An architect, furniture and industrial designer and editor, Gio Ponti was arguably the most influential figure in 20th-century Italian modernism.
Ponti designed thousands of furnishings and products — from cabinets, mirrors and chairs to ceramics and coffeemakers — and his buildings, including the brawny Pirelli Tower (1956) in his native Milan, and the castle-like Denver Art Museum (1971), were erected in 14 countries. Through Domus, the magazine he founded in 1928, Ponti brought attention to virtually every significant movement and creator in the spheres of modern art and design.
The questing intelligence Ponti brought to Domus is reflected in his work: as protean as he was prolific, Ponti’s style can’t be pegged to a specific genre.
In the 1920s, as artistic director for the Tuscan porcelain maker Richard Ginori, he fused old and new; his ceramic forms were modern, but decorated with motifs from Roman antiquity. In pre-war Italy, modernist design was encouraged, and after the conflict, Ponti — along with designers such as Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini, Marco Zanuso — found a receptive audience for their novel, idiosyncratic work. Ponti’s typical furniture forms from the period, such as the wedge-shaped Distex chair, are simple, gently angular, and colorful; equally elegant and functional. In the 1960s and ’70s, Ponti’s style evolved again as he explored biomorphic shapes, and embraced the expressive, experimental designs of Ettore Sottsass Jr., Joe Colombo and others.
Ponti's signature furniture piece — the one by which he is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Germany’s Vitra Design Museum and elsewhere — is the sleek Superleggera chair, produced by Cassina starting in 1957. (The name translates as “superlightweight” — advertisements featured a model lifting it with one finger.)
Ponti had a playful side, best shown in a collaboration he began in the late 1940s with the graphic artist Piero Fornasetti. Ponti furnishings were decorated with bright finishes and Fornasetti's whimsical lithographic transfer prints of things such as butterflies, birds or flowers; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts possesses a 1950 secretary from their Architetturra series, which feature case pieces covered in images of building interiors and facades. The grandest project Ponti and Fornasetti undertook, however, lies on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean: the interiors of the luxury liner Andrea Doria, which sank in 1956.
Widely praised retrospectives at the Queens Museum of Art in 2001 and at the Design Museum London in 2002 sparked a renewed interest in Ponti among modern design aficionados. (Marco Romanelli’s monograph, which was written for the London show, offers a fine overview of Ponti’s work.) Today, a wide array of Ponti’s designs are snapped up by savvy collectors who want to give their homes a touch of Italian panache and effortless chic.
Find a range of vintage Gio Ponti desks, dining chairs, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$16,500 / set
Gio Ponti, Lounge Chairs, Velvet, Wood, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of red, brown, blue velvet and wood lounge chairs designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Dassi, Italy, 1950s. Vintage fabric in fair to distressed condition, reupholstery reco...
Velvet, Wood
Pair of Gio Ponti Armchairs from Hotel Bristol Merano, Casa e Giardino, 1954
By Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Pair of upholstered armchairs, from the original furnishings of the Hotel Bristol, Merano, designed by Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino series, Italian manufacture, 1954. This pair of arm...
Velvet, Walnut
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino
By Gio Ponti
Located in San Francisco, CA
This pair of expertly restored small-scale armchairs by Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino features tapered oak legs and rich Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca Suri Zibelinado upholstery in Aube...
Fabric, Oak
$22,400Sale Price / set|53% Off
Gio Ponti Velvet Lounge Chairs in Walnut & Brass for M. Singer and Sons, 1950s
By M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare pair of lounge chairs designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti and produced for M. Singer & Sons circa 1950. Exquisitely restored to the highest possible standard.
Brass
Gio Ponti walnut and velvet pair of lounge chairs by Casa e Giardino, Italy 1936
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A rare pair of armchairs with walnut frame and powder pink velvet upholstery, Design by Gio Ponti, "Casa e Giardino" Catalogue, Italian production. Presented at the VI Triennale di M...
Velvet, Walnut
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Set of Four Lounge Chairs in Light Blue Leather
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau, lounge chairs, model ´Dezza´ nr. 48, leather, lacquered wood, metal, Italy, 1965. Set of four stylish lounge chairs designed by Gio Ponti for Poltrona ...
