Literature
'Alcuni Mobili di Paolo Buffa', Domus, no. 178, October 1942, p. 431 for a similar example
Roberto Aloi, L’ Arredamento Moderno, quarta serie, Milan, 1949, fig. 366 for a similar example
Roberto Rizzi, I mobile di Paolo Buffa, exh. cat., Mostra Internazionale dell'Arredamento, Cantù, 2002, p. 30 for a drawing, pp. 34-35
Catalogue Essay
The present model armchair is listed in the Paolo Buffa archive as drawing no. 118/F.

158

Paolo Buffa

Pair of armchairs, model no. 118/F

1950s
Walnut, fabric.
80 x 67.9 x 87 cm (31 1/2 x 26 3/4 x 34 1/4 in.)
Each frame interior impressed III and IIII. Together with a certificate of authenticity from the Paolo Buffa Archive.

Estimate
£8,000 - 12,000

Sold for £47,500

Contact Specialist
Madalena Horta e Costa
Head of Sale
+44 20 7318 4019

Important Design

London Auction 26 April 2018

1
Gio Ponti
Rare illuminated sideboard
Estimate £35,000 - 55,000
Sold for £131,250
2
Carlo Scarpa
Rare mirror, model no. 77
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £52,500
3
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia
Rare daybed
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £46,250
4
Gino Sarfatti
Ceiling light, model no. 2027
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
5
Gio Ponti
Two hand mirrors
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
6
Gio Ponti
Occasional table and free-standing shelving unit, designed for Count Cantoni-Marca, Lombardy
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
Sold for £22,500
7
Gio Ponti
Important and rare low table, designed for the Contini Bonacossi residence, Quadreria Moderna, Villa Vittoria, Florence
Estimate £180,000 - 240,000
Sold for £261,000
8
Carlo Scarpa
Chandelier, model no. 207
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £20,000
9
Ico Parisi
Set of fourteen dining chairs
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £21,250
10
Pietro Chiesa
Ceiling light
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £27,500
11
Paolo Buffa
Important and rare dining table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £45,000
12
Angelo Lelii
Important and rare ceiling light, model no. 12697
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £27,500
13
Ico Parisi
Pair of rare armchairs
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £27,500
14
Ico Parisi
Occasional table
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £12,500
15
Pietro Chiesa
Two lidded boxes
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £5,000
16
Osvaldo Borsani
Side table
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £8,125
17
Gio Ponti
Rare table lamp
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £56,250
18
Piero Fornasetti
'Fiori e Cammei' mirror
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
19
Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti
Unique 'Fiori e Cammei' wardrobe
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £75,000
20
Stilnovo
Pair of rare adjustable wall lights, model no. B. 4917
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £16,250
21
Pietro Chiesa
Picture frame and cigarette box, model no. 1132
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £6,250
22
Paolo Buffa
Rare illuminated drinks cabinet
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £25,000
23
Fontana Arte
Flower-holder
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400
24
Luigi Caccia Dominioni
'Caccia' flatware setting for twelve
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £12,500
25
Studio B.B.P.R.
Chest of drawers, designed for the apartment of Count Luigi Premoli, Milan
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £30,000
26
Giorgio Casali
Twenty photographs of the Torre Velasca, Milan
Estimate £2,500 - 3,500
Sold for £4,750
27
Gio Ponti
Swivel chair, model no. 1938, designed for the Montecatini S.A. offices, Milan
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £3,000
28
László Moholy-Nagy
Prototype desk set
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000 ‡
Sold for £75,000
29
Line Vautrin
'Florence' mirror
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000
Sold for £56,250
30
Diego Giacometti
Pair of 'Têtes de Lionnes' armchairs, second version
Estimate £250,000 - 350,000
Sold for £429,000
31
Alberto Giacometti
‘Tête de femme’ table lamp
Estimate £120,000 - 180,000 ‡
Sold for £125,000
32
Edward James and Norris Wakefield
Important and unique bed, designed for the Map Room, Monkton House, West Sussex
Estimate £80,000 - 100,000
33
Diego Giacometti
'Toad' table
Estimate £220,000 - 280,000 ‡
Sold for £273,000
34
Jean-Michel Frank
Unique canapé and pair of armchairs, designed for Robert Chevalier, Épinal
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000
Sold for £87,500
35
Diego Giacometti
'Berceau' low table, first version
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000 ‡
Sold for £285,000
36
Max Ingrand
Adjustable wall light and pair of ceiling lights, model no. 1849
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £18,750
37
Jean Royère
Pair of armchairs
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £40,000
38
Jean-Michel Frank
Table lamp
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £23,750
39
Louis Süe and André Mare
Tabouret
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
40
Jean-Michel Frank
