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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.

Average Sold Price
$6,055
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Fontana Arte Italian Midcentury Metal Glass Sconces Wall Lamps 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design sconces wall lamps or ceiling lamps ‘1940" model produced by Fontana Arte with varnished metal, chrome-plated brass, moulded glass, 1950s Italy produ...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Metal

Set of model "1776" brass and opaline side tables, Fontana Arte, Italy, 1965.
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
A rare set of 2 " 1776" side tables. The heavy foot is made in brass ballasted inside by cast metal to give it great stability. The tray made of black opaline glass. Both tables a...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Brass

Fontana Arte Italian Midcentury Glass Brass Wall Lamp or Ceiling Lamp 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design large ceiling lamp or sconce wall lamp produced by Fontana Arte with brass structure and textured glass diffuser. Italy 1950s Please note that the l...
Category

1650s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Fontana Arte

Materials

Brass

Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Wall Sconces Model #2135
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
Satin glass panels of natural glass on the face and pale blue glass on the sides with polished brass structures and metal interior structure..Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Model #2125...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Brass

Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Wall Sconces Model #2135
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Wall Sconces Model #2135
$8,000 / set
H 16 in W 4.5 in D 5.5 in
20th Century, Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Coffee Table 1940
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Turin, Turin
After an apprenticeship with the glassmaker Giannotti Pietro Chiesa opened his own glass workshop in 1921. In the early 1920s he participated in the Monza Biennale, the Venice Bienna...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Glass, Wood

Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Large Glass Flush Mount, Italy, Mid-Century Modern
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Very rare 36.6" semi glass flush-mount with deep incisions, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Milano circa 1955 Early vintage original flush mount light by Max Ingrand. Iconic large fix...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Brass

Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Semi Flush Mount Chandelier Mod. 1462 Glass Brass, 1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare original Max Ingrand Fontana Arte semi flush mount Mod. 1642 Beautiful 28" ceiling fixture from blue-ish polished and satin glass, partially with clear and satin finish and smo...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Brass

1950's Max Ingrand Wall Lights Sconces Glass Opaline Brass Fontana Arte Blue
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of wall lights, model no. 1937, 1958 Metal structure, polished bevelled glass, opal glass, and four key rings in brass. Manufactured in Milan, Italy by Fontana Arte. Dimensions...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte

Materials

Opal, Metal, Brass

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Fontana Arte Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$8,381Wall Lights and SconcesBrass, Glass1950s
2025$8,000Floor LampsBrass1930s
2025$1,311Chandeliers and Pendants, LanternsBrass, Glass1950s
2025$6,930Wall Lights and SconcesGlassc1960
2025$2,000VasesGlass1940
2025$2,000Doors and GatesBrass, Mirror1950s
2025$2,100Decorative Bowls, VasesBrass, Glass1965
2025$4,000Flush MountGlass, Aluminum, Brass1950s
2025$952Chandeliers and PendantsBrass, Glass1950s
2025$900Chandeliers and Pendants, LanternsCut Glass, Metal, Glass, Brass1950s
2025$400Wall BracketsBrass, Abalone, Glass, Wood1940
2025$1,583Chandeliers and Pendants, LanternsGlasscirca 1950s
2025$4,624Picture FramesGlass, Wood1950
2025$3,499Picture FramesGlass, Wood1950
2025$8,502Picture FramesBrass, Glassc. 1946
2025$4,400Picture FramesBrass, Crystalcirca 1960
2025$3,403Picture FramesBrass, Glass196os
2025$362Chandeliers and Pendants, LanternsMetal1965
2025$1,000Wall Lights and SconcesChromecirca 1963
2025$1,560Wall Lights and SconcesMurano Glass, Metal, Nickel, Art Glass, Glass1970s
$6,055
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$150-$78,891
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Fontana Arte

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.
Questions About Fontana Arte
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025
    Painting is the type of art that made Lavinia Fontana famous. Specifically, the 16th-century Bolognese artist became widely known for her portraiture; from her commissions, she could financially support her entire family. Some of her best-known works include Portrait of a Noblewoman and Portrait of the Gozzadini Family. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of fine art.

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