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.
Gubi Bohemian 72 Floor Lamp in Rattan strips by Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Crespi, Gubi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bohemian '72 floor lamp designed by Gabriella Crespi and produced 50 years later by Gubi. The Bohemian '72 lamp is part of a collection of furniture made of rattan that combines the ...
Rattan
Original Gabriella Crespi, Rising Sun Series, Fungo Table Lamp – Italy 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Renens, CH
Gabriella Crespi, Rising Sun Series, Fungo Table Lamp, 1970s Registered by the Gabriella Crespi Archives under: 060729088M - COA available, can be transferred to the name of the buy...
Brass
Pair of Large Gabriella Crespi "Fungo" Table Lamps in Brushed Brass and Acrylic
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monumental pair of Gabriella Crespi “Fungo” table lamps in brushed brass and white acrylic (ca. 1970, Italy). Among the larger examples Crespi ...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Large "Fungo" Table Lamp, Brass, Acrylic, Italy 1970s SIGNED 2x
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Basel, BS
Up for offer here is an Exceptionally rare, groundbreaking Original Vintage Early edition “Fungo” table lamp by Gabriella Crespi (ca. 1970, Italy), crafted in brass and white acrylic...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Rare Large 'Fungo' Table Lamp in Bamboo and Brass, Italy, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi rare large Fungo table lamp from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips and polished brass details on dome shade atop elegant flared brass base, Italy, 1...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi, Very Large "Fungo" Table Lamp, Brass, Acrylic, Italy, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in High Point, NC
A very large "Fungo" brass and acrylic table lamp designed and produced by Gabriella Crespi, Artist's Studio, Italy 1970s. Lamp features signatures on both the lampshade and on the ...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Rare 'Fungo' Table Lamp in Bamboo and Brass, Italy, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi rare 'Fungo' table lamp from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips and polished brass details on dome shade atop elegant flared brass base, Italy, 1970s...
Brass
1970s Gabriella Crespi Fungo Table Lamp Brass Perspex Gold Colour
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milano, IT
The iconic 'Fungo' Table Lamp Made in Brass and white perspex. Manufactured in the 1970s by Atelier Gabriella Crespi, Milan, Italy. Signed 'Gabriella Crespi' on the shade. Wired with...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Large "Fungo" Suspension Lamp, Brass, Acrylic, Italy 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Basel, BS
Up for offer here is an Exceptionally rare, groundbreaking Original 1975 Vintage Early edition “Fungo” Suspension Hanging lamp by Gabriella Crespi (ca. 1970, Italy), crafted in brass...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Table Lamp in Walnut Burl and Brass, Italy 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Hellouw, NL
Gabriella Crespi’s work blurs the line between sculpture and utility, often achieving a harmony between architectural clarity and material warmth. This early table lamp, produced in ...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Fungo Table Lamps, Double Signatures on Pair
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in North Miami, FL
These are the largest Fungo lamps by Gabriella Crespi in brass base with white acrylic domed shades. They are double signed at the base and on the top of th...
Brass
1970s Gabriella Crespi BOHEMIAN 72 model 2207 bamboo brass
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milano, IT
Lamp model 2207 from the BOHEMIAN 72 series by GABRIELLA CRESPI (Italy, 1972). Table lamp in brushed and polished brass with curved and stained bamboo canes. Signed by engraving at t...
Brass
1970's Gabriella Crespi Kaleidoscope Brass Table Lamp Gold Italian
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milano, IT
Rare 'Kaleidoscope' table lamp, circa 1975 Brass. Engraved signature to the shade and to the base, 'Gabriella Crespi BREV'. Manufactured in Italy. Dimensions: 18 W x 18 D x 87 H cm ...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Vintage Nickel Plated Perspex Table Lamp Fungo 1970 Italy
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Vienna, AT
Gabriella Crespi nickel-plated white prspex table lamp Fungo, 1970, Italy. Gabriella Crespi (17.2.1922-14.2 2017) was a famed female Italian artist a...