Pair of low tables
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £60,000
41
Eugène Printz
Pair of armchairs
Estimate £28,000 - 34,000
Sold for £35,000
42
Jean Després
Important pair of vases
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £52,500
43
Max Ingrand
Ceiling light, model no. 1748
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £15,000
44
André Arbus
Pair of chairs, designed for the 'Jean Laborde' ocean liner
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £20,000
45
Jean-Michel Frank
'Croisillon' table lamp
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £21,250
46
Jean Royère
Pair of 'Boules' andirons
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £12,500
47
Jean Royère
Sofa, designed for Mademoiselle de Bellaing, Paris
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 Ω
Sold for £27,500
48
Jean Royère
Rare low table
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
49
Jean-Michel Frank
Pair of 'Croisillon' table lamps
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £32,500
50
Katsu Hamanaka
Important and rare six-panelled screen with mythological scene
Estimate £80,000 - 150,000
Sold for £100,000
51
François-Xavier Lalanne
'Mouton'
Estimate £150,000 - 200,000
Sold for £477,000
52
Hans Coper
Pot on cylindrical foot
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
Sold for £27,500
53
Lucie Rie
Flaring bowl
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 ♠
Sold for £62,500
54
Lucie Rie
Conical bowl
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £13,750
55
Lucie Rie
Footed bowl
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000 ♠
Sold for £53,750
56
Lucie Rie
Footed bowl
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £10,625
57
Hans Coper
'Sack' form with disc
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000 ♠
Sold for £137,500
58
Judy Kensley McKie
'Leopard Couch'
Estimate £120,000 - 180,000 Ω
Sold for £150,000
59
François-Xavier Lalanne
Pigeon lamp
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £43,750
60
Michele Oka Doner
'Coral Wave' chair
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡
Sold for £27,500
61
Wendell Castle
Unique three-seater sofa
Estimate £140,000 - 180,000 Ω
Sold for £225,000
62
George Nakashima
Set of four early grass-seated chairs
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £21,250
63
Harry Bertoia
'Bush' sculpture
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £47,500
64
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £21,250
65
Joaquim Tenreiro
Three-seater sofa
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £17,500
66
Harry Bertoia
'Bush' sculpture
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £27,500
67
Arredoluce
Pair of large wall lights
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £5,000
68
Mathieu Matégot
Pair of 'Copacabana' chairs
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £16,250
69
Charlotte Perriand
Important 'Antony' bookcase, designed for the Cité Universitaire, Antony
Estimate £75,000 - 85,000 Ω
Sold for £87,500
70
Serge Mouille
Large ‘Flamme’ wall light
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £13,750
71
Jean Prouvé
'Professor' desk, designed for the Faculté des Lettres, Lille University, Lille
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000
Sold for £75,000
72
Stilnovo
Adjustable wall light
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £5,000
73
Charlotte Perriand
Pair of tripod stools
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £6,250
74
Jean Prouvé
'Compas' desk
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £11,250
75
Jean Prouvé
Rare set of four chairs, model no. 4
Estimate £60,000 - 90,000
Sold for £137,500
76
Gino Sarfatti
Table lamp, model no. 584/G
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £8,125
77
Jean Prouvé
'Compas' cafeteria table, model no. 512, designed for the Cité Universitaire, Antony
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £18,750
78
Jean Prouvé
'Antony' chair, model no. 356
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £13,750
79
Pierre Jeanneret
Set of ten 'Committee' armchairs, model no. PJ-SI-30-A, designed for the High Court, the Assembly and Punjab University administrative buildings, Chandigarh
Estimate £150,000 - 250,000
Sold for £200,000
80
Jean Prouvé
'Compas' cafeteria table, model no. 512
Estimate £16,000 - 24,000
Sold for £27,500
81
Pierre Jeanneret
'Office table' desk with bookcase, model no. PJ-BU-02-A and 'Office Cane Chair', model no. PJ-SI-28-A, designed for the Secretariat and administrative buildings, Chandigarh
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
82
Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret
Pair of 'Advocate and Press' armchairs, model no. LC/PJ-SI-41-A, designed for the High Court, Chandigarh
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £75,000
83
Sir Edwin Lutyens
Unique sideboard, designed for Little Thakeham, Thakeham, West Sussex
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £20,000
84
Kaare Klint
Pair of early 'Easy' armchairs, model no. 5313
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000
Sold for £22,500
85
Kaare Klint
Two-seater sofa, model no. 5313
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
86
Axel Salto
Rare 'Three Deers in a Cornfield' vase
