Gabriella Crespi Pair of Cork and Chrome Bowls with Glass Inserts, 1970s
View Similar Items
Gabriella Crespi Pair of Cork and Chrome Bowls with Glass Inserts, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Gabriella Crespi (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)Diameter: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Organic Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU882614577081
Gabriella Crespi
Bronze discs that open up like clamshells for storage and fold back in to become side tables. Sleek cubes barely suspended off the ground that transform into full-size dining tables. Clean-lined boxes that contain multilevel shelving. Looking at the work of Italian designer Gabriella Crespi, born in 1922 and who still produced furniture in her Milan studio until her death in 2017, it’s hard to believe that many of these highly functional pieces — modernist Rubik’s Cubes of materials, colors and ergonomics — were created decades ago.
Among her best-known creations, the bronze Ellisse table, 1976, and her bronze-and-lacquer Yang-Yin bar, 1979, encapsulate a designer who had a strong dualism in her vision, mixing humble and precious materials, for instance, or creating geometric shapes that were softened by sensual surfaces.
Crespi began studying architecture in 1944 at the Politecnico, in Milan, where she was among just a handful of women, and became profoundly influenced by the work of Charles-Édouard "Le Corbusier" Jeanneret and Frank Lloyd Wright. After getting married and having children, she launched her own collections, from jewelry to furniture, and soon gained a loyal following, with design houses such as Maison Dior snapping pieces up for their own lines.
She began work on her most iconic collection, Plurimi, in the late 1960s, and the series — including her Dama table, which plays on the themes of volume, light and adaptability that Crespi has explored throughout her career — flourished through the 1970s and early ’80s. Then there is her famed Z desk, from a mid-1970s series, which manages to be both stylish and humorous, looking like it’s ready to leap off the floor at any moment. Well-born and beautiful, Crespi garnered attention among the jet set. She was a muse to Valentino, and her pieces appeared in the homes of Princess Grace of Monaco, the Shah of Iran and Greek shipping magnate George Livanos.
In 1987, with her children now adults, the designer surprised everyone when she moved to the foot of the Indian Himalayas to study with the guru Sri Muniraj. This turned into a 20-year self-imposed exile that, if anything, made her pieces even more sought-after by collectors.
Find vintage Gabriella Crespi furniture on 1stDibs.
- Gabriella Crespi Tray Vide Poche in Brass and Briar Wood Burl, SignedBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in Brooklyn, NYSquare vide poche (Italian: svuotatasche) by Gabriella Crespi, comprising a glass-covered briar wood burl interior framed in lacquered, solid brass. Retains original felt and brass m...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsBrass
- Tapio Wirkkala Pair of 'Leaf' Dishes in Silver for Kultakeskus Oy, 1959 - 1960By Kultakeskus Oy, Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Brooklyn, NYAn elegant pair of leaf form dishes, models TW-5 (l.) and TW-4 (r.), designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy. Both are in fine condition with all requisite hallmarks and "TW" s...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Organic Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsSilver
- Modernist Turned Mahogany Bowl with Hand Rubbed Satin Black FinishLocated in Brooklyn, NYA modernist, turned mahogany bowl with a hand-rubbed satin black finish. Unsigned, circa 1970.Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsMahogany
- Unusual Freeform Ceramic Bowl in Gray and Red Glazes, Czech Republic, 1950sLocated in Brooklyn, NYA striking and highly unusual slip cast ceramic vessel in a rather complex matte, gray glaze that nearly resembles stone, finished with an intense glossy red glaze to the interior. C...Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Turned and Hand Carved Exotic Wood Bowl After Leroy SetziolBy Leroy SetziolLocated in Brooklyn, NYA turned wood vessel with a hand-carved, Mayanesque glyph motif, its craft pedigree evidenced by a rim that is ever so slightly out-of-round, and floating over a shallow, recessed fo...Category
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Decorative Bowls
MaterialsWood
- Emil Milan Hand-Carved Double Compartment Freeform VesselBy Emil MilanLocated in Brooklyn, NYAn exquisitely carved double-compartment freeform bowl by Emil Milan (1922-85), executed in bubinga. Rich patina throughout. Signed to the underside, "By Emilan, Bubinga". Other exam...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsBubinga
- Midcentury copper and Barovier glass bowls designed by Gabriella Crespi, ItalyBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in Piacenza, ItalyPair of copper bowls by Gabriella Crespi Rare pair of copper and brushed steel bowls with Barovier glass and their tray designed by Gabriella Crespi. Recorded by Archivio Gabriella ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Georgian Wrythen Glass Bowls with Appliqué Blue Rim & HandlesLocated in Torquay, GBSet of 2 matching antique British Georgian Wrythen glass bowls. Dating from the turn of the late 18th /early 19th century, circa 1800. Textured ribbed...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGlass
- Set of Six Glass Bowls with Gilt RimLocated in New York, NYSet of six glass bowls with gilt rim. Six antique gilt-rimmed finger bowls/ice cream bowls/floating rose bowls to set at table. France, circa 1920s. D...Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Serving Bowls
MaterialsGlass
$300 / set - Lino Sabbatini Rare Set of Graduated Round Silvered Bowls, Italy, 1970sBy Lino SabattiniLocated in New York, NYLino Sabbatini ( 1925-2016 ) A rare set of three graduated round silvered bowls with decorated rim. Signed Italy, 1970's Dimensions: Large: 12.5 Ø, medi...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsMetal
- Gabriella Crespi Signed Round Box/Bottle Basket in Plexiglass and Brass, 1970sBy Gabriella CrespiLocated in Brescia , BresciaDiscover the epitome of mid-century elegance with this exquisite Round Box / Bottle Basket by renowned Italian designer Gabriella Crespi. Crafted in the glamorous 1970s, this unique ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Baskets
MaterialsBrass
- Signed Rare Gabriella Crespi "Antivento" Ashtray Chrome Brass Bowl, Italy, 1970By Gabriella CrespiLocated in Nierstein am Rhein, DEA rare authentic " Antivento " ashtray or bowl with lid in chromed brass designed and produced by Gabriella Crespi, Milan, Italy around 1973-74. Underside of ashtray impressed with f...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsBrass, Chrome