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.
Italian Neverino Murano Glass Plate with Base by Gae Aulenti for Luciano Vistosi
By Gae Aulenti, Luciano Vistosi
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-20th century italian Neverino Murano glass decorative plate with iron base designed by Gae Aulenti for Luciano Vistosi By: Gae Aulenti, Luciano Vistosi Material: glass, art glas...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
$2,500
H 14.5 in Dm 14.5 in
Exquisite Art Glass Bird Bath on Slate Base by Walter Furlan for Murano Glass
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Exquisite art glass bird bath on slate base with six removable art glass birds by Walter Furlan for Murano Glass, circa 1960s. This large piece is very difficult to find with six bi...
Slate
$516
H 2.76 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Murano Sommerso Blue Glass Bowl by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Italy, 1960
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in London, GB
Glass bowl square shape by Flavio Poli for Seguso 1960s in deep blue. The bowls are hand blown, known as Venetian Sommerso, made in Murano, Venice, Italy. The bowls a combination of...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Murano Aqua Blue Vistosi Atelier Schlaepfer Art Glass Candle Holder for Nestle
By Vistosi
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous hand blown Murano art glass piece with Sommerso and bullicante techniques. A beautiful organic shaped candleholder, catchall, Venice, Murano, Italy, 2014. Made and signed Mu...
Art Glass
Riccio' Vase by Gae Aulenti in Green for Venini, Italy 2006
By Gae Aulenti, Venini
Located in Hellouw, NL
Some objects rely on contrast rather than complexity. The ‘Riccio’ vase by Gae Aulenti for Venini, designed in 2006 follows this approach through the combination of a sculptural silh...
Murano Glass
Hand-Blown Murano Glass Bowl, Taupe & White, Avventurina Base, Italy
Located in Austin, TX
Bowl made of hand-blown Murano glass. The body of the bowl is made using the sommerso technique and has a white interior with a lovely and soft taupe toned exterior. The bowl is supp...
Gold Leaf
$254Sale Price|48% Off
H 2.37 in Dm 6.11 in
Grey Italian facetted Murano Glass Bowl by Flavio Poli for Seguso
By Flavio Poli, Seguso
Located in Vienna, AT
This amazing grey handblown Murano glass bowl was designed and manufactured in Murano Italy by Flavio Poli for Seguso in the 1960s. It looks like a diamond and is in excellent condi...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Centerpiece by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt, Italy, 1970s
By VeArt, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Milan, IT
Murano glass centerpiece by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt. Thick transparent glass and simple round shapes.
Murano Glass
Murano glass vase Neverrino by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi , 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Vistosi
Located in Padova, IT
Gae Aulenti, pseudonym of Gaetana Emilia Aulenti (1927 - 2012), was an Italian designer and architect, particularly dedicated to the theme of architectural staging and restoration. C...
Murano Glass
$975Sale Price|22% Off
H 6 in Dm 10.5 in
Midcentury Signed Italian Art Glass Bowl by Barbini for Oggetti for Murano
By Barbini
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool midcentury art glass bowl signed "Barbini Murano for Oggetti ", circa 1964. The piece is 10.5" in diameter and 6" high and is prim...
Art Glass
Gae Aulenti ‘Gea’ Polychrome Murano Glass Vase for Venini, 2003
By Venini, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, IT
This striking ‘Gea’ polychrome glass vase was designed by Gae Aulenti (1927–2012) for Venini in 1995 and produced in 2003. The sculptural spherical form, measuring 30 cm in diameter ...
Glass
Rare Cobalt Blue Murano Glass Centerpiece by Vistosi, Italy, 1970s
By Vistosi
Located in Milan, IT
Rare cobalt blue glass centerpiece manufactured by Vistosi.
Murano Glass
$237Sale Price|35% Off
H 2.25 in W 8.25 in D 6.5 in
Murano Glass Bowl by Seguso, Cased Glass with Bullicante, Italy, 1960s
By Seguso
Located in Warrenton, OR
Murano Glass Bowl by Seguso (suspected), Cased Glass with Bullicante, Italy, 1960s ***NOTE: Our 1stDibs store is closing end May and items will not be available thereafter.*** This ...
Gold Leaf