famous Politecnico, graduating in 1927. The following year, he established a design studio with Antonio Cassi Ramelli, whom he had met during a brief stint working in the atelier of Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia. Together they made their professional debut with a dining room installation at the 1930 Triennale. Sometime between the 1933 and 1936 Triennales, Buffa opened his own studio.

Designing for the Milanese upper classes in the 1930s, Buffa’s designs were expertly handmade in fine materials, resulting in a quality that of rivaled French Art Deco legend Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. In collaboration with talented ébénistes—like Mario Quarti—and specialized craftsmen, Buffa was able to slowly introduce modernized, streamlined techniques in the early 1940s, which allowed the designer to increase his output. The evolution of Buffa’s increasingly modern aesthetic is clear, from early Neoclassical cabinets with intricate ornamentation and opulent inlays, to '60s-era, pared down lounge chairs and consoles. In the 1960s, the designer collaborated with large-scale Italian manufacturer Cassina.

In addition to furniture design, Buffa presided over many architectural and interior design projects, which ranged from the design of tombs—his first commission—and a yacht for Egyptian royalty, to villas, hotels, opera houses, and offices.

Despite Buffa’s prolificity and his significant contribution to the development of midcentury Italian design culture, relatively little has been written about the designer since his death in 1970. Nevertheless, the appetite for Buffa designs on the vintage market is growing. Design enthusiasts and collectors alike value Buffa’s designs as much for their high-quality craftsmanship and materials as for their classic aesthetic and association with the foundation of the modernist movement in Italy.