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.
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table, Arabescato Marble, Knoll, 1960's
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Culver City, CA
Gae Aulenti for Knoll “Jumbo” Table, circa 1960s in Arabescato marble *Note on material: Arabescato marble ≠ Carrara. While often confused, Arabescato is...
Marble
Jumbo Square Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, 1965, White Carrara, Italy
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Jumbo square coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti (Italy, 1927-1972) for Knoll. Made in White Carrara marble. Gae Aulenti (1927-2012) was one of the few Italian women to rise to pro...
Carrara Marble
Gae Aulenti for Knoll Made of Black Marble Italian Square Coffee Table "Jumbo"
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Jumbo coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti (Italy, 1927-1972) for Knoll. Made in Marquina marble. Gae Aulenti (1927-2012) was one of the few Italian women to rise to prominence in a...
Marble
$2,040Sale Price|40% Off
H 29.1 in W 31.8 in D 35.4 in
Gae Aulenti Enamel Steel Coffee Table for Knoll, 1980, Good Condition
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Vienna, AT
Enamel metal sculptural coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, original label. We got this from the first owner together with pair of matching original chairs from the same series (check our other listings). It's a heavy metal sculptural coffee table in a great size of 34"x34". The steel frame has light scratches and age related wear. The coated table top has light scratches and patina, sturdy and structurally sound, ready to be used immediately. In recent years Gae (pronounced "Guy...
Steel
Gae Aulenti Locus Solus table for Poltronova Italy, 1960s
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Skokie, IL
Gae Aulenti Locus Solus table for Poltronova Italy, 1960s Dimensions: 28" h x 33 1/2" w x 33 1/2" d Condition: Frame is excellent. Glass shows foggy area and some scratching ...
Steel
$15,750
H 14 in W 44.5 in D 44.5 in
Mid-Century Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table, Arabescato Marble for Knoll
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jumbo coffee table designed by Italian architect Gae Aulenti in 1965 for Gavina, later acquired by Knoll in 1972. Sculptural piece constructed entirely from Arabescato marble with fo...
Marble
$12,741
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
"Jumbo" Coffee Table from Carrara Marble - Gae Aulenti for Knoll, Italy, 1965
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Sculptural Carrara Marble Icon by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, Italy, 1960s Designed by Gae Aulenti in 1965 for Knoll International, the “Jumbo” coffee table is a bold statement of Italia...
Carrara Marble
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti, Glass Top, Italy
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern coffee table ( tavolo con route ) from Gae Aulenti, the original for Fontana Arte, with glass top and swivel wheels in good condition. The Italian indust...
Glass, Rubber
Rare Midcentury Coffee Table Orsay, Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - marked by label
Metal
Gae Aulenti Coffee Table
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Beautiful "jumbo" marble coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International. Four solid columnar legs support square top with interlocking corners in black marble.
Marble
$1,083Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Gae Aulenti Laminate and Purple Metal Italian Coffee Table for Zanotta, 1970s
By Zanotta, Gae Aulenti
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury laminate and purple enamel metal coffee table. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta during the 1970s. This stunning straight-lined table with a clean enamelled metal frame with a light purple laminate formica top is in a stunning vintage condition. A wonderful item is perfect to complete a mid-century minimal living room...
Crystal, Metal
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table for Knoll
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gae Aulenti Jumbo coffee table for Knoll. Architect and designer Gae Aulenti's Jumbo coffee table is her most iconic creation made from honed white ...
Carrara Marble
$4,500
H 12.008 in W 43.504 in D 43.504 in
‘Tavolino Com Route" Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti, Italy, 1980’s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Chicago, IL
‘Tavolino Com Route" coffee table by Gae Aulenti, Italy 1980’s black granite top, black lacquered wood frame, and large industrial wheels.
Granite
Knoll Saarinen Pedestal Tulip Round Coffee Table in Arabescato Marble
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Stamford, CT
This iconic 1957 design by Eero Saarinen is colloquially known as the “Tulip Table,” and more formally as the Saarinen Pedestal Table, born from Saarinen’s desire to declutter dining...
Marble, Metal
Multicolor Marble X Base Square Marble Coffee Table
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern X base multi color marble or travertine square coffee table.
Marble
Sold
H 14.18 in W 45.28 in D 45.28 in
Marble coffee table of Carrara Jumbo Knoll designed by Gae Aulenti
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Prestigious sculptural coffee table for living room designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll in 1965. base formed with 4 carrara marble blocks and carrara marble top. The Coffee Table has n...
Marble
Sold
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Gae Aulenti for Knoll ‘Jumbo’ Coffee Table in Nero Marquina Black Marble, Italy
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Impressive square coffee table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll. The table is made of nero marquina marble and designed in 1965 by Aulenti and taken in production by Knoll in 1972. In very ...
Marble, Carrara Marble
Fontana Arte Tavolo Con Ruote by Gae Aulenti, 1980, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rolling glass "Tavolo con Ruote" coffee table by Gae Aulenti was inspired by an industrial trolley that she saw being used at the Fontana Arte plant to transport glass. It has f...
Iron
Tour Table by Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Athens, Attiki
Gae Aulenti was the artistic director at FontanaArte in the early 80s, creating timeless furnishing elements such as the “Tavolo Tour”, a surprising piece with ground float-glass top...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Sold
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Jumbo Marble Italian Pair Coffee Table Designed by Gae Aulenti For Knoll, 1960s
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Madrid, ES
Jumbo pair coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti (Italy, 1927-1972) for Knoll. Made in Marquina marble. Gae Aulenti (1927-2012) was one of the few ...
Marble
Sold
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Mod Jumbo Marble Italian Coffee Table Designed By Gae Aulenti For Knoll 1960s
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Jumbo coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti (Italy, 1927-1972) for Knoll. Made in Marquina marble. Gae Aulenti (1927-2012) was one of the few Italian women to rise to prominence in...
Marble
Sold
H 15.36 in W 45.67 in L 15.36 in
Gae Aulenti 'Jumbo' Coffee Table in Rare Rosso Collemandina Marble
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Antwerp, BE
Marble coffee table, Jumbo, Gae Aulenti, Knoll, 1960s, Italy. Gae Aulenti Jumbo table for Knoll in Rosso Collemandina marble top and column legs. Designed in 1964, produced by Ga...
Marble
Sold
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Gae Aulenti Mid-Century Modern for Knoll Carrara Marble Italian Coffee Table
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Madrid, ES
Jumbo coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti (Italy, 1927-1972) for Knoll. Made in Carrara marble. Gae Aulenti (1927-2012) was one of the few Italian women to rise to prominence in ...
Carrara Marble
Double Top Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta, 1970
By Zanotta, Gae Aulenti
Located in MIlano, IT
Double top coffee table by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta, 1970 Eclectic Italian coffee table of important size from 1970s, designed by Gae Aulen...
Metal
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Table
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Midcentury female Italian architect Gae Aulenti originally designed this iconic, stalwart jumbo coffee table in 1965 for Knoll. The table is solid calacatta marble with incredible ve...
Marble