Metal
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Lounge Chair 'Dezza' in Light Blue Leather
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau, lounge chair model ´Dezza´ nr. 48, leather, lacquered beech, metal, Italy, 1965. Stylish lounge chair designed by Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau. This cha...
Metal
Gio Ponti For I.S.A Wingback Armchair, 1950s Midcentury
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous and important wingback armchair from the design master Gio Ponti for I.S.A. Bergamo, designed in the 1940s and produced in the 1950s Italy, an innovative sleek design of m...
Fabric, Wood
Gio Ponti for Cassina '811' Lounge Chair in Chestnut
By Gio Ponti, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti for Figli di Amadeo Cassina, lounge chair, model ‘811’, chestnut, fabric, rubber, coated metal, Italy, 1957 Made in 1957, this rare lounge chair model ‘811’ is designed by...
Metal
Gio Ponti Pair of 1930s Armchairs with their Original Yellow Upholstery
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
Gio Ponti Pair of 1930s Armchairs with their Original Yellow Upholstery
Upholstery, Wood
Gio Ponti "807 Distex" Lounge Chair for Cassina, Camel and Brown Velvet, 1953
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti " 807 Distex" lounge chair for Cassina, camel and brown velvet, Italy, 1953 Designed in 1953 and presented at the X Triennale di Milano in 1954, the 807 “Distex” by Gio Po...
Velvet
Gio Ponti, Wingback / Lounge Chair, White and Blue Fabric, Oak, Cassina, 1950s
By Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in High Point, NC
A white and blue fabric and oak lounge chair / wingback chair designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Cassina, Italy, 1950s. Wooden legs present with light areas of wear consistent w...
Fabric, Oak
Gio Ponti Chairs from Augustus Ocean Liner - Pairs X3
By Gio Ponti
Located in Hanover, MA
Three pairs of extremely rare and highly coveted chairs designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Cassina, Italy for the First Class bar of Italia Line's MV Augustus ocean liner...
Walnut
Gio Ponti Model 516 Pair of Lounge Chairs, Cream White Painted Walnut, 1950
By Gio Ponti, Cassina, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of armchairs, model “516”, originally designed by Ponti for the furnishing of Tranatlantico Conte Biancamano, Manufactured by Figli di Amadeo Cassina (Cassina), Italy, c. 1950 pierced slat back, off-white cream painted walnut, white woven cotton textile. Provenance: Private Collection, Connecticut, USA. Measurements 78 cm x 62 cm x 79.5h cm 30 3/4 in x 24 3/8 in x 31 1/4 in height Literature Galleria Deposito A...
Textile, Walnut
Gio Ponti for ISA Rare Pair of Ivory Bouclé Armchairs and Ottomans 1950s
By ISA Bergamo, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Gio Ponti in 1936 and manufactured by ISA Bergamo in the 1950s, this rare and exceptional set includes a pair of upholstered armchairs or lounge chairs accompanied by mat...
Brass
$40,000 / set
Gio Ponti Armchairs for Hotel Royal by Dassi
By Dassi, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of wingback armchairs designed by famed architect and furniture maker Gio Ponti for the Hotel Royal in Naples, Italy in 1953. Manufactured by Das...
Fabric, Wood
Molteni&C D.154.2 Lounge Chair by Gio Ponti
By Molteni & C, Gio Ponti
Located in Boston, MA
This mid-century lovechair was inspired by designer Gio Ponti's trips to Latin America in the 1950s. A winner of the Wallpaper Design Award, today the armchair is one of Molteni&C's ...
Chrome
Gio Ponti Model 516 Armchair, Painted Walnut, Cream White, 1950
By Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of armchairs, model “516”, originally designed by Ponti for the furnishing of Tranatlantico Conte Biancamano, Manufactured by Figli di Amadeo Cassina (Cassina), Italy, c. 1950 pierced slat back, off-white cream painted walnut, white woven cotton textile. Provenance: Private Collection, Connecticut, USA. Measurements 78 cm x 62 cm x 79.5h cm 30 3/4 in x 24 3/8 in x 31 1/4 in height Literature Galleria Deposito A...
