Fontana Arte Furniture
Best known for its elegant and innovative vintage lighting fixtures, the Milan-based firm Fontana Arte pioneered one of the key features of 20th-century and contemporary Italian design: the union of artistry and industry wrought by partnerships between creative talents — chiefly architects — and entrepreneurial businesses. Fontana Arte is further distinguished by having had as artistic director, in succession, four of Italy’s most inventive modernist designers: Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa, French transplant Max Ingrand and Gae Aulenti.
The bread and butter of the glassmaking company that Luigi Fontana founded in 1881 was plate-glass panels for the construction industry. In 1930, Fontana met Ponti — then the artistic director of the Richard Ginori ceramics workshop and the editor of the influential magazine Domus — at a biannual design exhibition that became the precursor to today’s Milan Design Triennale, and the two hatched an idea for a furniture and housewares firm. Fontana Arte was incorporated in 1932 with Ponti as its chief of design. He contributed several lamps that remain among the company’s signature works, including the orb-atop-cone Bilia table lamp and the 0024 pendant — a stratified hanging sphere.
The following year, Fontana Arte partnered with the influential Milan studio glassmaker and retailer Pietro Chiesa, who took over as artistic director. Chiesa’s designs for lighting — as well as for tables and items including vases and ashtrays — express an appreciation for fluidity and simplicity of line, as seen in works such as his flute-shaped Luminator floor lamp and the 1932 Fontana table — an arched sheet of glass that is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Six years after Chiesa’s 1948 death, the École des Beaux Arts–trained Max Ingrand took over as head of design at Fontana Arte. Ingrand brought a similarly expressive formal sensibility to wares such as lamps and mirrors, but he also had a masterful eye for the manipulation of glass surfaces — whether they be cut, frosted, acid-etched or sand-blasted. His classic design is the Fontana table lamp of 1954, which has a truncated cone shade and curved body, both of which are made of pure, chic white-frosted glass.
Following Ingrand, the often-audacious Italian architect Gae Aulenti served as the company’s artistic director from 1979 to 1996, and while she generally insisted that furnishings take second place aesthetically to architecture, she made an exception for Fontana Arte pieces such as the Tavolo con Ruote series of glass coffee and dining tables on wheels, bold lighting pieces such as the Parola series and the Giova, a combination flower vase and table lamp. As a key incubator of modern design under Aulenti’s tenure, Fontana Arte remained true to its long-held commitment — creating objects that have never been less than daring.
Find vintage Fontana Arte lighting fixtures such as pendants, table lamps and more on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Fontana Arte
Dealer: Donzella Ltd.
Rare Pendant No. 2127 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Crystal cut clear glass, frosted glass, nickel plated brass. painted aluminum. 8 x E12, (candelabra) sockets.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Aluminum
Max Ingrand Dahlia Chandelier
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Max Ingrand Dahlia chandelier. Polished & nickeled brass, curved glass. 16 Arms, each ending with a candelabra socket. Glass petals alternate betwee...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Model 2272 Wall Lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rosewood, brass, sandblasted glass. A rare model with 2 x E12, (candelabra) sockets per light.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare Pair of Table Lamps #2228, by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Crystal-cut glass, colored glass, nickel-plated brass. Exceptional & rare pair of petite lamps with one candelabra socket per lamp. Very good condition, all elements have been recent...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Model #2088 Chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Carved, polished & frosted glass, nickeled brass. Elegant, shaped glass forms with concave, frosted centers & metal structure. 9 x E12, (candelabra) sockets. A rare model in very goo...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Model 1744, Circular Cocktail Table by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Painted steel, brass, glass, colored & mirrored glass. A rare & desirable model by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Steel, Brass
Rare Sconces, Variant of model 1799A by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Brass, frosted glass. Each fixture takes 6 x E12, (candelabra) bulbs. A beautiful and rare model.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
“Dahlia” Chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Polished & nickeled brass, curved glass. 16 arms, each ending with a candelabra socket. Green glass petals on each arm. Second matching one available.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Rare Table Lamps by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Painted aluminum, fabric. Cast aluminum table lamps, each with 2 x E12, (candelabra) sockets and newly made fabric shades. A very rare model.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Max Ingrand Chandelier
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare Chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Colored glass, frosted glass, brass. Takes 6 x E12, (candelabra) bulbs. A beautiful and rare model.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
No 1370 Picture Frame by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Glass and brass. Rare tabletop frame designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. Elegant polished crystal panels with brass-banded fittings and stand.
Horizontal version also availa...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
No 1371 Picture Frame by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Glass, brass. Rare horizontal tabletop frame designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. Elegant polished crystal panels with brass-banded fittings and stand.
Vertical version availa...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Fontana Arte Wall Lights
By Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of Sconces by Fontana Arte. Blue colored glass, acid-etched glass, brass. Each sconce takes 1 x E12 (candelabra) bulb.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Wall Light
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
No. 1598 Wall Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Frosted, etched glass, brass, nickel. A rare and large model featuring an elegantly carved, large glass shield.