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
Sold for £30,000
87
Märta Blomstedt
Pair of armchairs, designed for the Hotel Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland
Estimate £12,000 - 15,000
Sold for £56,250
88
Oscar Nilsson
'Natura' wardrobe
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
89
Peder Moos
Table
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
90
Frits Henningsen
Rare set of eight dining chairs, designed for a private commission, Copenhagen
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
Sold for £27,500
91
Gianfranco Frattini
Pair of rare ceiling lights, model no. 597/S
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £18,750
92
Flemming Lassen
Sofa
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £30,000
93
Hans J. Wegner
Set of twelve 'The Chair' armchairs
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000
Sold for £81,250
94
Axel Einar Hjorth
‘Sandhamn’ sofa
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000
Sold for £37,500
95
Toyo Ito
'Matsumoto' table
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £87,500
96
Sueharu Fukami
'Sei'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £8,750
97
Shiro Kuramata
'Glass' chair
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000 ‡
Sold for £32,500
98
Forrest Myers
Ghost
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £18,750
99
Howard Meister
Unique 'Twilight' table
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £2,500
100
Ron Arad
Blo-void 1
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £62,500
101
Morihiro Wada
Vase
Estimate £12,000 - 16,000
102
Deborah Thomas
Unique chandelier
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £37,500
103
Jennifer Lee
'Pale, tilted rim, asymmetric, ridge, speckled bands' pot
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000 ♠
Sold for £16,250
104
Jennifer Lee
'Pale, granite traces' pot
Estimate £12,000 - 16,000 ♠
Sold for £16,250
105
Jennifer Lee
'Speckled, olive base, haloed granite rim' pot
Estimate £10,000 - 14,000 ♠
Sold for £22,500
106
Guy de Rougemont
Rare ‘Nuage’ table lamp
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £10,000
107
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Early 'Ratrih' standard lamp
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £5,625
108
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
Double 'Black Light'
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000 Ω
Sold for £47,500
109
Louis Durot
'Spirale' chair
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £10,625
110
Danilo Silvestrin
Rare 'acrylic sphere', designed for Lothar Wolleh's penthouse, Düsseldorf
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £12,500
111No Reserve
Shiro Kuramata
Pair of 'Hammer House' hammers
Estimate £200 - 300 •‡
Sold for £4,000
112
Johanna Grawunder
‘Specchio d’Italia’, from the 'Street Glow' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £9,375
113
Shiro Kuramata
'Acrylic stool', designed for the Spiral boutique, The Axis Building, Roppongi, Tokyo
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000 Ω
Sold for £37,500
114
Shiro Kuramata
Armchair, from the 'Furniture with Drawers' series
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 Ω
Sold for £16,250
115
Shiro Kuramata
Rare set of four dining chairs, designed for the SOSEIKAN House, Takarazuka, Hyogo
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 Ω
Sold for £10,000
116
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Two vases, model nos. 628 and 632, from the 'Onde' series
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £18,750
117
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Large vase, model no. 588, from the 'Ceramiche a colaggio' series
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £6,000
118
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Lidded box, model no. 598
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500
Sold for £2,125
119
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Two vases, model nos. 629 and 630, from the 'Onde' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £6,250
120
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Vase, model no. 584, from the 'Ceramiche a colaggio' series, and dish, model no. 631, from the 'Onde' series
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £4,750
121
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Lidded jar, model no. 387
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £15,000
122
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Rare vase, model no. 610
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £10,625
123
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Lidded pot, model no. 198, from the ‘Ceramiche di lava’ series
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000
Sold for £4,750
124
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Fruit bowl, model no. 442a
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £22,500
125
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Vase, model no. YP33a, and ashtray, model no. YP1, from the 'Yantra di Terracotta' series
Estimate £2,500 - 3,500
Sold for £5,625
126
Gianfranco Frattini
Rolltop desk
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £12,500
127
Gino Sarfatti
Rare table lamp, model no. 598
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £15,000
