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Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Italian, 1922-2017

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 piecesmodernist 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.

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Creator: Gabriella Crespi
Gabriella Crespi 'Coppia Di Delfini' Pair of Silvered Bronze Dolphins
Gabriella Crespi 'Coppia Di Delfini' Pair of Silvered Bronze Dolphins

Gabriella Crespi 'Coppia Di Delfini' Pair of Silvered Bronze Dolphins

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Hastings, GB

A truly spectacular and incredibly rare pair of sculptures by legendary designer Gabriella Crespi, modeled as mythical dolphins, 'Coppia di Delfini', each one hand crafted from Sarda...

Category

1970s Italian Classical Greek Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Gilt Bronze, Glass, Signed
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Gilt Bronze, Glass, Signed

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...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed

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...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Gabriella Crespi Unique Huge Tibetan Bull 1970s
Gabriella Crespi Unique Huge Tibetan Bull 1970s

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.

Category

1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Gabriella Crespi Boar, Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed
Gabriella Crespi Boar, Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed

Gabriella Crespi Boar, Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in New York, NY

Gabriella Crespi Boar, Silvered Bronze, Glass, Signed. Small scale realistic and magical silvered bronze sculpture, fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, Italy
Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, Italy

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, Italy

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Vis, NL

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Pelican sculpture. 1970s, made in Italy. This piece is in near excellent condition. An amazing and seldom piece.  

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Rare & Wonderful Signed Gabriella Crespi Bull Sculpture *FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY
Rare & Wonderful Signed Gabriella Crespi Bull Sculpture *FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY

Rare & Wonderful Signed Gabriella Crespi Bull Sculpture *FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Portlaoise, IE

'I was inspired by the universe' Gabriella Crespi A designer of the utmost importance, Acquired are delighted to offer for sale this wonderful original sculpture by the iconic Ital...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Silver Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, Italy
Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Silver Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, Italy

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Bird Silver Pelican Sculpture, 1970s, Italy

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Vis, NL

Rare 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

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Silver Plate

Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Sculpture, Italy, 1970
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Sculpture, Italy, 1970

Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Sculpture, Italy, 1970

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Naples, IT

Rare pheasant sculpture signed Gabriella Crespi with a murano glass egg, made in Italy, in the 1970s.

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Silver Plate

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Wild Boar Sculpture, 1970s, Italy
Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Wild Boar Sculpture, 1970s, Italy

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Wild Boar Sculpture, 1970s, Italy

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Vis, NL

Rare 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

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Silver Plate

'Cinghiale’ Silvered Bronze and Murano Glass Sculpture by Gabriella Crespi 1970s
'Cinghiale’ Silvered Bronze and Murano Glass Sculpture by Gabriella Crespi 1970s

'Cinghiale’ Silvered Bronze and Murano Glass Sculpture by Gabriella Crespi 1970s

By Barovier&Toso, Gabriella Crespi

Located in Milano, IT

“Cinghiale” Sculpture from the Bestiario Series by Gabriella Crespi (Italy, early 1970s). A rare and refined work by Gabriella Crespi, this sculptural piece belongs to the celebrated...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Gabriella Crespi Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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Previously Available Items
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Gabriella Crespi Bronze Ostrich Sculpture

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Airone sculpture Signed by the artist on the base Gild bronze and Barovier & Toso blown glass Executed circa 1973-1974.

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Gabriella Crespi Pair of Silver and Horn Dolphins

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H 11.82 in W 13 in D 14.18 in

Gabriella Crespi Pair of Silver and Horn Dolphins

By Gabriella Crespi

Located in Naples, IT

Pair of silver and horn dolphins by Gabriella Crespi. Tabletop dolphins in ram’s horns fitted with silver head and tail, signed, "Gabriella Crespi", It...

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Gabriella Crespi, Hippopotamus, Bronze Sculpture, Milano, circa 1973
Gabriella Crespi, Hippopotamus, Bronze Sculpture, Milano, circa 1973

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Gabriella Crespi Ostrich Sculpture, Italy, 1970
Gabriella Crespi Ostrich Sculpture, Italy, 1970

Gabriella Crespi Ostrich Sculpture, Italy, 1970

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H 9.06 in W 4.34 in D 4.53 in

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Rare signed Gabriella Crespi ostrich sculpture with a Murano blown glass egg inside, made in Italy, 1970s.      

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Silver Plate

Gabriella Crespi sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Gabriella Crespi sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gabriella Crespi sculptures, although silver editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sculptures by Gabriella Crespi were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 1970s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sculptures by Sergio Costantini, Ercole Barovier, and Lino Sabattini. Prices for Gabriella Crespi sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,669 and can go as high as $15,564, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,800.