Plexiglass
Gabriella Crespi “Fungo” Brass and Opaline Perspex Table Lamp, Italy, 1970
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant table lamp model “Fungo”, designed by Gabriella Crespi (1922–2017) in Milan, circa 1970. This sculptural piece features a refined mushroom-shaped silhouette composed of a bru...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi lamp Penguins lost wax bronze sculpture
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Roma, IT
This artwork was made in c.1969 with a lost-wax bronze casting. The eggs inside were made with special bubble glass by Barovier and Toso Murano specifically for this model. The Cres...
Bronze
Large Fungo Table Lamp by Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Large Fungo Table Lamp by Gabriella Crespi with an impressed signature on top.
Brass
$5,500 / set
H 29 in Dm 19 in
Gabriella Crespi Style Large Bamboo Pair of Table Lamps with White Lacquer Bases
Located in New York, NY
Large bamboo pair of table lamps with red lacquer bases created in collaboration with Italian Manufacturer Beautiful and chic table lamps. Lovely Lacquer bases and bamboo tops held ...
Brass
$5,500 / set
H 29 in Dm 19 in
Gabriella Crespi Style Large Bamboo Pair of Table Lamps with Red Lacquer Bases
By The Lacquer Company
Located in New York, NY
Large bamboo pair of table lamps with red lacquer bases created in collaboration with The Lacquer Company. In the style of Gabriella Crespi. Beautiful and chic table lamps. Lovely L...
Brass
Gubi Bohemian 72 Floor Lamp by Gabriella Crespi
By Gubi, Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Comprising a lounge chair, three-seater sofa, ottoman and floor lamp – all crafted from rattan – the Bohemian 72 Collection embodies Crespi’s ca...
Glass
Pair of Large Modern Table Lamps in the Manner of Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Giandelli
Located in Rome, IT
Organic modern mushroom "fungo" shape table lamps with bamboo shade and brass structure. Twi E14 socket. These lamps can match with a console table or an the pair of side tables.
Bamboo
Paavo Tynell 'Model 9209' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp for Gubi
By Gubi, Paavo Tynell
Located in Glendale, CA
Paavo Tynell Model 9209 Brass and Rattan Table Lamp for Gubi Originally designed by Paavo Tynell in 1940, this authorized GUBI re-edition is executed in brass and rattan. Today, th...
Brass
$34,883
H 55.12 in Dm 23.63 in
Gabriella Crespi Vintage Nickel Perspex Chandelier Pendant Fungo, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Vienna, AT
Gabriella Crespi nickel plated perspex chandelier or pendant Fungo designed 1970s Italy. Gabriella Crespi (1922-2017) Gabriella Crespi presented her collections in Milan in the 1950...
Brass, Nickel
Large Brass Table Lamp Signed G. Autier France, 1970s
By G. Autier
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Exceptional 1970s handcrafted design table lamp base by G. Autier, France. High quality geometrical brass sculpture. Incised signature G Autier Measures: Brass body height 11.4" in...
Brass
$35,000
H 27.5 in Dm 15.75 in
Gabriella Crespi Rare 'Fungo' Table Lamp in Bamboo and Brass, Italy, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi rare 'Fungo' table lamp from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips and polished brass details on dome shade atop elegant flared brass base, Italy, 1970s...
Brass
1970s Guzzini Table Lamp, Italy
By Harvey Guzzini
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made of plastic - good original condition with minor signs of use
Plastic
Pair of Large Modern Table Lamps in the Manner of Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Giandelli
Located in Rome, IT
Organic modern mushroom "fungo" shape table lamps with bamboo shade and brass structure. Twi E14 socket. These lamps can match with a console table or an the pair of side tables.
