Herself a celebrity, in the 1970’s, Gabriella Crespi was the premier celebrity interior designer. The Milan-born-and-bred Crespi was a glamorous member of an international society, constantly creating beautiful homes for her friends, including the princess of Monaco and the shah of Iran. Her apartment was her showroom, and 45 years later, she’s back there again… everything identically placed. Crespi’s pieces are sleek and modern, which was revolutionary for the time; Just as important, they were functional. Her prototypes represented the singular furniture she designed. Suddenly 40 years ago, in the midst of an extraordinary career, she vanished. Along wtih her guru, Crespi spent the next 20 years in the Himalaya Mountain, almost completely isolated from the world A loss indeed for the design world!
With the help of her daughter, Elisabetta, Crespi is intent on reemerging as a premier designer. Her apartment is again, littered with sketches and prototypes. It’s hard to say whether or not she’ll create daily as she did in the 1970’s; but whatever she designs, we know it’ll be fabulous and well worth the LONG, LONG wait!
I have always considered my independence in my work as well as in my life as one of my biggest achievements.
Quote from- The Wall Street Journal Magazine
Gabriella Crespi, Milan, Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica, September 1982.
Image courtesy of Milanese dealer Rita Fancsaly
Gabriela Crespi’s Milan apartment living room, with such works as her iconic Ellisse coffee table topped with the sculpture ‘My Soul’. The Lotus Leaf bamboo side table and sculptures from her Lune series.
Image courtesy of: The Wall Street Journal Magazine, photographed by: James Mollison
Gabriela Crespi in her Milan apartment. Always known for her bohemian-chic style, nothing’s changed on that front!
Image courtesy of: Agent of Style