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.
$3,285 / item
Locus Solus Orange Loveseat by Gae Aulenti
By Exteta, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milan, IT
Part of the Locus Solus collection of outdoor furniture, this colorful loveseat boasts a retro-inspired silhouette made of tubular steel with an oblong seat upholstered with an exclusive artwork printed...
Steel
Arcata Loveseat by Gae Aulenti in Walnut and Burgundy Leather, Italy, 1968
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed in 1968 by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, the Arcata loveseat embodies the architect’s distinctive approach to furniture as spatial structure. The piece is defined by its solid...
Leather, Walnut
Danish 1940's Loveseat with Open Wooden Armrest and Green Striped Wool
By Alfred Christensen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very charming loveseat from the 1940's in the style of Alfred Christensen. Maker and Designer is unknown but the style is very similar to designs by Fritz Hansen and Alfred Christens...
Wool, Beech
$3,750
H 30.75 in W 64 in D 28 in
Danish 1950s Settee or Loveseat in Green Wool in the Style of Peter Hvidt
By Peter Hvidt
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic and very elegant lines very much in the style of the early Danish iconic Designer, Peter Hvidt made circa 1950. Back and seat nice and firm and frame on Cuban mahogany legs r...
Wool, Mahogany
Antique Wicker Loveseat by Larkin & Co., Arts and Crafts Style, USA
By Larkin & Co.
Located in Southampton, NJ
American Victorian natural wicker woven roll design high back loveseat with spindles and bobbins on the back and apron and cane seat. The settee fea...
Brass
Six Locus Solus Chairs by Gae Aulenti. 1970's Italian
By Gae Aulenti
Located in London, GB
Set of Six 'Locus Solus' chairs by Gae Aulenti. Constructed from tubular steel with a perforated metal seat, the gloss powdercoated finish makes it ideal for indoor and outdoor use.
Steel
Danish 1960s Midcentury Settee in Teak and Leather
By France & Daverkosen, Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful and elegant small 1950s easy style Danish settee with the frame, legs and armrests in solid teak. Very high design quality and workmanship. The piece is unmarked but the de...
Teak, Leather
$5,298Sale Price|25% Off
H 32.29 in W 28.35 in D 39.38 in
Locus Solus armchair by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1964
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Locus Solus armchair designed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova 1964. A first production in excellent condition, restored. Structure in painted metal,...
Iron
$2,375Sale Price|54% Off
H 27 in W 64 in D 39 in
'Bounty' Leather Loveseat by L. Davanzati for The Pace Collection, 1980s
By Lorenzo Forges Davanzati, Elam, Pace Collection
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely example of the 'Bounty' series two-seat loveseat / settee by The Pace Collection in the early 1980s, this deep seated channel-tufted loveseat sofa was designed by L. Davantazi produced by Elam and retailed by The Pace Collection. Perfect for a cigar, whiskey or wine lounge or any space that can use something a bit modern yet still refined and classy. *Note, we have the matching club lounge chair and three-seater couch in another listing. Last two photos show the entire set. See our other listings or contact us for more details if you wish to create a living room or office / hotel lobby set. This channel-tufted leather love seat retains its original supple leather upholstery in an intriguing deep burgundy-brown color, almost like dark-cognac with beautiful lightly aged leather patina. The sumptuous seats are encased in a dark colored lacquer, providing an attractive modern contrast with the rich and elegant leather. This two-seater sofa has casters for ease of relocation according to occasion and mood or to better suit a view. The back is finished with tufted leather making this loveseat look incredible when floating in a room with the back exposed. Curved Art Deco styled arms lend 1980s juxtaposition and character to any room. Similar in style to the Saratoga Sofa by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 1970s, but at a fraction of the price. Plus something you don't get with the Saratoga sofa is the refined style of the elegant channel-tufted leather cushions on this Bounty loveseat sofa by The Pace Collection. The Pace Collection also offered the highly sought after collection by Guido Faleschini such as the Tucroma chair which is an interior designer and 20th century Modern design collector's favorite go to chair. Another example is the wild 1970s bed that featured interior design magazine covers when Lenny Kravitz home was featured with the Mariani bed...
Leather, Lacquer
$8,600
H 33.5 in W 57 in D 32 in
Finn Juhl Attributed Danish Loveseat Model 188 by Slagelse Mobelvaerk, 1950s DN
By Finn Juhl, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Superbly elegant Finn Juhl attributed sofa or settee made by Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Denmark sometime in the 1940s as Model Number 188. The lines and proportions of this design are just...
Wool, Beech
$4,415 / set
H 26.38 in W 21.66 in D 20.87 in
Set of 4 pink Locus Solus chairs by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in amstelveen, NL
A set of 4 lacquered metal Locus Solus chairs by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1964. The round seat is perforated sheet metal. The structure, which forms the backrest, armrests, and le...
Steel
Vintage Settee Loveseat by Ralph Lauren
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage Settee...
Cotton
$3,700Sale Price|42% Off
H 32.25 in W 60.25 in D 33 in
'Negresco' Post-Modern Adjustable Leather Loveseat by Bernard Massot, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautiful red leather Post-Modern loveseat sofa designed by Bernard Massot and produced by Massot, France in circa 1980s/90s. Featuring gorgeou...
Chrome
Vintage Brighton Pavilion Pagoda Loveseat, Bamboo & Rattan, 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Charming Brighton Pavillion Pagoda style loveseat with beautiful fretwork back and sides. Very fine detail. A beautiful and special piece. Use as is or ad...
Bamboo, Rattan
Sold
H 29.93 in W 59.85 in D 33.86 in
Vintage Loveseat Sofa by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Zagreb, HR
A vintage original loveseat club sofa designed by the Italian designer Gae Aulenti in 1976 as part of the lounge seating line for the Aulenti Collec...
Metal
Gae Aulenti Loveseat in Top Grain Blue Aniline Leather
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Seattle, WA
Loveseat from Gae Aulenti’s eponymous 1976 collection for Knoll. Low, horizontal design features a rounded frame of extruded steel in newly powder coated baby blue and dense cushions...
Steel
Vintage Leather Armchairs by Gae Aulenti for Knoll
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful vintage leather armchairs designed by Gae Aulenti for the fine Italian manufacturer Knoll, in the 70s. The structure is supported by fou...
Metal
Sold
H 28.75 in W 27.96 in D 31.5 in
1960s, Leather and Chrome Lounge Sofa by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Wonderful lounge sofa designed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova Italy. This beautiful sofa is made of a black leather seating on a chromed frame. It is in excellent condition. Period...
Chrome
Stringa Sofa by Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stringa sofa by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova. Made in Italy, circa 1972.