Textile, Walnut
Gio Ponti Pair of High Back Armchairs in Ivory Bouclé, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Gio Ponti pair of high back armchairs or lounge chairs in white or ivory bouclé with polished walnut tapering legs. These chic armchairs have the classic shape of a wingback chair, ...
Wood, Bouclé
Pair of Italian Organic Modern Lounge Chairs by Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Elegant Pair of Italian Mid-Century Organic Modern Armchairs / Lounge Chairs Designed by Gio Ponti for "Casa e Giardino" and Presented at the VI Triennale di Milano, 1936....
Upholstery, Walnut
elegant gio ponti lounge chairs for casa e giardino
By Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino
Located in Munich, DE
wonderful pair of very cosy gio ponti lounge chairs. very low, but with great comfort. and such beauties....
Velvet, Wood
Modello 811 Lounge Chair by Gio Ponti for Cassina, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rare Modello 811 armchair designed by Gio Ponti circa 1957 for Cassina. Crafted in walnut, it reflects Ponti’s signature blend of architectural precision and refined comfort. Its s...
Velvet, Wood
Pair of Gio Ponti for Walter Ponti Gabriella Folding Chairs Model D.270.2 Black
By Walter Ponti, Gio Ponti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An absolutely beautiful and very rare pair of folding chairs from iconic designer Gio Ponti. Produced by also iconic manufacturer Walter Ponti. In original condition, a standout feat...
Faux Leather, Wood
Gio Ponti Armchair 820 for Hotel Royal Napoli in Wood and Fabric, Italy, 1953
By Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Famous armchair mod. 820 by Gio Ponti for Cassina for Grand Hotel Royal Continental in Naples. In desperate need for reupholstery as you can see but you can still choose what fabric ...
Fabric, Wood
Gio Ponti, Lounge Chair, Fabric, Walnut, Rubber, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut, fabric and rubber lounge chair, model 811, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Cassina, Meda, Italy, c. 1956. Wear consistent with vintage age and normal use. Measureme...
Fabric, Rubber, Walnut
Pair of Gio Ponti Gabriela Lounge Chairs, Italy 1970
By Walter Ponti, Gio Ponti
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Gio Ponti Gabriela Lounge Chairs, Italy 1970; Original White lacquered wood frames with reupholstered yellow Spinneybeck leather seat and ba...
Leather, Wood
Pair of "Pontiponti" Chairs by Gio Ponti for Pallucco
By Gio Ponti, Paolo Pallucco
Located in Milan, IT
Rare set of two "Pontiponti" chairs by Gio Ponti for Pallucco.
Metal
Gio Ponti Gabriella Folding Lounge Chair in Black Vynil by Pallucco 1991 Italy
By Gio Ponti, Pallucco
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Gabriella folding lounge chair with a steel frame, seat, and back upholstered in black vinyl or Naugahyde. This iconic chair was designed by the Italian designer Gio Ponti and rele...
Steel
Pair of Gabriella Folding Chairs Model D.270.2 by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Designed in his later years in 1970, Gio Ponti's Gabriella folding chair model no D.270.2 is a modern interpretation of historical folding chairs that were praised for their mobility...
Leather, Wood
$14,500 / set
H 32.68 in W 16.93 in D 43.31 in
Gio Ponti "807 Distex" Lounge Chair for Cassina, Camel and Brown Velvet, 1953
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti " 807 Distex" lounge chair for Cassina, camel and brown velvet, Italy, 1953 Designed in 1953 and presented at the X Triennale di Milano in 1954, the 807 “Distex” by Gio Po...
Velvet
$15,579 / set
H 28.75 in W 25.6 in D 25.6 in
Pair of Italian Armchairs by Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino, 1930s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Paris, FR
A set of two Italian collectible vintage armchairs first designed by Gio Ponti for manufacturing company Casa e Giardino in the late 1930s. They have been reupholstered in a white fa...
