Fontana Arte umbrella stand
About the Item
- Creator:Max Ingrand (Designer),Fontana Arte (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.38 in (67 cm)Width: 14.18 in (36 cm)Depth: 9.85 in (25 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
Fontana Arte
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Rare Max Ingrand chandelier for Fontana ArteBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBRare Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte chandelier 18 bulbs. Small Eddison screw (One of the few models that has not been reproduced!)Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsNickel
- Asymmetrical Mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana ArteBy Max Ingrand, Fontana ArteLocated in London, GBRare asymmetric mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Glass is beautiful grey colour Fontana label verso.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsGlass, Mirror
- Ettorre Sottsass umbrella stand for Rinnovel. Italy c1955By Rinnovel, Ettore SottsassLocated in London, GBUmbrella stand designed by Ettore Sottsass for Rinnovel, Italy 1950s Anodised aluminiumCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Post-Modern Umbrella Stands
MaterialsAluminum
- Rare Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Mirror, circa 1949By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBExceptional quality mirror in thick curved glass with mirror plate Manufactured by Fontana Arte, Milan, Italy. Reverse with manufacturer's paper label Complete with the back pl...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsNickel
- Rare Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Chandelier, Italy, C1961By Max Ingrand, Fontana ArteLocated in London, GBMax Ingrand for Fontana Arte Model 2126. Italy, c1961. Three cones. Nickelled oxidised brass with faceted glass lenses. Bulbs 100 watt equivalent. Fit...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass, Nickel
- Large Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Flush Mount Chandelier C1960By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBMax Ingrand 8 light plafonnier. Italy c1960 Thick beveled glass and frosted glass shade. Painted metal, brass, frosted glass, glass. Re wired for US and Europe. Glass i...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Umbrella Stand with Smoked GlassBy Max Ingrand, Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NY1960s umbrella stand by Fontana Arte with a brass frame and two curved smoked glasses. Condition: Vintage condition, some chips as shown and oxidation to the brass Width: 14” Dep...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Umbrella Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Fontana Arte Umbrella StandBy Fontana ArteLocated in Beverly Hills, CAFontana Arte Umbrella Stand - Thick glass feet w/ four feet, lacquered wood and glass top and bottom with brass detail. Wonderful piece. Italy, 1950sCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Umbrella Stands
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Umbrella Stand with Satin Nickel FramingBy Max Ingrand, Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NYRefined 1960s Fontana Arte umbrella stand designed by Max Ingrand composed of two beveled green glasses mounted on brushed nickel frame. Condition: Excellent vintage condition, wea...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Umbrella Stands
MaterialsNickel
- Umbrella Stand Holder by Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1940By Fontana ArteLocated in Paris, FranceVery rare and beautiful 1940s umbrella stand by Fontana Arte, with a brass frame and four sheet of glass etched with a delicate umbrellas engraved on the glass. A gilded metal base...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Umbrella Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Fontana Arte Umbrella Stand 1930s-1940s Italian Design Crystal and BrassBy Fontana ArteLocated in Brescia, ITUmbrella stand by Fontana Arte Italy, 1930-1940. Green crystal Enameled metal and brass details Excellent condition, crystal in perfect condition.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Umbrella Stands
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
- Italian Modern Neoclassical Brass & Green Glass Umbrella Stand by Fontana ArteBy Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NYA rare, elegant Italian Mid-Century Modern neoclassical umbrella stand by Fontana Arte. The piece is composed of a solid brass frame with a brass center plate and finished with brass...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Umbrella Stands
MaterialsBrass