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 Bohemian 72 Ottoman Diagonal Bouclé Dedar 007 for GUBI
By Gubi, Gabriella Crespi
Located in New York, NY
The Bohemian ‘72 Collection brings together Gabriella Crespi’s interest in natural materials, her fascination with stacked sculptural forms, and her curiosity about Eastern cultures ...
Upholstery, Rattan
$3,899 / item
H 35.44 in W 41.34 in D 27.56 in
Customizable Gubi Bohemian 72 Lounge Chair by Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Crespi, Gubi
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...
Fabric, Rattan
$1,280 / set
H 19 in Dm 19 in
A pair of Bohemian Coastal Style Rattan Footstools / Ottomans. Circa 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Vintage Bohemian Coastal Style Rattan Footstools / Ottomans. Circa 1980s Features bent rattan frames and removable round cushions. In excellent original condition with ver...
Upholstery, Rattan
Leather Ottoman Coronado by Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, Italy
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Argelato, BO
This Coronado ottoman was designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa in the 1960s and produced by B&B Italy. The ottoman is upholstered with pink soft leather. The leather is in original co...
Leather, Wood
Handcrafted Vintage Moroccan Leather Poufs in Bohemian Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of large vintage round Moroccan leather poufs, handcrafted in camel leather. Hand tooled leather stool ottoman embroidered on the top ...
Leather
$4,400 / set
H 18 in W 22 in D 19 in
Milo Baughman Style Pair of Parsons Ottomans Benches in Ivory Bouclé
By Milo Baughman
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Pair of custom Milo Baughman style Parsons ottomans benches footstools newly upholstered in soft ivory bouclé. A great choice for adding a modern sculp...
Bouclé, Upholstery
$3,800 / item
H 18 in Dm 27 in
Swivel Mushroom Top Post Modern Style Ottoman Pouf in Ivory White Bouclé
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Post Modern style swivel top Mushroom Ottomans or Poufs freshly upholstered in luxuriously soft ivory white bouclé are the perfect blend of form and function. Sexy Modern sculptural silhouette. Whether used for additional seating or for resting a delicious charcuterie platter, you and your guests will appreciate the swivel top feature. When seated, guests can swivel about and converse more freely. Trays or platters filled with goodies can rest atop and rotate for a more comfortable entertaining experience. Or simply rest your legs over these large and comfortable super soft ottomans after a long day with a good book and a glass of wine. The ivory white bouclé is rated highly durable (over 50k double rubs) and cleans up easily without damaging or compromising the fabric. Its texture breathes and works quite well in both cool and warm climates. Adjustable sizes. May be upholstered in Customer's Own Material (C.O.M.). Want to see more beautiful things? Scroll down below and click "View All From Seller" or favorite our shop to get your 1stDibs on our new inventory. Photographed along with and currently available in our shop: Vladimir Kagan Post Modern Marilyn Sofa...
Bouclé, Upholstery
Pollen Stool/Ottoman by Herman Miller for Nought One
By Herman Miller
Located in East Freetown, MA
Ottoman / footstool has powder blue fabric seat pad with chrome metal crossed base. Item is hexagonal in shape
Iron, Chrome
$1,188 / item
H 15.95 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Ottoman pouf DROVA 4 Designer Upholstered Accent Seating for Bedroom
By Dmitriy Kozinenko
Located in Kyiv, UA
Ottoman pouf Drova 4, a versatile and stylish addition to your living space. Handcrafted with precision in Ukraine, this cube pouf embodies the perfect fu...
Steel
$1,494 / item
H 16.54 in W 27.56 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern round white bouclé oak Niemeyer II ottoman by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The Niemeyer II stool is a curvy seating, designed to complement the rounded shapes of the Niemeyer II armchair. Named after the Brazilian Archite...
Oak, Bouclé
$3,800 / item
H 15 in Dm 25 in
Mushroom Swivel Top Post Modern Style Ottoman Pouf in Ivory White Bouclé
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Post Modern style swivel top Mushroom Ottomans or Poufs freshly upholstered in luxuriously soft ivory white bouclé are the perfect blend of form and function. Sexy Modern sculptural silhouette. Whether used for additional seating or for resting a delicious charcuterie platter, you and your guests will appreciate the swivel top feature. When seated, guests can swivel about and converse more freely. Trays or platters filled with goodies can rest atop and rotate for a more comfortable entertaining experience. Or simply rest your legs over these large and comfortable super soft ottomans after a long day with a good book and a glass of wine. The ivory white bouclé is rated highly durable (over 50k double rubs) and cleans up easily without damaging or compromising the fabric. Its texture breathes and works quite well in both cool and warm climates. Custom sizes made to order. May be upholstered in Customer's Own Material (C.O.M.). Want to see more beautiful things? Scroll down below and click "View All From Seller" or favorite our shop to get your 1stDibs on our new inventory. Photographed along with and currently available in our shop: Vladimir Kagan Post Modern Marilyn Sofa...
Bouclé, Upholstery
$8,799 / item
H 35.44 in W 82.68 in D 41.34 in
Customizable Gubi Bohemian 72 Lounge Chair by Gabriella Crespi
By Gabriella Crespi, Gubi
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...
Fabric, Rattan
Barcelona Ottoman by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The iconic Barcelona ottoman from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll International c.1970s, USA. The ottoman has an X-shaped base with a polished chrome finish. The cushion features ...
Chrome