Fabric, Mahogany
$3,450 / set
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in D 33.86 in
Tito Agnoli For Poltrona Frau Leather Lounge Chairs by, Italy 1970s
By Poltrona Frau, Tito Agnoli
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Modern Lounge chairs by Tito Agnoli For Poltrona Frau, Italy 1970s Magnific set of two lounge chairs manufactured by Poltr...
Leather
$8,155 / set
H 27.56 in W 61.03 in D 29.93 in
Set of 2 Armchairs and a Sofa in the style Gio Ponti for Casa E Giardino, 1940s
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in taranto, IT
Rare splendid 40s living room, made in the style of Casa & Giardino by Gio Ponti, consisting of a two-seater sofa and a pair of armchairs, wooden structure and upholstery in Cintz c...
Brass
$5,665 / set
H 29.53 in W 37.41 in D 33.47 in
Gio Ponti Midcentury Rare Italian Curved Armchairs "Casa E Giardino" 1936, Pair
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Rare pair of Gio Ponti armchairs for "Casa e Giardino", 1936. Curved shell model covered in original vintage satin, the cushions have springs inside. The upholstery, as seen in the p...
Fabric, Beech, Fir
Pair Vintage Poltrona Frau Teal Leather Chairs
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this pair of sculptural leather covered chairs by Poltrona Frau date from the 1980s. Chairs have a cubist shape with dramatically flared arms and silver tone metal le...
Metal
Gio Ponti For I.S.A Wingback Armchair, 1950s Midcentury
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous and important wingback armchair from the design master Gio Ponti for I.S.A. Bergamo, designed in the 1940s and produced in the 1950s Italy, an innovative sleek design of m...
Fabric, Wood
Gio Ponti Style Walnut Lounge Chair in Ivory White Bouclé
By Kurt Østervig, Gio Ponti
Located in Miami, FL
Sultry and sleek vintage modern walnut armchair with luxurious ivory white boucle fabric. The soft and textured bouclé fabric contrasts the walnut wood beautifully and completes the ...
Walnut, Fabric
Italian Sculptural Lounge Chair in the Manner of Gio Ponti
By Osvaldo Borsani, Gigi Radice, Marco Zanuso, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
Located in Houston, TX
Italian sculptural lounge chair in the Manner of Gio Ponti. Great sculptural Italian lounge chair after Gio Ponti, Marco Zanuso, Gigi Radice or Paolo Buffa. This beautiful Italian lo...
Brass, Iron
$5,665
H 36.62 in W 68.12 in D 34.26 in
Gio Ponti Art Dèco Italian Sofa from Hotel Bristol Merano, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Luxurious Art Deco sofa designed by Gio Ponti for the Hotel Bristol Merano Italia. Sofa with low armrests and a sculptural shape. Made in Italy in the early 1950s. The velvet is worn...
Velvet, Beech
$5,800 / set
H 29 in W 28.5 in D 30 in
Stunning Pair Italian Modernist Lounge Chairs by Isa Bergamo & Att Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Buffalo, NY
An Elegant and Timeless Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs / Armchairs or Bed-side Chairs attributed to Gio Ponti and by ISA Bergamo. The chairs show a strong resemblan...
Fabric, Wood
Case Lounge Chair in Velvet and Walnut by Milo Baughman
By Maurice Villency, Milo Baughman
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Gorgeous case chair with figural walnut sides and square chrome legs attributed to Milo Baughman for Thayer-Coggin. The chair was bought from New York based retailer, Maurice Villenc...
Chrome
Gio Ponti Bamboo Lounge Chair, Model BP16, Bonacina, 1963
By Gio Ponti, Bonacina
Located in Lejre, DK
Rare bamboo lounge chair designed by Gio Ponti and manufactured by Bonacina, Lurago d'Erba, model BP16, 1963. The chair is crafted in steam-bent bamboo with elegant, flowing lines th...
Bamboo
Sold
H 27.56 in W 18.9 in D 30.71 in
1970s Mid-Century Modern Ninfea Folding Chair Designed by Gio Ponti for Reguitti
By Fratelli Reguitti, Gio Ponti
Located in Aci Castello, IT
1970s Mid-Century Modern Ninfea Folding Chair by Gio Ponti for Reguitti Elevate your interior with this iconic Ninfea folding chair, a standout piece of 1970s Italian Mid-Century Mod...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 32 in W 32 in D 30 in
Gio Ponti for ISA Rare Set of Four Ivory Bouclé Armchairs or Lounge Chairs 1950s
By ISA Bergamo, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Gio Ponti in 1936 and manufactured by ISA Bergamo in the 1950s, rare set of four exquisite upholstered armchairs or lounge chairs with curved back and gilt metal legs. Th...
Brass
Gio Ponti model D.153.1 lounge chair for Molteni&C Italy
By Molteni & C, Gio Ponti
Located in Skokie, IL
Gio Ponti model D.153.1 lounge chair for Molteni&C Italy. Two matching chairs available. Priced individually. Part of the Molteni&C Heritage Collection, this armchair is a re-make o...
Brass
Gio Ponti, Lounge Chair, Wood, Velvet, Brass, Italy, 1937
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable ebonized wood, brass and velvet lounge chair designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Casa e Giardino, Italy, c. 1937 Seat height 16”. Bibliography: Domus no. 113, 1937 ...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 34.26 in W 27.96 in D 39.38 in
Gio Ponti “Model 811” Lounge Chairs In Stained Walnut And Upholstered In Kvadrat
By Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Hellouw, NL
The legendary Gio Ponti. This fundamentally innovative architect has a long list of trades to his name; industrial designer, artist, teacher, writer, publisher and of course furniture designer. As a native son of Milan, he was responsible for designing the Pirelli Tower there. This is his most well-known work as an architect, but his career spans a period of sixty years during which he completed numerous other remarkable and groundbreaking projects. The same is true of the illustrious magazine Domus which he founded in 1928 and paralleled all his endeavours. Ponti has designed a considerable amount of furniture, almost all of which belong in an aesthetically superior category and in an incredibly consistent way. He definitely layed the foundation for what later became known as Italian design. Mass-produced furniture with a relience on top notch craftmanship. This set of lounge chairs “Model 811” for Figli di Amadeo Cassina can...
Fabric, Walnut
Gio Ponti & Lio Carminati 'Biancamano' Lounge Chair in Cane
By Gio Ponti, Vittorio Bonacina, Lio Carminati
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti and Lio Carminati for Vittorio Bonacina, 'Biancamano', lounge chair, rattan, Italy, 1950s In collaboration, Gio Ponti and Lio Carminati conceived the Biancamano lounge cha...
Cane
Sold
H 30.32 in W 34.65 in D 35.44 in
pair of Gio Ponti velvet bicolor white and yellow armchairs, Casa Giardino 1940
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Important and large pair of armchairs designed by Gio Ponti, 1940's production "Casa & Giardino." Curved back, wooden frame, conic wooden feet Re-upholstered in ivory and yellow go...
Velvet, Walnut
Sold
H 32 in W 24.5 in D 30 in
Gio Ponti for Cassina Lounge Armchairs, Refinished & Reupholstered, Italy 1950s
By Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare pair of lounge armchairs by Gio Ponti for Cassina, circa 1950s, with reupholstered white bouclé fabric cushions, refinished elm frames with incredible wood grain, signature sl...
Bouclé, Elm
Sold
H 36.62 in W 26.78 in D 31.89 in
Pair of Gio Ponti 512 Armchairs, Original Velvet, ISA Bergamo, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A very rare pair of Gio Ponti 512 armchairs, retaining their original green velvet, ISA Bergamo, Italy, 1950s. The original fabric shows only minor signs...
Fabric, Wood
Molteni Armchair by Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern, 'Via Dezza' D153.1
By Gio Ponti, Molteni & C
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Molteni Armchair by Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern, 'Via Dezza' D153.1 Nearly-new armchair or lounge designed by Gio Ponti, manufactured by Molteni....
Aluminum
Gio Ponti Rare Pair of Lounge Chairs 1940s 'COA from Ponti Archive'
By Gio Ponti
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare and important pair of high back lounge chairs with wood frames and upholstered seats and backs by Gio Ponti and fabricated by Ariberto Colombo, Cantu, Italy 1940's. These chairs...
Fabric, Wood