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.
Venini Geacolor Glass Vase in Multi-Color Swirls by Gae Aulenti
By Venini, Gae Aulenti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Geacolor glass vase, designed by Gae Aulenti and manufactured by Venini, was originally produced in 1995. Indoor use only. Dimensions: Ø 30 cm.
Glass
Riccio model vase, Venini production, Designer Gae Aulenti
By Paolo Venini, Gae Aulenti
Located in Busnago, IT
Some objects rely on contrast rather than complexity. The 'Riccio' vase by Gae Aulenti for Venini, designed in 2006, exemplifies this approach—merging sculptural form with refined te...
Glass
Paolo Venini Inciso Vase
By Venini
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a clean example with pleasing proportions
Art Glass
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s A rare Venini art glass bowl of the 'Diamante' series. Heavy transparent glass with a ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$1,235Sale Price|58% Off
H 11.03 in Dm 5.91 in
Round Venini Vase Murano Glass 1985 Multi-Color Italian Design
By Venini
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Round Venini vase Murano glass 1985 multi-color Italian design.
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 'Handkerchief Vase' Fulvio Bianconi
By Venini
Located in Sharon, CT
A beautiful Venini Fazzalleto vase of green and white Zanfirico. A Fulvio Bianconi Design. Acid signed on the bottom with the 'three line signature'. Venini Murano Italia
Glass
Italian Murano Art Glass Handkerchief Vase Venini Style
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Murano art glass 'handkerchief' vase in the style of Venini, circa mid to late-20th century, Italy. This is a finely handcrafted Murano art glass vase in clear/transparent...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Large Venini Vase 'Kukinto', Designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1991
By Timo Sarpaneva, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Venini Vase 'Kukinto', Designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1991 A monumental vase from the Kukinto series. Designed in 1991 by Timo Sarpaneva and produced 1992 by Venini, Murano. In...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$269Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.07 in Dm 3.44 in
Murano Glass Vase by Venini and Co Italian, Mid century circa 1940
By Venini
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good mid-20th century Murano Italian art glass cylinder vase that we attribute to Venini and Co. made circa 1940. The vase is c...
Glass
$5,790
H 14 in W 9.5 in D 4.25 in
Handblown Italian Midcentury Murano Glass Vase by Napoleone Martinuzzi & Venini
By Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in New York, NY
Elegant, Italian Mid-century, hand blown Murano Amphora form, glass vase in the Modern Neoclassical style designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi for Venini, c...
Murano Glass
Glass Vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini
By Tomaso Buzzi, Venini
Located in New York, NY
"Incamiciato" Italian art glass vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini. Cased glass, clear, white and grey, deep purple foot. Marked: Venini itali...
Art Glass
Black and White Art Glass Vase in the Venini Style
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
A striking black and white 'handkerchief' art glass vase or vessel in the style of 20th century Italian designer, Venini. Very good condition as shown in images. No chips noted. Dimensions: 6" depth x 5.5" height. - Other white art glass vases shown available separately. - Black cocktail table shown search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314224058842 (SOLD) - Italian glass...
Art Glass
Venini Art Glass Vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956 A vintage art glass vase in erba pesante (grass green) glass with layered...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
"Cinese" Large Italian Art Glass Vase by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
"Cinese" large Italian art glass vase by Paolo Venini. Cased glass in clear, white and gray. Signed: Venini Italia 84.
Murano Glass
Gae Aulenti Blown Glass "Geacolor" Vase
By Venini, Gae Aulenti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare and unusual "Geacolor" vase designed by Gae Aulenti for Venini in 1997. Etched signature "Venini 97 Gae Aulenti" at base.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass