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.
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Rare Pendant in Crystal Glass Nickel Plated Brass
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, pendant light, nickel plated brass, crystal glass, Italy, 1940s This rare pendant by Pietro Chiesa has an exceptional architectural clarity. Three sh...
Brass, Nickel
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte ‘Parco dei Principi’ Floor Lamp with Beige Shade
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, floor lamp ‘Parco dei Principi’ model '1967', brass, glass, coated aluminum, bakelite, Italy, circa 1960 This elegant floor lamp by Gio Ponti is based on...
Aluminum, Brass
Max Ingrand Pendant Lamp by Fontana Arte, Brass and Glass, Italy, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte pendant lamp, Italy, 1960. Formidable smaller pendant light which comes in chromed brass and textured acid-etched (blinded) shield-form reflector shades. T...
Brass
Max Ingrand Model 1776 Pedestal Tables for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1957
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Some notes about the author Max Ingrand: a famous French master glass worker and decorator, he was artistic director of FontanaArte for one decade, starting from 1954. During that ti...
Brass
$4,502Sale Price|20% Off
Table lamp “Metafora” by Umberto Riva for Fontana Arte Italy, 1980s
By Fontana Arte, Umberto Riva
Located in Berlin, DE
Table lamp “Metafora” by Umberto Riva, composed of two blown-glass elements mounted on a copper structure. The lower conical glass element is in translucent lemon yellow, revealing t...
Brass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte: 1950s Mid-Century Colored Glass Wall Mirror
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Palermo, IT
A renowned piece of historic design, this is a rare rectangular wall mirror designed by the famous French designer Max Ingrand for the Italian company Fontana Arte and produced aroun...
Brass
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. Art Deco brass pendant light, Italy, 1940s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte, Oscar Torlasco, Arredoluce, Stilnovo
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Compatible with US/EU standards. LED compatible. Mid-Century and Art Deco style pendant lamp by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1940s. This chandelier is composed of a brass ...
Metal, Brass, Enamel, Chrome
Rare Table Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1955-1956, Italy
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A rare table lamp designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte, 1955-1956, Milano, Italy. This table lamp is made of blackened cast aluminium with fabric shade in an eleg...
Aluminum
Pietro Chiesa Tripod Side Table for Fontana Arte Wood Glass, Italy, Circa 1940
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Tripod side table by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Milan circa 1940. Rare wooden side-table with a tripod joinery and extravagant black feet designed by Pietro Chiesa (1892- 1948)...
Fruitwood
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Amethyst Glass and Brass Vide-Poche, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Milan, IT
Elegant small vide-poche by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960s, combining translucent amethyst glass with a shaped brass base. The shallow glass dish features a softly...
Brass
Fontana Arte, Coffee Table, Walnut, Glass, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut and smoked glass coffee table, model 2461, designed and produced by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 12.5"H x 50....
Glass, Walnut
Pair of rare wall light model no 2272 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte circa 1965
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Pair of rare wall light model no 2272 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte circa 1965
Brass
Max Ingrand “Dahlia” Chandelier, Fontana Arte, Brass & Glass, 1954
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Palermo, IT
A magnificent and highly recognizable mid-century modern "Dahlia" chandelier (model 1563), designed by the celebrated French glass master Max Ingrand during his tenure as artistic di...
Crystal, Brass
1970s Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table by Fontana Arte, Glass & Chrome
By Fontana Arte
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful geometric all Glass and Chrome Coffee table . Architectural Deign . so stylish . Good condition . Fontana Arte 1970s Italy
Glass
Fontana Arte Max Ingrand Pendant Lamp 2259, Glass Pantinated Brass, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A fantastic pendant light model no. 2259 designed by famous designer Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, manufactured in Mid-Century, circa 1960. It is made of solid brass with a na...
Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte, Model 1944 Thick Glass Sconces 5 Pieces, Italy, 1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Five (5) of Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, chiseled thick glass sconces, Italy, 1960- they are priced individually. Formidable, beautiful set of five (5) deep-beveled oval wall lamps...
Brass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Pair of ‘Micro’ Sconces, Model 2240, 1950s, Signed
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A rare and authentic pair of ‘Micro’ sconces, model 2240, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the 1950s. Each sconce features double profiled glass panels: two thick, polishe...
Brass
Italian Modern Fontana Arte Attributed Mirror
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte, Paolo Buffa, Max Ingrand
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Fontana Arte Attributed Mirror. Offered mirror is rectangular in shape and has a beautifully detailed frosted etched design around the interior perimeter of this lovel...
Mirror
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Rare Pair of Sconces Model 2093, Italy, 1961
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte rare pair of wall lights, model 2093, in thick cut and polished glass, acid-etched glass and brass, Italy, 1961. Designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Art...
Brass
Pair of wall lights by Pietro Chiesa produced by Fontana Arte, Italy 1940s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Rare pair of brass and etched glass wall lights by Pietro Chiesa and produced by Fontana Arte, circa 1940. Each fixture is composed of a curved satin-finished crystal diffuser held ...
Brass
Rare Max Ingrand Model 1933 Pendant for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1961
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An exceptionally rare and completely original Model 1933 pendant light, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte and produced in Italy in 1961. A refined example of Ingrand’s extrao...
Gold, Brass
Mid-Century wall mirror with gold glass frame Fontana Arte for Veca
By VECA, Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, IT
Glass with gold-colored side edge Elegant wall mirror made by Fontana Arte for Veca, traceable to Italian production of the mid-20th century. The mirror features a refined, slightl...
Murano Glass, Stained Glass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, mirror, model 2172A, brass and tinted glass, ca. 1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, IT
Rare wall mirror, model 2127A, by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1962. Vertical mirror with an outer brass frame and an inner frame made of beveled blue glass panels, which cr...
Brass
Max Ingrand Mod. 1636 Fontana Arte Glass Brass Sconces Pair, Italy, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of large Max Ingrand Fontana Arte sconces model #1636, Italy, 1960. Formidable pair of 15.7" large wall lights in brass and aci...
Brass
Luigi Fontana 1940's Brass Shaped Wall Mirror with Decorative Scroll Crest
By Luigi Fontana, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Fontana Arte 1940's Brass Shaped Wall Mirror with Decorative Scroll Crest A Luigi Fontana brass framed shaped wall mirror, featuring an expressive silhouette with soft, organic cur...
Brass
Model 2364 Pendant Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 2364 Pendant Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s This pendant, model 2364 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, reflects the designer's gift for pairing architectur...
Aluminum, Brass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Rare Pair of Large Sconces, Italy 1955
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Designed in 1955 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, this rare pair of large wall sconces exemplifies the poetic elegance and technical mastery that defined postwar Italian lighting. Ea...
Metal, Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Semi Flush Mount Chandelier Mod. 1462 Glass Brass, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
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...
Brass
Fontana Arte, Flush Mount, Metal, Glass, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in High Point, NC
A metal and light blue etched glass flush mount produced by Fontana Arte, Italy, c. 1960s. In good vintage condition, with visible wear consistent with age and use. Scattered scuffs...
Metal
Fontana Arte Glass & Brass Table Lamp, Italy, C. 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Westport, CT
A refined example of Italian modernist lighting from the 1960s, this original table lamp by Fontana Arte showcases the brand’s signature combination of architectural glass and warm m...
Brass
Max Ingrand Table Lamp Brass Glass Mod. 2278, Italy 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
An old version of the mod. 2278 for Fontana Arte, with green interior shade and flat glass diffuser. The brass has had a beautiful patina over the years. A heavy and elegant table la...
Brass
Pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Model 1933, Italy, 1961
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
An iconic design pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 1933, Italy, 1961. Organically shaped double lens cut panels of thick profiled polished Murano glass with sandblasted ...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table by Gae Aulenti, Glass Top, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern coffee table ( tavolo con route ) from Gae Aulenti, the original for Fontana Arte, with glass top and swivel wheels in good condition. The Italian indust...
Glass, Rubber
Gae Aulenti "Giova" Table Lamp, Small Version, Fontana Arte, 1964
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Experience timeless Italian design with this exquisite "Giova" lamp by the legendary Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte, designed 1964. A beautiful and collectible light sculpture, the "Gi...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Wall/Ceiling Lamp by Veca & Fontana Arte, Italy
By Fontana Arte, VECA
Located in Palermo, IT
This stunning pair of mid-century modern flush mounts was manufactured in Italy by Veca during the 1970s. Heavily influenced by the refined aesthetic of Fontana Arte, these ceiling l...
Art Glass
$10,800 / set
Max Ingrand Wall Lights for Fontana Arte, Mod. 1636
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Pair of wall lights, model 1636, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Each light features a curved frosted glass diffuser held by a solid brass structure. The elongated, asymmet...
Crystal, Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte documented mod 2224 set of 4 wall sconces 1958'
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, IT
The four wall lamps designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte date from 1958-1960 and are a masterpiece of mid-century modern Italian design. Made of the highest quality materials and...
Opal, Crystal, Metal
Vintage Art Deco Chandelier by Pietro Chiesa, Brass & Glass, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large vintage Art Deco Italian chandelier, ceiling light made of hand crafted brass and partially etched, hand blown smoked crystal glass, designed by Pietro Chiesa and produced by FontanaArte, in good condition. The wires have been renewed. Wear consistent with age and use. Circa 1930 - 1950, Milan, Italy. Pietro Chiesa was an Italian designer born in 1892, in Milan, Italy and passed away in 1948, Paris, France. Chiesa finished his apprenticeship in the studio of the furniture designer, interior decorator Giovan Battista Gianotti in Milan. Chiesa comes from an artistic family, he opened his own glass making studio, Botega di Pietro Chiesa in 1921 Milan. Chiesa concentrated mainly on designing glass, he treated glass like a valuable material. Fontana Arte is an Italian lighting and design company founded in 1931 Milan, Italy. Founded by the two well-known Italian architect and designers Giovanni Ponti...
Metal, Brass
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte Rare Chandelier, Italy, circa 1940, Certificate
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte chandelier or ceiling light in beveled clear glass, opaline glass, brass and painted aluminum, Italy, circa 1940. Accompanied by a certificate of authentic...
Metal, Brass
Fontana Arte Scintilla Sommatoria sculptural lighting Livio Castiglioni
By Livio Castiglioni, Fontana Arte
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Sculptural hanging light designed by Livio Castiglioni in 1972. Produced by Fontana Arte. This lighting fixture consists of one base and six hanging units and one weight. Hanging u...
Steel
Three-Light Pendant in Green Nilo Glass by Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This pendant light presents itself as a vertically articulated composition, defined by a measured balance between structural rigor and visual fluidity. Its proportions are slender an...
Brass
A Pair of Poetic Precision: The Model 2240 Sconces, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Dronten, NL
A rare and authentic pair of 'Micro' sconces, model 2240, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the 1950s. Few designers understood the poetic interplay of glass and illuminati...
Crystal, Brass
$275,422Sale Price|25% Off
Mid-century 'Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Duilio Barnabè' coffee table.
By Duilio Dubé Bernabe, Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Palermo, IT
Small table designed in 1958 by the great master of Crystal ''Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte and painted by Duilio Bernabè known as Dubè.'' Duilio Barnabè, known artistically as Dubé, ...
Crystal
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Portable Lamp in Brass & Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Portable Lamp in Brass & Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their des...
Metal, Brass
Opaline Glass Table Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Opaline Glass Table Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s. This example is believed to date from the 1960s and features the beautifully sculpted white glass body that ha...
Opaline Glass
Fontana Arte, Wall Mirror, Brass, Italy, 1940s
By Fontana Arte
Located in High Point, NC
A brass wall mirror designed and produced by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1940s.
