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 Gae Aulenti, Venini
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
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
$1,224Sale 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
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 Venini, Paolo 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
Venini Style Italian Murano Art Glass Handkerchief Vase
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian Murano fazzoletto (handkerchief) vase in clear/transparent art glass with alternating stripes of white, light blue and light pink...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Large Venini Vase 'Kukinto', Designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1991
By Venini, Timo Sarpaneva
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
$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
$267Sale Price|46% 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
Paolo Venini Inciso Glass Bottle Manufactured by Venini 1990s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Paolo Venini Inciso Glass Bottle Manufactured by Venini 1990s A vintage "Inciso" glass bottle designed by Paolo Venini in 1956 and manufactured by...
Art Glass, 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
$740 / set
H 6 in Dm 3 in
Pair of Hollywood Regency 22k Gold Painted Vases by Imperial Glass Co. c. 1965
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Beautifully preserved pair of Hollywood Regency vases hand painted with 22k Gold produced by the Imperial Glass Company circa 1965. Imperial Glass produced the most iconic mid century glassware...
Gold
Modernist Minimalist White Glass Flower Vase, Hand Blown, 1999
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Modernist Minimalist white glass flower vase with clear glass base with some bubbles. This Minimalist white vase very modern shape will fit any de...
Glass