Important Italian Mid-Century Dining Table With 6 Chairs Attributed to Paolo Buffa

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Important Italian Mid-Century Dining Table with 6 Chairs atttributed to Paolo Buffa

An important and highly refined Italian Mid-Century Modern … Read more Important Italian Mid-Century Dining Table with 6 Chairs atttributed to Paolo Buffa

An important and highly refined Italian Mid-Century Modern dining suite attributed to Paolo Buffa, comprising a sculptural rosewood dining table with inset glass top and a matching set of six dining chairs, Italy, circa 1950s.

This elegant ensemble exemplifies Buffa’s distinctive synthesis of style, restraint and modernist clarity, a defining characteristic of his Milanese production during the post-war period. The table features an elongated oval top with a thick inset glass panel, allowing the richly figured rosewood frame to remain visually present while introducing a sense of lightness and transparency.

The base is particularly striking and closely aligned with documented Buffa designs produced for Arrighi. It is composed of gracefully curved structural supports that flow seamlessly into finely tapered legs, each terminating in brass sabots—an important detail associated with high-quality Italian craftsmanship of the period. The sculptural geometry of the base, with its subtle outward movement and refined proportions, reflects Buffa’s mastery of form and his ability to reinterpret classical motifs within a modern idiom.

The accompanying set of six dining chairs is equally sophisticated, featuring gently arched ladder-back frames and elegantly tapered legs that mirror the table’s design language. The seats have been newly upholstered in a bold zebra-pattern textile, offering a dynamic visual contrast while remaining easily adaptable to a more neutral or tailored upholstery if desired.

Complete dining suites of this quality and cohesion are increasingly scarce on the market, particularly those demonstrating such a clear relationship to Buffa’s documented work. The present set stands as a compelling example of Italian mid-century design at its most refined—balancing sculptural presence with functional elegance.

MEASUREMENTS:

Table:
77 in. L × 37 in. W × 30.5 in. H
Leg clearance: 29.5 in.
Approximate space between the legs: 38"

Chairs (each):
44 in. H × 19 3/8 in. W × 20 in. D
Seat height: 18.5 in.
Seat width: 17.75 in.
Seat depth: 16.5 in.

CONDITION:

Very good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age and use. Minor surface wear to wood and glass; chairs newly upholstered.

Provenance: Private Palm Beach, Florida beachfront estate See less