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.
20th Century, Gabriella Crespi Metal Bottle Holder, 1970
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Turin, Turin
Born in 1922, Gabriella Crespi studied architecture at the Politecnico in Milan, where her work is permeated by her perspective on Le Corbusier's and Frank Lloyd Wright's design expe...
Metal
Signed Gabriella Crespi Silver-Plated Decorative Fish Bottle, Italy 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning silver-plated flask designed by Gabriella Crespi in Italy during the 1970s and signed on the bottom. This incredibly rare bottle designed by G. Crespi, one of the most icon...
Metal, Silver Plate
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
Signed Gabriella Crespi Desk Accessories
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
Signed Gabriella Crespi desk accessories, brass and acrylic.
Acrylic
$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
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
$5,200
H 6.25 in W 4.13 in D 9.5 in
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Sculpture, Gilt Bronze & Glass, 1970s, Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi Pheasant Sculpture, Gilt Bronze & Glass, 1970s, Signed. Small scale realistic, elegant, and magical gold washed bronze pheasant fitted with a hand-blown glass egg...
Bronze
$1,563
H 0.4 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Gabriella Crespi Brass Cigarette Case, Italy, Signed, Vintage 1972
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
An original 1970s Gabriella Crespi ciagrette case signed on the side and with the original Crespi sticker on the base. The case is dated 11 Decemer 1972 on the inside. A perfect piec...
Brass
Midcentury jewelry box designed by Gabriella Crespi, Italy
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Marble and golden brass jewelry case designed by Gabriella Crespi. Recorded by Archivio Gabriella Crespi, Milan. Signed Italy 1970s
Marble, Brass
Gabriella Crespi Signed Brass Chalices Cups 1970 Midcentury Italian
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi signed brass chalices 1970 midcentury Italian Dimensions: 3.5 in diameter, 7 in height, base 3 in. About Gabriella Crespi (Designer) 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 still producing furniture in her Milan studio, 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 Le Corbusier 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...
Brass
Silver Plated Bowl by Gabriella Crespi / Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
Walnut style.
Silver Plate
$2,850
H 9.75 in W 6.75 in D 1.63 in
Signed Gabriella Crespi Modernist Lucite & Stainless Steel (Moon Flask) Vase
By Christian Dior, Gabriella Crespi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Modernist lucite and stainless steel vase. By Gabriella Crespi. In a moon flask form with a lucite body and stainless steel removable neck. Simply a wonderful vase! Date...
Stainless Steel
Gabriella Crespi Box / Signed
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Munich, DE
Rare signed piece by Gabriella Crespi.
Metal
Midcentury box designed by Gabriella Crespi, Italy
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Box designed by Gabriella Crespi Wooden and golden brass box by Gabriella Crespi. Recorded by Archivio Gabriella Crespi, Milan. Signed. Italy 1970s
Brass