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 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
Orsaydining table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, 1976.
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Athens, Attiki
Orsay table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, 1976. A notable piece of mid-century modern furniture with a curved metal frame and a laminate top. The table is also known as «Mo...
Metal
Gae Aulenti for Poltronova White Table "Locus Solus," Italy 1964
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Naples, IT
Locus Solus is a series of outdoor furniture designed by architect Gae Aulenti in 1967, produced by Poltronova, Zanotta and later acquired by Exteta. The elements of the series are: ...
Metal
1970s Gae Aulenti for Knoll 40 inch Orsay Square Dining Table with Laminate Top
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Orsay Square Dining table, originally designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International in 1974. The Aulenti Collection was first manufactured in 1976 and stopped production...
Aluminum
Italian modern dining table Locus Solus by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black dining table Locus Solus by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s Dining table model Locus Solus with a square glass top. The structure and legs are made of black tu...
Metal
$1,076Sale 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 Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
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 Enamel Steel Lounge Coffee Table for Knoll, 1980
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
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
$7,400
H 28 in Dm 54 in
Warren Platner for Knoll International Bronze Wire & Marble Dining Table, 1970s
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptional vintage example of the iconic Platner Bronze Dining Table designed in 1966 by Warren Platner and this example produced by Knoll International in the 1970s. This piece re...
Marble, Metal
$15,206
H 14.18 in W 45.67 in D 45.67 in
Gae Aulenti Space Age Marble Jumbo Coffee Table for Knoll International, 1969
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Vicenza, IT
Jumbo coffee table, designed by Gae Aulenti and produced by the American manufacturer Knoll international in 1965. Legs made of white Carrara marble, tabletop of black Marquina ma...
Marble, Carrara Marble
$6,000
H 29 in W 96 in D 54 in
Early Eero Saarinen for Knoll 96" Tulip Pedestal Oval Dining Table in Laminate
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Stamford, CT
Eero Saarinen’s Pedestal Collection remains one of the most iconic achievements in modern furniture design. Often called the “Tulip,” Saarinen created the collection to eliminate the...
Aluminum
$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
Rare Midcentury Coffee Table Orsay, Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - marked by label
Metal
$12,750
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
$22,000
H 29.53 in W 55.12 in D 55.12 in
Gianfranco Fini for Poltronova 'Regolo' Square Dining Table in Pine and Glass
By Poltronova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Fini for Poltronova, 'Regolo' dining table, pine, glass, Italy, 1975 This dining table by Gianfranco Fini for Poltronova, introduced in in 1975, is a truly special piece ...
Glass, Pine
$32,752
H 14.18 in W 45.28 in D 45.28 in
Jumbo Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International, Italy, 1965
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Melbourne, VIC
The Jumbo coffee table, designed by Gae Aulenti in 1965 and produced by Knoll International, is constructed entirely from solid marble. The design features a square top supported by ...
Marble
$14,621
H 14.18 in W 44.49 in D 44.49 in
Jumbo Carrara Marble Italian Square Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti For Knoll, 1960s
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Madrid, ES
An early Mid-Century Modern Jumbo coffee table designed by Gae Aulenti (Italy, 1927-1972) for Knoll. Made in Carrara marble. Square tabletop with four cyli...
Carrara 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
Sold
H 29 in W 64 in D 34.25 in
1976 Gae Aulenti for Knoll International Rectangular Orsay Dining Table in Black
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Orsay Rectangular Dining table, originally designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International in 1974. The Aulenti Collection was first manufactured in 1976 and stopped produ...
Aluminum
Etra Marble Dining Table , Gae Aulenti for Snaidero , 1990s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Etra Marble Dining Table , Gae Aulenti for Snaidero , 1990s ※only table
Marble, Metal
Gae Aulenti table Orsay for Knoll
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in bari, IT
Curved, lacquered metal frame with melamine top whose edges curve downward, designer Gae Aulenti for Knoll She was born in 1927 in Palazzolo dello Stella (UD), the daughter of Aldo ...
Metal
Sold
H 26.78 in W 33.08 in D 33.08 in
Italian Mid-Century Yellow Table Locus Solus Gae Aulenti Poltronova, 1960s
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century yellow table Locus Solus by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s Square table from the Locus Solus series, in yellow painte...
Metal
Sold
H 30.71 in W 33.08 in D 33.08 in
Set of Locus Solus Yellow Dining Table + Chairs + Loveseats + for Tess
By Gae Aulenti, Exteta
Located in Milan, IT
The set contains: - 1x Locus Solus Yellow Dining Table by Gae Aulenti (RAL 1017 + cover): USD 2,800 plus shipping USD 450 - 3x Locus Solus Yellow Chair by Gae Aulenti (RAL 1017 + cover + extra cushion): USD 4,650 plus shipping USD 1,020 - 2x Locus Solus Yellow Loveseat by Gae Aulenti...
Steel
Sold
H 29.14 in W 63.98 in D 34.26 in
Gae Aulenti Mid-Century Modern Red Table for Knoll International
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Brussels, BE
Gae Aulenti Mid-Century Modern Red Table for Knoll International
Metal
Sold
H 27.16 in W 32.67 in D 32.67 in
Gae Aulenti Set of Garden Furniture Metal Grey Locus Solos Midcentury
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Vienna, AT
Gae Aulenti set of garden furniture metal grey locus solos midcentury. Nice set of 4 chairs and a table with original glass tabletop. Fair to go...
Steel
Sold
H 28.75 in W 57.09 in D 57.09 in
Huge Dining Table with Marble Top 'Orsay' by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Monumental and very heavy square dining table Orsay designed by Gae Aulenti for Knoll International. This table has an off-white lacquered aluminium frame and a white/grey marble to...
Marble, Aluminum
1976 Aluminium Table and four Chairs by Gae Aulenti for Knoll
By Gae Aulenti, Knoll
Located in IT
The Italian designer Aulenti collaborated a lot with Knoll. Her (second) design project for Knoll, introduced as the Aulenti Collection in 1976 from which the table and chairs in ob...
Aluminum