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.
"Sanmarco" Steel and Glass Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta, Italy, 1980s
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
Located in Milan, IT
"Sanmarco" model 685 coffee table by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta. Chrome-plated frame and long movable glass top.
Steel
Jumbo Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Italy, circa 1960s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Superb original Jumbo Coffee Table, in Italian marble, by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Italy, 1960s. A good example of this table in very good condition. Ships worldwide.
Marble
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
Jumbo Marble Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International 1960s
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Aachen, NW
Fine and elegant coffee table model "Jumbo" by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International. Made in Italy. This edition comes with the very elegant and one of the most expensive Statuario M...
Marble
Tour Table with Glass Top Designed by Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tour is the evolution of the table with wheels. Again with wheels, but in this case taken from bicycles, it was a surprising piece. The beveled float glass top, 0.6" thick, rests on four pivoting wheels attached to four stainless steel plates...
Glass
Tavolo con ruote by Gae Aulenti for FontanaArte 80s
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Padova, IT
Gaetana Emilia Aulenti, known as Gae Aulenti (1927–2012), was one of the most influential and multifaceted figures in 20th-century Italian architecture and design. She was celebrated...
Metal
$22,275
H 14.38 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Impressive Jumbo Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Italy 1965
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Echt, NL
Impressive Jumbo coffee table in very good condition. Designed by Gae Aulenti in the 1960s. Manufactured by Knoll International. This particular table is made from Nero Marquina, ...
Marble
$18,500
H 14.57 in W 49.22 in D 49.22 in
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table for Knoll in Black Nero Marquina Marble, 1972
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in Almelo, NL
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table for Knoll in Black Nero Marquina Marble, Italy 1972 A striking vintage Jumbo coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti, produced by Knoll in Italy, and re...
Marble
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
$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
$1,900
H 20.48 in Dm 16.54 in
Saarinen Tulip Side Table Figured Walnut for Knoll International, Early 1960s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Iconic tulip pedestal table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International. Early edition, likely from the 1960. It consists of a cast aluminum base with original white vinyl wrap. The mak...
Aluminum
Gae Aulenti Bicycle Tour Coffee Table.
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Čelinac, BA
Gae Aulenti Bicycle Tour Coffee Table
Chrome
$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 Knoll, Gae Aulenti
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
$1,600
H 19 in W 29.5 in D 29.5 in
1960s Florence Knoll Square Marble Coffee / Side / End Table 29.5 in
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Florence Knoll Medium Side Table, originally designed by Florence Knoll in 1954. This particular example was produced by Knoll in the USA in the 1960s. The table's design i...
Marble, Steel
$1,550
H 12.6 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
"Marcuso" Square Chrome Coffee Table by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, Italy 1970s
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century “Marcuso” square coffee in chrome plated metal completed by a thick square shaped glass. This stylish table designed by Marco Zanuso and produced by Zanotta in ...
Crystal, Chrome
Rare Midcentury Coffee Table Orsay, Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - marked by label
Metal
$12,522
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 Knoll, Gae Aulenti
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
$1,056Sale 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
$2,833 / item
H 9.85 in W 51.19 in D 51.19 in
Tavolo Con Ruote Low Table with Glass Top by Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An Industrial trolley used at the Fontana Arte plant to transport glass: This was the object that inspired Gae Aulenti to design her Tavolo con Ruote. Thi...
Glass
Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table for Knoll
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
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
$2,573Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.9 in W 46.26 in D 46.26 in
Gae Aulenti Midcentury Squared Steel "Tau" Coffee Table for La Rinascente, 1970s
By La Rinascente, Gae Aulenti
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury crystal glass and enamelled metal coffee table. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy by Gae Aulenti exclusively for La Rinascente Milano during the 1970s. ...
Crystal, Metal, Steel
Sold
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Jumbo Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Italy, circa 1960s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Superb original Jumbo Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Italy, 1960s. In very good vintage condition. Wonderful subtle veining to the marble. A very nice example o...
Marble
Document Holder Tables by Gae Aulenti for Pierluigi Ghianda
By Gae Aulenti, Pierluigi Ghianda
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous pair of wooden side tables designed by Gae Aulenti in the 60's for the fine Italian manufacture Pierluigi Ghianda. The bedside tables are totally made of wood, with rectang...
Metal
Gae Aulenti Style Coffee Table With Wheels
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Antwerp, BE
Post-modern Coffee table in the style of Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte, designed after Aulenti's "Tavolo con Ruote," meaning "table with wheels.". Italy,...
Glass, Wood
Gae Aulenti Pair of Metal Side Coffee Tables Midcentury
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Vienna, AT
Gae Aulenti pair of metal side coffee tables midcentury. Nice pair of orange bedside tables with perforated trays. Fair to good original condition...
Steel
Coffee Table 'Jumbo' in Carrara Marble by Gae Aulenti for Knoll
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Dronten, NL
Coffee table 'Jumbo', in Carrara marble, designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, United States, 1965. Sculptural marble coffee table designed by Italian architect Gea Aulent...
Carrara Marble