128
Gino Sarfatti
Standard lamp, model no. 1080/PX
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £5,625
129
Joe Colombo
Pair of 'Triedro' clamp lamps, 'Topo' standard lamp, and 'Elmo' desk lamp
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
130
Osvaldo Borsani
Adjustable sofa, model no. D70
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £6,250
131
Bruno Gecchelin
Ettore Sottsass
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500
Sold for £2,125
132
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Two 'Asteroid' table lamps
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £12,500
133
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
'Nefertiti' writing desk
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £65,000
134
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Unique totem, no. 18
Estimate £150,000 - 200,000
Sold for £187,500
135
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Composizione di elementi di legno colorato e specchio, il tutto unito da funi di canapa, designed for Galleria Arform, Milan
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000
Sold for £309,000
136
Ignazio Gardella
Rare lounge chair and ottoman
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £15,000
137
Fontana Arte
Adjustable standard lamp, model no. 2380
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £15,000
138
Fontana Arte
Pair of table lamps, model no. 2022
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £13,750
139
Gabriella Crespi
'2000' extendable coffee table, from the 'Plurimi' series
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £35,000
140
Gio Ponti
Pair of armchairs, model no. 110
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £17,500
141
Gabriella Crespi
Set of nine picture frames
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £27,500
142
Ignazio Gardella
Rare standard lamp
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £12,500
143
Carlo Paccagnini
Armchair and ottoman, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £12,500
144
Carlo Paccagnini
Daybed, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £21,250
145
Carlo Paccagnini
Coffee table with magazine rack, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000
Sold for £15,000
146
Carlo Paccagnini
Desk and chair, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £5,000 - 6,000
Sold for £36,250
147
Gio Ponti
Unique bookcase, designed for Enrichetta Ritter, Milan
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £25,000
148
Fontana Arte
Rare table lamp
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £4,375
149
Viganò
Pair of 'Tripoline' folding chairs
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £11,250
150
Gino Sarfatti
Large ceiling light, variant, model no. 2068
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £75,000
151
Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Rare standard lamp
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £10,000
152
Franco Albini
'Fiorenza' armchair, model no. 432
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £16,250
153
Osvaldo Borsani
Rare armchair
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £10,000
154
Gio Ponti
Rare armchair
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
155
Fulvio Bianconi
Rare vase
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
156
Gio Ponti
Wall-mounted chest of drawers, designed for the Hotel Royal, Naples
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £65,000
157
Fulvio Bianconi
'Fascie di colore' vase, model no. 3839
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £7,500
158
Paolo Buffa
Pair of armchairs, model no. 118/F
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £47,500
159
Venini
Pair of ceiling lights, model no. 802.6
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £11,250
160
Gio Ponti
Coffee table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £22,500
161
Gio Ponti
Double-pedestal desk, designed for the public administration offices, Forlí
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £12,500
162
Max Ingrand
Rare ceiling light, model no. 2271
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £17,500
163
Max Ingrand
Ceiling light, model no. 2088
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £47,500
164
Giorgio Ramponi
Unique centre table, designed for the Hotel Palace, Bari
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £8,750
165
Gio Ponti
Side table, model no. 1128
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £20,000
166
Venini
Group of eight ceiling droplets, designed for the Alba Theatre, Alba
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £8,750
167
Max Ingrand
Rare standard lamp, model no. 2251
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
168
Ado Chale
Low table
Estimate £20,000 - 25,000
Sold for £47,500
169
Ico Parisi
Mirror
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £10,000
170
Fontana Arte
Set of three wall lights, model no. 2135
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £6,250
171
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
'Limante' table lamp
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £8,125

Important Design

London Auction 26 April 2018

Literature

Catalogue Essay

158

Paolo Buffa

Pair of armchairs, model no. 118/F

Important Design