Italian Dresser in the Style of Paolo Buffa, 1950s
Description
Dresser in the style of Paolo Buffa, wood, Italy, 1950s
This dresser is built in the architectural vocabulary associated with Paolo Buffa's cabinetmaking, structured as a continuous bridge-like volume rather than a conventional case piece. Two full-height solid mahogany side panels curve gently into the top, wrapping the case in a single uninterrupted band of richly figured grain and resting on a recessed plinth that makes the whole appear suspended above the floor. The front is organized as a grid of nine drawers veneered in bird's-eye maple, framed by a slim mahogany surround that sharpens the contrast between the two woods and reinforces the geometric discipline typical of Paolo Buffa's compositions from this period. Each drawer is fitted with a round turned brass knob, its warm patina echoing the tonal interplay between the dark mahogany shell and the luminous maple fronts.
Paolo Buffa was among the most architecturally minded furniture designers of Italian mid-century design, trained as an architect before turning to interiors and cabinetry, and pieces attributed to his circle are often distinguished by this same instinct for volume and continuity over ornament. The bridge-form silhouette, the disciplined drawer grid, and the pairing of contrasting woods seen here all belong to the design language most associated with Paolo Buffa's output during the 1950s, and the construction quality is consistent with the workshops, among them La Permanente Mobili Cantù, that regularly produced his designs during this period, even where a piece is not accompanied by archival documentation tying it directly to either.
Dimensions
Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)
Width: 62.8 in (159.5 cm)
Depth: 21.26 in (54 cm)
Design
1950s
Manufacture
1950-1959
Material
Wood
Location
Lonigo, IT
Condition
Our atelier carefully restored the dresser, with attention to structural integrity, materials, and finish. The process was guided by deep respect for its authenticity, balancing technical intervention and historical sensitivity.