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.
1970s by Gabriella Crespi Italian Design Hollywood Regency "Boar" Lighter
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Brescia, IT
"Boar" Lighter Gabriella Crespi Italy, 1970s Silver metal. Perfect working order "Grabriella Crespi" signed.
Metal
$3,485Sale Price|25% Off
Gabriella Crespi Wood and Brass Parrot Box, Italy 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milan, IT
Exceptional Gabriella Crespi 'Parrot' box. Wood and brass. Signed Gabriella Crespi.
Brass
Silver Plated Bowl by Gabriella Crespi / Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
Walnut style.
Silver Plate
Portapenne in sughero e ottone, Gabriella Crespi anni '70
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Elegante portapenne cilindrico in sughero con profili in ottone, disegnato da Gabriella Crespi nel 1975 ca. La base, anch'essa, in ottone reca la firma a incussione dell'autrice.
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Unique Huge Tibetan Bull 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
Unique 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.
Brass
$4,646 / item
H 3.55 in W 14.57 in D 6.03 in
Contemporary 'Papillon' Artistic Crystal Bowl Aquamarine by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
Innovative design, fine craftsmanship and a strong artistic sense make this creation not only a bowl but a real artistic sculpture. The natural col...
Glass
Vintage Wood Pen Holder and Lighter Set, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage wood pen holder and lighter is an original object realized in the 1970s. Original wood and metal. Made in Italy. The set includes: a geometr...
Metal
Postmodern Chrome Table Lighter by Sarome, Hand-Crafted, Japan, 1970
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Postmodern chrome table lighter. Excellent vintage condition, works great. Great decorative collectible rare vintage table lighter. Lighter made by Sarome, Asia Japan. Measure: 5.75 in H, 2.5 in D. About Sarome: SAROME Japanese cigarette lighter manufacturer founded in 1940. The brand is named after SAROME, god of flames, object of fascination for humans. SAROME artisans craft delicate, glossy lighters in Tokyo to fascinate and enchant. Though known early on in Europe mainly for our superb crafting of cigarette lighters the luxury brand spread Worldwide. Sarome lighters...
Chrome
$1,080 / item
H 3 in Dm 6 in
OLIVIA 6" Round Handcrafted Bronze and Steel Valet Bowl Tray by Soraya Osorio
By Soraya Osorio
Located in Vero Beach, FL
OLIVIA 6" Round Valet Tray Bowl — Blackened Bronzed Steel & Hand-Hammered Bonze The OLIVIA 6" round valet tray bowl combines refined craftsmanship with sculptural elegance. The exte...
Metal, Brass, Steel, Bronze
$1,080 / item
H 3 in W 6 in D 6 in
LIA 6" Square Handcrafted Bronze and Steel Valet Bowl Tray by Soraya Osorio
By Soraya Osorio
Located in Vero Beach, FL
LIA 6" Square Valet Tray Bowl — Hand-Hammered Bronze & Blackened Bronzed Steel The LIA 6" square valet tray bowl is a versatile sculptural accessory, designed to function beautifull...
Metal, Brass, Steel, Bronze
$3,600Sale Price|25% Off
H 6.25 in W 4.13 in D 9.5 in
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Gilt Bronze, Glass, Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant, Gilt Bronze, Glass, Signed. Small scale realistic, elegant, and magical gold washed bronze pheasant fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...
Bronze
$1,999
H 0.4 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Gold Cigarette / Pill Box Desk, 1970s, Italy
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Vis, NL
Rare signed Gabriella Crespi gold brass cigarette, pill box for a stylish desk. 1970s, made in Italy. This piece is new, unused, in excellent, nearly new condition. Comes ...
Brass
$3,600Sale Price|25% Off
H 6.25 in W 4.13 in D 9.5 in
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant, silvered bronze, glass, signed. Small scale realistic, elegant, and magical silvered bronze pheasant fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...
Bronze
Gabriella Crespi Brass Pill Cigarette Card Box Italian, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi brass pill cigarette card box Italian, 1970s Measures: 4.4 inches wide on each side 0.3 inches deep Born in 1922, Gabriella Crespi studies architecture at the Poli...
Brass
SeaGull Seaplane Lighter, 1970s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a SOC-3A Seagull Plane. This two-place scout observation plane of the U.S. Navy was used for both land and sea landings, as well as used fo...
Metal
Business Card Holder Hollywood Regency, 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Den Haag, NL
Glamoureus business card holder. Gold plated Perspex. Hollywood Regency style 1970s Good condition.
Acrylic
Sold
H 1.58 in W 13.39 in D 3.15 in
20th Century Gabriella Crespi Metal Letter Opener in Shape of Seahorse '70s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Turin, Turin
Very peculiar letter opener designed by Gabriella Crespi in '70s. The letter opener has a very beautiful handle in shape of seahorse, the object is in metal. There is the signature o...
Metal
Sold
H 9.06 in W 4.73 in D 4.14 in
Gabriella Crespi "Ostrich" Gilt Bronze and Rock Crystal Figure, Italy, 1970
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Marbella, ES
Gabriella Crespi "Ostrich" gilt bronze and rock crystal figure sculpture, Italy, 1970.
Rock Crystal, Bronze
Magnifying Glass by Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Magnifying glass with bronze deer by Gabriella Crespi Italy, 1970 Chip on the glass.
Bronze
Gabriella Crespi Gocce Oro 24-Carat Gilded Fork Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
The collection cutlery set was designed by Gabriella Crespi, dates in its entirety to 1974. It includes also jewelleries. All are made of light copper or bronze alloy covered with 24...
Metal
Rare Gabriella Crespi Cork Brass Ice Bucket Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
Wonderful and rare ice bucket or desk box designed by Gabriella Crespi in the 1970s. Very textural cork covers contrast with the polished brass ring and a glass inlay. An Ultimate...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Photo-Frame, circa 1970, France
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Brussels, BE
Gabriella Crespi photo-frame, circa 1970, France. Brass and glass. Measures: 21x 21 cm, D: 6 cm, photo size: 8 x 8 cm. Signed on the back.
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Vide-Poche
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milan, IT
A splendid Gabriella Crespi vide-poche. engraved signature.
Brass