*2nd sconce a...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Wall-Mounted Console by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Glass, brass. Fantastic system for wall mounting and beautiful slab glass top.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Wall Lights
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
No. 2254 Wall Lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Nickel plated brass, frosted glass. Each fixture has 3 x E12 candelabra sockets. A rare model.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Rare Chandelier, No. 2177 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Nickeled brass, faceted glass and colored glass. A rare, "Organo" chandelier with 5 cylinders of varying lengths, each housing a single E26 socket and capped with a faceted glass len...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Pendant No.2362 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Polished, chiseled & satin glass tiles, sating glass, brass, painted metal. Hexagonal form, with hand-cut glass tiles with acid-etched face and chipped center. Fixture has 12 x E12, ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Max Ingrand Sconces
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of Wall Lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Chiseled glass, acid-etched glass, nickeled metal, painted metal. Each light has 2...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Metal
Max Ingrand Dahlia Chandelier
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare "Dahlia" chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Brass, colored glass, nickeled brass. 16-arm fixture of oxidized brass and nickeled metal. Each arm has an elongated blue gl...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Sconces
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Model 1537 sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Polished brass, frosted glass. Each light has 1 x E12 (candelabra) socket.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Chandelier
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare 12-light chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Colored glass, polished brass. 12 x E12, (candelabra) sockets & seafoam green glass discs with beveled edges.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Dahlia Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Brass, glass. Sculptural structures with alternating clear and blue colored glass "petals." Each sconce has 2 candelabra, (E12) sockets.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Sconces
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Model #1937, featuring thick crystal shields with beveled edges and satin faces. Black metal and steel structures with patinated brass clips. Although this model was originally shown...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
Rare "Disco Volante" Table Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Polished and acid-etched glass diffusers in pale-rose and natural glass colors. Brass base, standard, mounts and finial, with lower push switch. 3 candelabras sockets. Produced by Fo...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare Pair of Table Lamps #2202, by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Oxidized brass, frosted glass. Fantastic and playful forms that can sit on a table top in a variety of positions. One candelabra (E12) socket per lamp. All wiring has recently been u...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Ovoid Mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Model #2085. Ovoid shaped mirror with thick blue-glass surround, beveled edges and brass mounts. Published in Fontana Arte 6, makers catalog.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Glass
Max Ingrand Pendant
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
#2211 pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. 4 x colored glass panels, frosted glass tube-shade, brass mounts. 1 x large Edison socket. Removable ceiling plate has been made to cov...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Dahlia Floor Lamp
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare Dahlia Floor Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Colored glass, brass, painted metal. Rare floor lamp with 3 candelabra sockets set into bras...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Sconces
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Sconces, Model #1944, by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Ovoid shaped crystal shield with irregular bevel to outer edge and chiseled center section. Painted and polished brass...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Max Ingrand Floor Lamp #1569
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare Floor Lamp, # 1569, by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Elegant form of nickeled, painted and polished brass, painted wood and glass panels. 3 candelabra sockets.
Published: Fonta...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Chandelier
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Chandelier #2128 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Fantastic 3 light fixture featuring thick slabs of aqua-marine glass, with frosted glass cyli...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Sconces
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Pair of sconces #2439 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte.
Thick slabs of crystal with chiseled edges. White glass front-pieces and brass structures. Each sconce has three candelabra so...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare Cocktail Table by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in New York, NY
An elegant and early Pietro Chiesa designed cocktail table manufactured by Fontana Arte. Rose gold mirrored glass top inset onto wood dish frame above splayed legs. Early Fontana Art...
Category
1930s Italian Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Max Ingrand Ceiling Light
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pendant Model no. 1462 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Amber-colored glass, frosted glass, brass. 8 x E12, (candelabra) sockets.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare Wall Mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Colored glass, wood, mirror, brass. Bright blue glass surround, with floating central mirror and brass mounts.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare Ceiling Fixture by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Lacquered metal, frosted glass, clear glass and brass. A rare example by Max Ingrand with sculptural black-lacquered supports at the top. There are five E26 sockets.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Max Ingrand Pendant
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Rare pendant #2127 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Crystal-cut glass, colored beveled glass, acid-etched glass, nickeled brass. 8 candelabra sockets & clear, rose, blue and green o...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Materials
Brass
Fontana Arte Ceiling Fixture
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Etched glass ceiling fixture by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte.
Early hanging light with 5 standard sockets. Beautiful etched glass dish incised ...
Category
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Furniture
Fontana Arte furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Fontana Arte furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Fontana Arte furniture, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Fontana Arte were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Stilnovo, Barovier&Toso, and Gaetano Sciolari. Prices for Fontana Arte furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,200 and can go as high as $42,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $10,400.
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Fontana Arte Wall Lights and Sconces
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Fontana Arte Floor Lamps
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Fontana Arte Flush Mount
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Fontana Arte Ashtrays
Fontana Arte Glass