Gabriella Crespi Silver and Horn Dolphin
View Similar Items
Gabriella Crespi Silver and Horn Dolphin
About the Item
- Creator:Gabriella Crespi (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)Width: 14 in (35.56 cm)Depth: 13.5 in (34.29 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1084214823652
Gabriella Crespi
Bronze discs that open up like clamshells for storage and fold back in to become side tables. Sleek cubes barely suspended off the ground that transform into full-size dining tables. Clean-lined boxes that contain multilevel shelving. Looking at the work of Italian designer Gabriella Crespi, born in 1922 and who still produced furniture in her Milan studio until her death in 2017, it’s hard to believe that many of these highly functional pieces — modernist Rubik’s Cubes of materials, colors and ergonomics — were created decades ago.
Among her best-known creations, the bronze Ellisse table, 1976, and her bronze-and-lacquer Yang-Yin bar, 1979, encapsulate a designer who had a strong dualism in her vision, mixing humble and precious materials, for instance, or creating geometric shapes that were softened by sensual surfaces.
Crespi began studying architecture in 1944 at the Politecnico, in Milan, where she was among just a handful of women, and became profoundly influenced by the work of Charles-Édouard "Le Corbusier" Jeanneret and Frank Lloyd Wright. After getting married and having children, she launched her own collections, from jewelry to furniture, and soon gained a loyal following, with design houses such as Maison Dior snapping pieces up for their own lines.
She began work on her most iconic collection, Plurimi, in the late 1960s, and the series — including her Dama table, which plays on the themes of volume, light and adaptability that Crespi has explored throughout her career — flourished through the 1970s and early ’80s. Then there is her famed Z desk, from a mid-1970s series, which manages to be both stylish and humorous, looking like it’s ready to leap off the floor at any moment. Well-born and beautiful, Crespi garnered attention among the jet set. She was a muse to Valentino, and her pieces appeared in the homes of Princess Grace of Monaco, the Shah of Iran and Greek shipping magnate George Livanos.
In 1987, with her children now adults, the designer surprised everyone when she moved to the foot of the Indian Himalayas to study with the guru Sri Muniraj. This turned into a 20-year self-imposed exile that, if anything, made her pieces even more sought-after by collectors.
Find vintage Gabriella Crespi furniture on 1stDibs.
- Gabriella Crespi Tortoise and Sterling Silver BoxBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in New York, NYGabriella Crespi tortoise and sterling silver box. Vintage Crespi cylindrical cigarette case with engraved Gabriella Crespi logo monogram and original ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Bronze Dolphin SculptureLocated in New York, NYBronze dolphin sculpture. Bronze dolphin in a baroque Venetian sea serpent style mounted on black marble base; a very sculptural bookend. Un...Category
Early 20th Century American Baroque Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
$1,850 - Italian Silvered GourdLocated in New York, NYItalian silvered gourd. Vintage decorative life-size gourd fruit sculpture covered in silver alloy, Italy, circa 1980. Dimensions: 4” diameter x 4” height.Category
20th Century Italian Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
- Silvered Bronze Frog SculptureLocated in New York, NYSilvered bronze frog sculpture. Antique glazed Italian terracotta silvered bronze naturalistic frog statue on ebonized wood base. Italy, early 19th century Dimensions: 7.5" W x 6.25...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Animal Sculptures
MaterialsTerracotta
- Sterling Silver Pheasant Table OrnamentLocated in New York, NYItalian silver pheasant table ornament. Realistically modeled sterling silver pheasant sculpture from the famed Argenteria Miracoli Milano. Silver markings "800" and "A. Miracoli" I...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Italian Silver Metal Naval Picture FrameLocated in New York, NYItalian silver metal naval picture frame. Antique and handsomely charming unique standing picture frame of nautical design consisting of and anchor, paddles and chain surrounding a s...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Picture Frames
MaterialsMetal
- Gabriella Crespi Boar, Silvered Bronze, Glass, SignedBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in New York, NYGabriella Crespi Boar, Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed. Small scale realistic and magical silvered bronze sculpture, fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
- Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Silvered Bronze, Glass, SignedBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in New York, NYGabriella Crespi Pheasant, silvered bronze, glass, signed. Small scale realistic, elegant, and magical silvered bronze pheasant fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Silver Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, ItalyBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in Vis, NLRare Signed Gabriella Crespi Pelican with Murano blown glass sculpture. 1970s, made in Italy. This piece is in near excellent condition. An amazing and seldom piece.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsSilver Plate
- Gabriella Crespi Unique Huge Tibetan Bull 1970sBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in Munich, DEUnique outstanding Tibetan bull designed by Gabriella Crespi in brushed metal in the 1970s. A wonderful single piece and signed on the bottom. Maybe it was a prototype.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Gilt Bronze, Glass, SignedBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in New York, NYGabriella Crespi Pheasant, Gilt Bronze, Glass, Signed. Small scale realistic, elegant, and magical gold washed bronze pheasant fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Wild Boar Sculpture, 1970s, ItalyBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in Vis, NLRare Signed Gabriella Crespi wild boar with Murano blown glass detail sculpture. 1970s, made in Italy. This piece is in near excellent condition. An amazing and seldom pie...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsSilver Plate