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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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Period: 1980s
Creator: Gae Aulenti
Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte, 1980s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Brussels, BE
Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte, 1980s
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Glass

Set of 4 chairs and 1 square table Orsay mod. by Gae Aulenti for Knoll 80s
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Padova, IT
A mid century modern dining table and four chairs designed by Gae Aulenti and made by Knoll. The table with a black rolled steel frame and black laminate top. The chairs with black...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Table lamp by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in PARIS, FR
Lamp model Pietra by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte, creation 1988. This large Table or Desk lamp holds on 2 thick blades of glass and is covered with a chromed met...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Minibox Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Stilnovo, Italy, 1980s
By Gae Aulenti, Stilnovo
Located in Milano, IT
The 'Minibox' table lamp, conceived by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni in the 1980s, is a whimsical reinterpretation of a miner's 'torch.' Featuring a magnetic attachment, the refl...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Parola sconce by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1980s
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, IT
Crafted by the collaborative efforts of Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni, the Parola lamp showcases a harmonious fusion of three distinct glassworking techniques. The adjustable sha...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Floor Lamp model “Parola” , Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni , 1980s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Edogawa-ku Tokyo, JP
Floor Lamp model “Parola” ,Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte, 1980s
Category

1980s Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Glass

Gae Aulenti & P. Castiglioni for Fontana Arte "Parolona" Floor Lamp, Italy 1980s
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Naples, IT
Designed in 1980 by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte. Three different types and processes of glass coexist in the Parolona floor lamp: blown opaline in the adjustab...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Glass

Italian Murano Post Modern Glicine Vase by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi c. 1980's
By Gae Aulenti, Vistosi
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular Murano Glicine vase designed by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi, circa 1980's. The vase was executed in polychrome green tones, the base is round, with a domed top. This exam...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

Gae Aulenti Piero & Castigilioni Fontana Arte Lampada Italiana da Terra Parola
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Lampada italiana, vintage di modernariato, modello Parola disegnata da Gae Aulenti e Piero Castiglioni per Fontana Arte con diffusore in vetro opalinino, stelo e base in cristallo. E...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table for Knoll in Nero Marquina Marble
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Culver City, CA
A stunning and iconic piece of modernist design, Gae Aulenti's Jumbo table was inspired by the modernist design principles of the 1960s, which emphasized simplicity, functionality, and the use of new materials. Aulenti was known for her innovative use of materials and her ability to combine traditional and modern design elements in her work. For the Jumbo table, she wanted to create a piece of furniture that was both elegant and functional, and that would serve as a centerpiece in any room. The table's large Size and geometric forms are also reminiscent of the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s, which focused on the use of simple geometric shapes and the absence of ornamentation. The Jumbo table designed by Gae Aulenti was originally produced by the Italian furniture manufacturer Gavina in the 1960s. The Jumbo table was one of the most famous designs produced by Gavina during that time, along with other iconic pieces like the Soriana armchair designed by Tobia and Afra Scarpa. After Gavina went bankrupt in the 1980s, the rights to produce and distribute the Jumbo table were acquired by Knoll International, which began producing the table for the American market. Zanotta, another Italian furniture manufacturer, also currently produces the Jumbo table for the European market. This specific coffee table is indeed a Knoll table and has the original Knoll stickers on the leg. This table is in the nero marquina marble which is a type of black marble that comes from the La Facciata quarry near the town of Marquina, in the Basque Country region of Spain. Nero Marquina marble is known for its deep, rich black color and distinctive white veining. It has been used in a number of famous buildings...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Marble

Green Minibox Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Stilnovo, Italy
By Gae Aulenti, Stilnovo
Located in Milano, IT
The Green Minibox table lamp, designed by the talented duo Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni and manufactured by Stilnovo in 1980, is a true representation of post-modern, minimalist...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pietra Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte, 1980
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in Renens, CH
Model 2802 “Pietra” table lamp by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte. The lamp consists of a heavy glass base and polished metal lamp shades; it remains in beautif...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

"Glicine" Murano Glass Vase by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi, Italy, 1980s
By Gae Aulenti, Vistosi
Located in Milan, IT
"Glicine" vase by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi Large piece featuring Peacock traditional glass decoration.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Green Minibox Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Stilnovo, 1980s
By Stilnovo, Gae Aulenti
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Green Minibox table lamp designed by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni and manufactured by Stilnovo in 1980. This halogen table lamp can also be used as a 'torch' thanks to the hand...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

White Minibox Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni for Stilnovo, 1980s
By Gae Aulenti, Stilnovo
Located in Rotterdam, NL
White Minibox table lamp designed by Gae Aulenti & Piero Castiglioni and manufactured by Stilnovo in 1980. This halogen table lamp can also be used as a 'torch' thanks to the handy ...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fontana Art Parola Table Lamp Designed by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni, the Parola lamp features three different kinds of glass working processes: opaline blown glass for the adjus...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Set di 2 sedie pieghevoli Modello April Designer Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Set 2 sedie pieghevoli modello April designer Gae Aulenti per Zanotta anni 2000. Struttura in acciaio inox 18/8 e snodi in lega di alluminio, seduta in pelle grigia. Marcio Zanotta s...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Steel

Early Jumbo Table in Golden Calacatta by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pièce de résistance is considered the holy grail of 'Jumbo' cocktail tables due to the rare golden Calacatta marble which features dramatic veins in golds and greys. The 'Jumbo' table is already extremely sought after and original early production examples are extremely rare. The white, grey and gold Calacatta marble is the most sought after due to the deep gold veining - and this particular example is an original early production example with a copy of the original receipt provided to us by the original buyer / owner, ideal for a collector or an interior designer who has a client who wants only the best of the best. One thing we really love about this example is the dark almost black veins that look like lightning emanating from one corner like a work of art. Produced by Knoll International, the 'Jumbo' cocktail table was designed by Gae Aulenti in 1965, originally for Gavina Italy. This example was produced in the late 1980s and sold in 1990, per the original receipt. You can also see in the photos that there is age appropriate coloration to the marble which takes many decades to develop and you don't see in new and newer year productions. Most of the ones you see online, including on 1sDibs, the dealers will list as "1960s" production however you can tell that they were made in more recent years making them not desirable for collectors. Dealers do this because it allows them to list for a higher price however they often have no documentation to support their 1960s production claim. Therefore savvy collectors look for age in the marble and/or documentation to decipher when the table was made and if it is a collectors example which is worth much much more than new and newer examples. Perfect fit for a Postmodern or Mid-Century Modern home, this Jumbo table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International in white gold and gray Calacatta marble would also work great in a Contemporary or Transitional home or office. Also consider a splash of juxtaposition in a Traditional, Classical, French, Spanish, Mediterranean, Mixed-Style, Asian, or Minimalistic styled room. Great for a designer residential or commercial project, due to its strength and sturdiness, would be apt for a hotel, lobby lounge, restaurant, retail boutique...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Furniture

Materials

Marble

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Pair of 'Parola' Sconces by Piero Castiglioni and Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte
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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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