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.
Set of 6 Gae Aulenti for Knoll International 'Orsay' Dining Chairs 1984, Signed
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This striking set of six (6) 'Orsay' dining chairs was designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, one of the most respected producers of modern design in the twentieth century....
Steel
1980s Pair of Gae Aulenti for Knoll Orsay Dining Arm Chairs with Frame & Leather
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Orsay Armchairs, originally designed by Gae Aulenti in 1976. These particular examples were produced by Knoll in the USA circa the 1980s. This armchair was named af...
Aluminum
Set of 6 Gae Aulenti Arm Chairs Model 54A in Blue Leather and Black Frame
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Seattle, WA
This is a set of 6 Italian Postmodern Orsay dining armchairs model 54A, designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, fully restored in Baby Blue leather and Black powder coated frame. The fram...
Steel
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
Arcata Easy Chairs by Gae Aulenti in Walnut and Burgundy Leather, Italy, 1968
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Antwerp, BE
Gae Aulenti; Easy Chairs; Armchairs; Arcata; Poltronova; Italian Design; Italy; 1968; Walnut; Burgundy Leather; Mid-Century Modern; Gae Aulenti Arcata...
Leather, Walnut
$22,000 / set
H 26.19 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 10
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” dining chairs for Poltronova, metal, Italy, 1964, set of ten Designed in 1964 by Gae Aulenti, the “Locus Solus” dining chairs are a vivid expression of Ita...
Metal
$3,850 / set
H 33 in W 21 in D 25.5 in
Spoleto Side Chairs for Knoll International in Caramel Red Leather
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Caramel red leather with polished chrome frames, laced backs and spring connectors on underside. Two (2) available
Chrome
$3,000Sale Price / set|33% Off
H 30.5 in W 20.5 in D 22 in
Early Set of Four Harry Bertoia Molded Shell Side Chairs for Knoll, Labeled
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Set of four molded shell side chairs designed by Harry Bertoia and manufactured by Knoll. Originally debuted in 1960, this very early set is from 1963 and...
Metal
$1,949Sale Price / item|48% Off
H 28.5 in W 22 in D 21 in
Donald Knorr Chair for Knoll Associates, 1948
By Donald Knorr, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration to of six Knorr chairs. Comprised of sheet metal bolted to steel rod legs. This chair is exceptionally rare (a set of six in simply unheard of) Model #132 cha...
Metal
Pair of Jens Risom 666 Side Chairs for Knoll
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Jens Risom chairs made in the 1940s, model “666” of the 600 series from 1941.
Birch
$3,300Sale Price / set|21% Off
H 32 in W 14.5 in D 17.5 in
Set of 4 Zanotta Burgundy Leather Dining Chairs, Italy, 1980s, Signed
By Mario Bellini, Cassina, Zanotta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A handsome and well-crafted set of four dining chairs by Zanotta, Italy circa 1980s, in rich burgundy leather. Often compared stylistically to Mario Bellini’s iconic 'Cab' chairs for...
Leather
Daybed in the style of Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Milan, IT
Red tubular daybed in the style of Gae Aulenti.
Metal
$18,000
H 28.35 in W 27.96 in D 30.71 in
"La Stringa" by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova Sofa of Two Armchairs 1960s
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
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 wi...
Chrome
Don Albinson Stacking Side Chairs by Knoll Set of 14
By Knoll, Don Albinson
Located in Highland, IN
Important industrial designer Don Albinson, a Cranbrook peer of Charles and Ray Eames, Ralph Rapson, Harry Bertoia and Eero Saarinen worked in the Eames office as head designer for 1...
Aluminum
Set of Four Chrome Dining Chairs by Bertoia for Knoll
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Set of matching Bertoia side, or dining, chairs in chrome with original white pad seat covers. This nice set is in very fine, original, clean and ready to use condition, the only cav...
Chrome
$5,604Sale Price|25% Off
H 28.35 in W 78.75 in D 34.26 in
Locus Solus Daybed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Wien, AT
The Locus Solus daybed, designed in 1964 by the influential Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, is a striking example of 1960s avant-garde design. With its tub...
Steel
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chairs, 1980
By Charles Pfister, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chair, 1980. Original black leather is great condition.
Leather
Sold
H 26.38 in W 21.66 in D 20.87 in
Set of 2 Locus Solus chairs by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in amstelveen, NL
A set of 2 lacquered metal Locus Solus chairs by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1964. The round seat is perforated sheet metal. The structure, which fo...
Steel
Pair of Gae Aulenti Arm Chairs Model 54A in Tonal Green
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Seattle, WA
This is a set of 4 Italian Postmodern Orsay dining armchairs model 54A, designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, fully restored in tonal Green. The frames were ...
Steel
Sold
H 32.5 in W 22 in D 20 in
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Signed, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of Six (6) Model #54A chairs by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International with burgundy lacquered steel frames and sinuous bent plywood seats with its original fabric upholstery, origi...
Steel