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Gae Aulenti Furniture

Italian, 1927-2012

The Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti will forever be best remembered for her work with museums, in particular her 1980–86 renovation of a Beaux Arts Paris train station to create the galleries of the Musée d’Orsay. Aulenti — whose first name, short for Gaetana, is pronounced “guy” — should also be recalled for her tough intellectual spirit and for working steadily when few women found successful architectural careers in postwar Italy.

After she graduated from the Milan Polytechic in 1954, Aulenti opened an architectural office. She also joined the staff of the progressive architectural magazine Casabella, whose editorial line was that the establishment, orthodox modernism of Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus, had outlived it usefulness. When their movement for fresh approaches to architecture and design received a sympathetic hearing, Aulenti found patrons — most prominently Gianni Agnelli, of Fiat, who later employed her to renovate the Palazzo Grassi in Venice for use as an arts exhibition space.

Commissions for showrooms and other corporate spaces brought Aulenti to furniture design. She felt that furniture should never dominate a room. Her chairs and sofas — low-slung, with rounded enameled metal frames and ample seats — and tables, particularly her 1972 marble Jumbo coffee table for Knoll, project solidity and sturdiness. In lighting design, however, Aulenti is bravura.

Each work has a marvelous sculptural presence. Pieces such as her Pipistrello table lamp and Quadrifoglio pendant are a perfect marriage of organically shaped glass and high-tech fixtures. Others have a futuristic elegance — and some even have a touch of personality. Aulenti’s Pileino and La Ruspa table lamps each look almost like little robots. Her lighting pieces are an artful grace note in the career of a woman who believed in strength.

Find vintage Gae Aulenti armchairs, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Color:  Brown
Creator: Gae Aulenti
Lounge Sofa by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, 1976
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three seater sofa designed by Gae Aulenti in 1974. This sofa is part of the lounge seating line for the Aulenti Collection, manufactured by Knoll International. Aulenti first collab...
Category

1970s European Post-Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Gae Aulenti bed mod. ‘Tennis’ for Gavina, Italy 1972
By Gavina, Gae Aulenti
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Large king size bed by Gae Aulenti mod. ‘Tennis’ for Gavina, Italy 1972. Unique and iconic bed from the ‘Tennis‘ series referring to the round shapes and th...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Walnut + Leather 'Arcata' Chair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, Italy 1968
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Chicago, IL
An ‘Arcata’ lounge chair designed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova in 1968. This sculptural chair features a walnut frame with an arched seat back and arms, whose curves are emphasized ...
Category

1960s Italian Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Walnut + Leather 2 Seat ‘Arcata’ Sofas by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, Italy 1968
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Chicago, IL
A two-seat ‘Arcata’ sofa designed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova in 1968. This sculptural sofa features a walnut frame with an arched seat back and arms, whose curves are emphasized ...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Sgarsul Rocking Chair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, Italy 1960s
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Roma, IT
Sgarsul Rocking Chair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, Italy 1960s. Varnished wood with original white pony leather uplholster. Very good condition. cm 83x74x115. God conditions
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of brass Trepiù table lamps by Gae Aulenti & Livio Castiglioni for Stilnovo
By Stilnovo, Gae Aulenti, Livio Castiglioni
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Pair of brass Trepiù table lamps designed by Gae Aulenti and Livio Castiglioni for Stilnovo in the 1970s. These table lamps are part of the Sistema Trepiù...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Alcinoo Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide 1975
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Rare table lamp model Alcinoo designed by Gae Aulenti in 1975 for Artemide, blown glass lampshade on metal mesh. Excellent conditions, original wiring and switch, ready to be used. G...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

20th Century Gae Aulenti Floor Lamp Mod. Oracolo for Artemide, 1960s
By Artemide, Gae Aulenti
Located in Turin, Turin
Gaetana "Gae" Aulenti (1927-2012) graduated in architecture in Milan in 1954. A decade-long collaboration with the historic magazine Casabella-Continuity (1955-1965) proved crucial t...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Rare Vistosi Pair Poveglia Murrine Table Lamps Gae Aulenti, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Rare Pair of Vistosi Poveglia Murrine table lamps in vibrant yellow. These lamps were designed by Gae Aulenti and are seldom seen on the open market. Finding a pair is virtually impo...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Rare Pair Vistosi Poveglia Murrine Lamps in Plum Murrine Decoration Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Rare pair of Vistosi Poveglia Murrine table lamps in plum. These lamps were designed by Gae Aulenti and are seldom seen on the open market. Finding a pair is virtually impossible. Th...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Martinelli Luce LED Minipipistrello 620/J Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti, Martinelli Luce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mini version of the Pipistrello lamp designed by Gae Aulenti in 1965. Table lamp diffused lighting. Glazed stainless steel structure, white opal methacrylate diffuser. Base and knob...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

Martinelli Luce Dimmable LED Pipistrello 620 Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti, Martinelli Luce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1965 by Gae Aulenti for Martinelli Luce, the lamp is made with innovative techniques for the diffuser in methacrylate for the time in which it was designed. The shape of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

