Paolo Buffa was an Italian architect and designer whose work played a significant role in the evolution of Italian decorative arts and furniture design during the mid-20th century. Trained at the Politecnico di Milano, he worked briefly in the studio of Gio Ponti before, in 1928, founding a studio in Milan with architect Antonio Cassi Ramelli. Their early work, rooted in a softened classical revival, was presented at the Triennale di Milano exhibitions of 1930 and 1933. In 1936, Buffa opened his own studio, where he developed a distinctive style that combined neoclassical references, refined proportions, and luxurious materials — including rosewood and velveteen fabrics — with increasingly inventive and modern forms. Working closely with leading Lombard craftsmen and manufacturers, among them Serafino Arrighiand Cassina, he produced furniture distinguished by exceptional craftsmanship, elegant detailing, and sculptural woodworking techniques. Following World War II, Buffa’s work gained international recognition through exhibitions including the 1948 Salon des Artistes Décorateurs in Paris. During the 1950s and 1960s, his designs gradually evolved toward more streamlined and restrained forms, reflecting the broader transition of Italian design from decorative classicism to modernism.