Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

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.

Creator: Gae Aulenti

Living Room Set by Gae Aulenti in Walnut and Burgundy Leather, Italy, 1968

$21,920Sale Price / set|20% Off

Living Room Set by Gae Aulenti in Walnut and Burgundy Leather, Italy, 1968

By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti

Located in Antwerp, BE

Designed by Gae Aulenti, the Arcata seating set comprises armchairs, a loveseat, and a three-seater sofa, conceived as a unified architectural ensemble. Each piece is defined by a sc...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Brown Leather Togo, Set of Two

$4,946 / set

H 27.56 in W 68.51 in D 40.16 in

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Brown Leather Togo, Set of Two

By Ligne Roset, Michel Ducaroy

Located in Basildon, London

The iconic Togo sofa, originally designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset in 1973, has become a design Classic. This two-piece modular set is incredibly versatile and comprises of...

Category

1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather

Harvey Probber & Jack Lenor Larsen Happiness Sectional Sofa, Lacquer Red 1968

$22,090 / set

H 24 in W 108 in D 32 in

Harvey Probber & Jack Lenor Larsen Happiness Sectional Sofa, Lacquer Red 1968

By Harvey Probber, Jack Lenor Larsen

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Harvey Probber & Jack Lenor Larsen Happiness corner sectional sofa, lacquer red, 1968-1972. Gorgeous low slung modern sectional seating set of three. This is a truly extraordinary, museum-worthy set. Certain Larsen designs have captured the public’s imagination and are recognized as “signature” pieces. According to company records, the Happiness design was inspired by a Chinese robe and Ming Dynasty embroideries in the collection of the Henry Art Gallery of the University of Washington, where Larsen did his undergraduate work. It was introduced with four colorways – amethyst quartz, Ming gold...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Textile, Wool, Mohair

Rolf Benz Vintage Modular Living Room Suite Leather Lounge Sofa, Germany

$10,511 / set

H 27.96 in W 28.35 in D 34.26 in

Rolf Benz Vintage Modular Living Room Suite Leather Lounge Sofa, Germany

By Rolf Benz

Located in Munich, Bavaria

This 4 stunning Modular sectional leather chairs/ sofa was manufactured by Germany by Rolf Benz . It is a pure 70ties design with timeless modern shape. The leather is a nubuk anil...

Category

1970s German Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather, Upholstery, Plastic, Wood, Oak, Down

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Camel Brown Leather Togo Sofas, Set of Five

$16,881 / set

H 27.56 in W 125.99 in D 108.67 in

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Camel Brown Leather Togo Sofas, Set of Five

By Ligne Roset, Michel Ducaroy

Located in Basildon, London

The iconic Togo sofa, originally designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset in 1973 has become a design Classic. This five-piece modular set is incredibly versatile and can be config...

Category

1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather, Foam

COR LÜBKE & ROLF Vintage Modular limegreen Living Room Suite Sectional Sofa

$23,359 / set

H 28.75 in W 26.78 in D 34.26 in

COR LÜBKE & ROLF Vintage Modular limegreen Living Room Suite Sectional Sofa

Located in Munich, Bavaria

This absolute unique and gorgeous modular sectional sofa from the 70ties is manufactured by LÜBKE & ROLF from Rheda in Germany ( later was the Name LÜBKE KG). From the same fa...

Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Mohair, Foam, Latex, Wood, Beech

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Camel Brown Leather Togo, Set of Two

$4,946 / set

H 27.56 in W 68.51 in D 40.16 in

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Camel Brown Leather Togo, Set of Two

By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset

Located in Basildon, London

The iconic Togo sofa, originally designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset in 1973, has become a design Classic. This two-piece modular set is incredibly versatile and comprises of...

Category

1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather

Mid-Century Modern Leather Lounge Sofa/Living Room Set/7, Switzerland, 1970s

$7,500 / set

H 31.5 in W 206.7 in D 33.47 in

Mid-Century Modern Leather Lounge Sofa/Living Room Set/7, Switzerland, 1970s

By De Sede

Located in Almelo, NL

Mid-Century Modern sectional leather lounge sofa/living room set/7, Switzerland, 1970s Mid-Century Modern sectional leather lounge sofa/living room set of seven seats manufacture...

Category

Late 20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather, Beech

Massimo and Lella Vignelli "Saratoga" Living Room Set Poltronova, 1960s

$9,110Sale Price / set|35% Off

H 23.63 in W 82.68 in D 35.44 in

Massimo and Lella Vignelli "Saratoga" Living Room Set Poltronova, 1960s

By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Poltronova

Located in Padova, IT

Exceptional Saratoga set designed by Massimo and Lella Vignella, produced by Poltronova, Italy 1960s. A beautiful living room set composed of two sofas (three-seater/two-seater) and...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather, Wood

Italian Leather Sectional with Adjustable Back Cushions

$19,435

H 31 in W 122 in D 98 in

Italian Leather Sectional with Adjustable Back Cushions

By Gamma Arredamenti

Located in New York, NY

Leather sectional with 3 adjustable back cushions. Upholstered in high grade leather with tone-on-tone stitching. Polished chrome details. This item i...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Chrome

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Brown Leather Togo, Set of Three

$12,579 / set

H 27.56 in W 68.51 in D 40.16 in

Ligne Roset by Michel Ducaroy Brown Leather Togo, Set of Three

By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset

Located in Basildon, London

The iconic Togo sofa, originally designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset in 1973 has become a design Classic.  This three-piece modular set is incredibly versatile and can be conf...

Category

1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather

Stringa Sofa Set by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova

$38,700

H 28.35 in W 74.81 in D 35.44 in

Stringa Sofa Set by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova

By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova

Located in Byron Bay, NSW

"Stringa" sofa designed by Gae Aulenti for Poltranova in 1962. A tubular chrome frame holds leather seats on top of felt upholstered cushions. The leather cushions are attached with ...

Category

1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Chrome

Moorish Walnut 5-Piece Living Room Set

$52,500 / set

H 44 in W 16.75 in D 16 in

Moorish Walnut 5-Piece Living Room Set

Located in Queens, NY

Set of 5 Moorish (19th Cent) walnut spindle and ball carved living room / salon set with pearl inlay & kilm seat (settee 56"w 21¬O"d 52¬º"h, 2 arm chairs 22"w 19¬O"d 44¬O"h, 4 side c...

Category

19th Century French Moorish Antique Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Walnut

Gae Aulenti sectional sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Gae Aulenti sectional sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gae Aulenti sectional sofas, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sectional sofas by Gae Aulenti were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 1960s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sectional sofas by Mario Bellini, B&B Italia, and Saporiti Italia. Prices for Gae Aulenti sectional sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $27,400 and can go as high as $27,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $27,400.