Brass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte 1960s Mid-Century Glass & Brass Umbrella Stand
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful, large and stunning Midcentury Modern Italian umbrella stand / holder designed by French born designer Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte circa 1960s. This is the largest model p...
Brass
Fontana Arte Soliflore Vase Model 2393, Crystal & Brass, Circa 1950
By Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
FontanaArte is an Italian company founded in Milan (as Fontana Arte) in 1932 by Luigi Fontana and Giò Ponti and specializing in glass processing and the production of furnishing accessories. It is known for working with curved crystal and producing lighting fixtures, becoming a prominent name in Italian design over the years. Here we have a vertical "Soliflore" vase model 2393 in thick crystal and nickel-plated brass by Fontana Arte designed in 50s. This decorative object is a perfect idea for a gift (wedding, graduation, new born...
Brass
Fontana Arte Blue Glass and Brass Wall Mirror, Italy, 1950
By Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
A Fontana Arte blue glass and brass wall mirror; exuding charm and grace in a simple and refined design; with a clear rectangular mirror plate ...
Brass
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Rare Rectangular Pink Rose Etched Glass Mirror
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, rare and exceptional large rectangular wall mirror in rose-pink mirrored crystal glass with intricately wheel-engraved and sandblasted dec...
Crystal, Metal
Max Ingrand Dahlia chandelier Fontana Arte Italy 1954
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Dahlia chandelier designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1954. This remarkable and highly recognizable masterpiece stands among the most iconic creations fr...
Aluminum, Brass
Max Ingrand 1963 sconces chrome Fontana Arte Italy 1963
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A stunning pair of Model 1963 sconces designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte in Italy in 1963. These exceptional wall lights encapsulate the refined elegance and te...
Chrome
$1,364Sale Price|20% Off
Cristal Art Italiana rosé gold 1959 mirror.
By Cristal Arte, Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, IT
The Fontana Arte mirror is a work of art that captures the essence of Italian elegance and design. Composed of three overlapping mirrors, it creates an interplay of depth and reflect...
Glass, Mirror, Stained Glass, Wood
$2,610Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage 1960s Fontana Arte Wall Sconces with Hand-Molded Glass
By Fontana Arte, Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, IT
Fontana Arte wall lamps from the 1960s. Each wall sconce features two light sources: one diffuser directs light downward, while the other directs it upward. They are crafted from col...
Art Glass, Stained Glass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Semi Flush Mount Chandelier Mod. 1748 Glass Brass, 1957
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte semi flush mount Mod. 1748, Italy, 1957. Beautiful 22" ceiling fixture from very thick profiled glass, partially with clear and satin finish and smooth cut...
Brass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Chandelier in Satin Crystal and Brass
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, chandelier, model '2054', nickel-plated brass, satin crystal glass, Italy, circa 1960 This chandelier (c. 1960) by the esteemed French master glass wor...
Crystal, Brass, Nickel
Max Ingrand Round Orange Smoke Wall Mirror Fontana Arte Model, 1669
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Max Ingrand round orange-smokey mirror for Fontana Arte Model 1669, Italy Mid-century We have a similar model available in light blue as well. Handmade elegant orange-smokey colored...
Glass
Max Ingrand Floor Lamp for Fontana Arte Model 2020, Italy, 1961
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
An elegant floor lamp designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 2020, Italy, 1961. Organically shaped double lens cutted with chisel panels of thick Murano polished glass with ...
Brass, Metal
Bilia Mini Table Lamp Designed by Gio Ponti in 1931 for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A cone and a sphere: two essential, recognizable geometric shapes. An unpretentious composition, enriched by the extraordinary balance of its proportions and the stylish discretion o...
Metal
1950s Italian Curved Glass Mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Italian wall mirror from the 1950s, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte and distinguished by an elegant construction in thick curved glass with a central mirrored plate. The sub...
Brass