Pair of 'Arcata' Easy Chairs by Gae Aulenti, Walnut and Burgundy Leather, 1968
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Antwerp, BE
Gae Aulenti; Easy Chairs; armchairs; Arcata; Poltronova; Italian Design; Italy; 1968; Walnut; Burgundy Leather; Mid-Century Modern; Pair of 'Arcata' Easy Chairs by Gae Aulenti, Wa...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Sgarsul Rocker, Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, Lombardia
It is 1962, a young architect named Gae Aulenti begins a fruitful dialogue with Poltronova, an innovative company founded in 1957 in the Tuscan countryside. Poltronova had the artist...
Category

1960s Italian Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Sgarsul Rocking Chair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
This great Sgarsul rocking chair was designed by Gae Aulenti in 1962 for Poltronova. Consists of a red lacquered bentwood frame with nicely patinated brown leather seats/upholster...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Bentwood

Gae Aulenti "Arcata" Living Room Set in Walnut and Burgundy Leather, 1968
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Antwerp, BE
Gae Aulenti; Arcata; Poltronova; Italian Design; Italy; 1968; Walnut; Burgundy leather; Mid-Century Modern; Gae Aulenti 'Arcata' living room set in walnut and burgundy leather, 19...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs Mod. 54-S1 by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, 1977
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern armchairs mod. 54-S1 by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, 1977 Beautiful, elegant and very comfortable pair of armchairs mod. 54-S1 with burgundy painted metal struct...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Plastic

Gae Aulenti for Knoll International Armchairs Mid-Century Modern 1975, Pair
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of armchairs or conference chairs by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International. We have 5 sets available. The frames of the chairs are constructed by sculpted metal tubes, sinuous ben...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal, Steel

Gae Aulenti, "Pulegoso" Venini Glass Vase, 1995
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Paris, FR
Gae Aulenti, "Pulegoso" Venini Glass Vase, 1995 Cased glass, clear and red air bubbles. Marked: Venini Millenium III / Limited series : n°53/99 / Signed Gae Aulenti (engraved). Pic...
Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Glass

Original White and Brown Aulenti Gae Rocking Chair, 1960 Sgarsul Poltronova
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Original white and brown Aulenti Gae rocking chair, 1960 Sgarsul Poltronova. The general conditions are as shown in the photo.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Italian Rocking Chair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Mexico City, MX
Wonderful "Sgarsul" rocking chair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova. Lacquered wood in black with orange leather. Gae Aulenti was a prolific...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Gae Aulenti Chairs by Elam Model Lira Set of Four, Published
By Elam, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, IT
Modern set of four chairs designed by Gae Aulenti for the ELAM manufacture in the 1970s. The chairs are the very rare LIRA model. The chair set is made with a curved chrome metal frame that makes the seat energetic bright. Its modern curved lines give the chair modernity and futurism. The seat and back are made of light brown leather. On the sides of the leather backrest we see stitched the logo of the ELAM manufacture designer's trademark and pattern. They are also published in several catalogs. The leather seat , as noted below it, is anchored to the frame with steel strings. The chairs are ideal for modern living rooms...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

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Pair of 54 L Armchairs by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, 1970s
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"Bambole" Double Bed by Mario Bellini for Cassina, Italy, 1970s
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Mid-Century Modern Wooden Italian Bed Frame Made by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno
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Previously Available Items
Pair of wall lamps by Gae Aulenti and Livio Castiglioni for Stilnovo, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Livio Castiglioni, Stilnovo
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Pair swiveling spots made of chromed metal designed by Gae Aulenti and Livio Castiglioni for Stilnovo in the 1970s. The spots can also be used as ceiling lamps. The spots or project...
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'Mezza Oracolo' Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide
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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

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Metal, Brass

"Oracolo" Floor Lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide, Made in Italy, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti
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A wonderful floor lamp by Gae Aulenti, made in Italy in the 1970s. The lamp was designed by Gaetana Aulenti in 1969 and production of this lamp ran throughout the 1970s. The design o...
Category

20th Century Italian Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table
By Gae Aulenti
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fine mid-century over-size coffee table by Gae Aulenti. Beautiful Rossa Alicante marble square slab on cylindrical legs at each corner. Definitely an attention getting addition to an...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Marble

Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table
H 14 in W 44.5 in D 44.5 in
Murano Green Murrine Glass Pendant Light by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi
By Gae Aulenti, Vistosi
Located in London, GB
Hand blown Murano shade with applied murrhines. by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi. Gae Aulenti was known for transforming historic public buildings into world renown museum spaces S...
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Gae Aulenti for Vistosi, Green Murrine glass pendant
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Hand blown Murano shade with applied murrhines. by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi. Re wired for the US and Europe. Dimensions of shade. 40cm x 30cm.  
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Gae Aulenti, Green 'Neverrino' Glass Pendant for Vistosi
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Hand blown Murano shade with applied murrhines. by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi. Re wired for US and Europe. Size of glass shade alone. 26cm (h) x 44cm Gae Aulenti was known fo...
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Pair of "Parola" Floor Lamps by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Parola floor lamps by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1980's. Glass, brass. Original EU cord. We recommend on E14 bulb per fixtur...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

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Gae Aulenti 'Jumbo' Marble Coffee Table for Knoll International
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Dallas, TX
Jumbo table designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, 1968. Beautiful original example.
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1960s Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

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Gae Aulenti furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Gae Aulenti furniture 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 Gae Aulenti furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 220 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 41 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Gae Aulenti were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Tommaso Barbi, Toni Zuccheri, and Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Prices for Gae Aulenti furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $540 and can go as high as $33,395, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,894.

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