Gae Aulenti's 1980 Tavolo con ruote glass table remains a radical design icon

Designed in 1980, Gae Aulenti's Tavolo con ruote is a glass table on industrial casters that embodies the postmodern minimalism characteristic of 1980s loft aesthetics. Aulenti, who served as artistic director at FontanaArte from 1979 to 1996, crafted the table with a robust cast glass surface and four rotating wheels, drawing inspiration from wooden carts used in FontanaArte's factory. The dimensions of the table are 100 × 100 cm, and it weighs 46.5 kg, with a limited Tour edition featuring bicycle wheels. Founded by Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa in 1932, FontanaArte transitioned to industrial production post-WWII and was acquired by Nemo Lighting in 2024. The Tavolo con ruote, priced at 1,357 € TTC, is a global bestseller and is highlighted in Beaux Arts Magazine's April 2026 issue, number 502. Aulenti is also recognized for her contributions to Palazzo Grassi and Musée d'Orsay, and a square in Milan bears her name.