Bamboo
$4,570
H 61.42 in Dm 20.87 in
Gabriella Crespi Style Floor Lamp in Rattan, Brass and Parchment, Italy, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning and unique Mid-Century floor lamp fully handmade in twisted curved rattan and solid brass, completed by a parchment-paper lampshade. This marvelous piece was produced in Ita...
Brass
$1,539
H 31.5 in Dm 19.69 in
Italian Contemporary Gabriella Crespi Style Brass Lamp with Bamboo Lampshade
Located in Scandicci, Florence
This is a very unique brass and bamboo lamp, with a base shaped like a bamboo cane and a lampshade made from curved bamboo and finished with brass details. The lamp design is inspire...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Brass Lamps, Resin "Tobacco Leaf" Shades
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Miami, FL
Gabriella Crespi Brass Lamps, Resin "Tobacco Leaf" Shades Offered for sale is an oversized pair of Italian-designed brass table lamps, by Gabriella Crespi (Italian, 1922–2017). The...
Brass
Sold
H 27.17 in Dm 17.33 in
Large 'Fungo' table lamp by Gabriella Crespi with signature, vintage 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Premariacco, IT
Rare brushed brass table lamp with white perspex dome surrounded by a small brass border. 'Mushroom' model lamp, working as pictured. This is the large version, with a height of as...
Brass
Table Lamp model Fungo by Gabriella Crespi, Italian Design 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milan, IT
The Fungo table lamp by Gabriella Crespi is an elegant and exuberant interior with a chrome-plated brass structure and lampshade in chrome-plated brass and perspex. Part of the Unicu...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Table Lamp Model Fungo Signed Vintage
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Chicago, IL
Gabriella Crespi vintage brass with white plexiglass shade table lamp Fungo, 1970, Italy. Gabriella Crespi (17.2.1922-14.2 2017) was a famed fe...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Large Fungo Table Lamp, Rising Sun Series, 1973, Italy
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Large and striking 'Fungo' table lamp from the iconic Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo and polished brass dome shade and elegant flared brass base in a gold finish, Italy, 197...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Table Lamp
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Milano, IT
Large table lamp with brass base and methacrylate lampshade; design by Gabriella Crespi, produced around 1970.
Brass
Gabriella Crespi 'Fungo' Bamboo Table Lamp, Italy, 1972s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Gabriella Crespi 'Fungo' table lamp from the Rising Sun Series. This rare table lamp from the Rising Sun Series was made of golden brass, while the dome shade was made of many bamb...
Brass
Sold
H 23 in Dm 32 in
Gabriella Crespi Rare Large 'Fungo' Table Lamp in Bamboo and Brass, Italy, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi rare large Fungo table lamp from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips and polished brass details on dome shade atop elegant flared brass base, Italy, 1...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Rare Due Rane Frogs Pair of Animali Table Lamps, 1970s
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Miami, FL
A super rare pair of large sculpture lamps by Gabriella Crespi. "Due Rane" belongs to the Animali Serie and were created with the ancient lost wax technique in 1973, (same year as "C...
Brass
Sold
H 25.2 in Dm 11.42 in
20th Century Gabriella Crespi Table Lamp in Brass and Glass and Fabric Lampshade
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in Turin, Turin
Table lamp model designed by the great artist Gabriella Crespi in 1970s. The lamp has a Brass structure, the lamp is decorated with a wonderful glass egg and the diffuser is in fabri...
Brass
Sold
H 38 in Dm 27.5 in L 38 in
Pair of Gabriella Crespi Large Fungo Table Lamps, Rising Sun Series, 1973, Italy
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of the larger "Fungo:" table lamps from the Rising Sun Series, with lacquered bamboo and polished brass dome shades and flared brass base. Impressed with artists signature to sh...
Brass
Gabriella Crespi Large Bamboo and Brass 'Fungo' Table Lamp
By Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
Large and rare 'Fungo' table lamp from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips and polished brass details on dome shade atop elegant flared brass base in a brushed gold fi...
Brass