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

$4,983 / 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 Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset

Located in Rochester, England

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

Living room set by Mobilgirgi, 1970s

$700 / set

H 32.68 in W 59.85 in D 31.5 in

Living room set by Mobilgirgi, 1970s

By Mobil Girgi

Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna

Experience the fusion of wood and velvet from the 1970s, with this exclusive living room set by Mobilgirgi. The set is composed of 1 sofa (depth: 80cm x width: 152cm x height: 83cm) ...

Category

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

Materials

Fabric, Velvet, Wood

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

$10,460 / 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

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

$17,433 / 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

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

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

$17,062 / 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 Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset

Located in Rochester, England

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

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

$9,065Sale 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

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

$4,983 / 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 Ligne Roset, Michel Ducaroy

Located in Rochester, England

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

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

$12,673 / 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 Rochester, England

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

French Modernist Living Room Sofa Set In White Leather, 1950's

$16,916

H 30.32 in W 77.96 in D 39.38 in

French Modernist Living Room Sofa Set In White Leather, 1950's

Located in Antwerp, Antwerp

Introducing an impressive French modernist living room set from the 1950s, featuring a versatile three-seater sofa that converts into a day bed, accompanied by two lounge chairs. Bot...

Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gae Aulenti Sectional Sofas

Materials

Leather, Pine

Proposals Living Room Set by Saporiti, 70s

$5,833 / set

H 26.78 in W 100.4 in D 35.44 in

Proposals Living Room Set by Saporiti, 70s

By Saporiti

Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna

An exceptional vintage living room set from the iconic Proposals collection by Saporiti, crafted in Italy in the 1970s. This mid-century modern set reflects the sophisticated design ...

Category

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

Materials

Steel

Massimo & Lella Vignelli Black Saratoga Living Room Set by Poltronova 1960s

$29,055 / set

H 23.63 in W 82.68 in D 35.44 in

Massimo & Lella Vignelli Black Saratoga Living Room Set by Poltronova 1960s

By Poltronova, Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Located in Cascina, Pisa

Saratoga living room set composed by a three-seater sofa, two-seater sofa, two armchairs and a low table with a structure in black lacquered wood, padded leather cushions and metal d...

Category

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

Materials

Metal

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.