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.
Exceptional Strong & Thick Curved Design Murano, Glass Art Floor Jardiniere Vase
By Fontana Arte
Located in Lisse, NL
Great condition and all handcrafted thick glass planter or jardiniere, made in Italy. If you are looking for a truly exclusive and very stylish, extra large vase then this avantgard...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$3,273Sale Price|20% Off
Fontana Arte Mod. 2004 Box
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
Fontana Arte Mod. 2004 box.
Metal
Triangular Fontana Arte Bowl, Turquoise Blown Glass, Italy, Circa 1970
By Fontana Arte
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A super example of a pale turquoise Fontana Arte decorative bowl. In a triangular shape with turquoise glass. In good condition.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Pietro Chiesa Attributed Fontana Arte Round Carved Wood Box with Glass Top 1940s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Rare and exquisite round carved wood box with inset Nile green glass top attributed to Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1940s. The sculptural circular body is beautifully hand-...
Glass, Wood
$841Sale Price|20% Off
Italian crystal photo holder for FONTANA ARTE
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant 1980s Photo Frame by Fontana Arte - Italian Design in Satin-Finished Blue Crystal with Original Box A refined piece of Italian design history, this elegant photo frame was pr...
Crystal
Fontana Arte Glass Bowl 1960
By Fontana Arte
Located in Munich, DE
Rare clear blue glass bowl designed for Fontana Arte, circa 1960. This beautiful glass bowl with its oval shape and gently rounded corners reflects the minimalist, elegant design of ...
Murano Glass
Fontana Arte Cartoccio small textured glass vase Pietro Chiesa 1932 Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Small version of Cartoccio textured glass vase from Fontana Arte. Approx dimensions 9 x 8 x 6.75 inches high
Glass
Fontana Arte Glass paperweight with two decorative silver coins, Italy 1958
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
Fontana Arte Glass paperweight with two decorative silver coins, Italy 1958 This paperweight was made as a souvenir for the 50th anniversary of the Italian A.E.C Electrical company.
Silver
20th Century Fontana Arte Max Ingrand Centerpiece 2039 in Colored Glass
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Very beautiful Centerpiece designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, model 2039, designed in '60s. The Bowl has a base in silvered metal and then it is entirely in colored glass (ora...
Metal
Fontana Arte “Cartoccio” Glass, 1949
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte “Cartoccio” glass, 1940.
Glass
20th Century, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Brass Vase
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
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
20th Century, Fontana Arte Glass Centerpice 1950
By Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Fontana Arte was launched in 1932 with a mission to develop products with a more artisanal feel. The Italian design company's offerings range from stained glass to furnishings and li...
Glass
20th Century Fontana Arte Little Ice Basket in Colored Crystal and Brass, 50s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Fontana Arte was launched in 1932 with a mission to develop products with a more artisanal feel. The Italian design company's offerings range from stained glass to furnishings and li...
Brass
Max Ingrand mod. 2291 paperweight for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960s
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
Max Ingrand model 2291 paperweight for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960s Signed with the incised F X Reference: Quaderni Fontana Arte 6
Cut Glass
Fontana Arte Peach and Green Glass Notepad Holder, Italy 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
A beautiful Fontana Arte two-colored glass notepad. Original label.
Brass
Fontana Arte Large Glass Centerpiece Mod.1639, Italy 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Naples, IT
Large and rare salmon pink beveled glass centerpiece or plate by Fontana Arte, model 1639, Italy, circa 1961. This exquisite glass centerpiece has a triangular shape with softly roun...
Glass
"2122" Vase by Max Ingrand for Fontanaarte, 1960s
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
A vase from the "2122" series, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the 1960s, made of lacquered wood, metal, and shaped colored glass.
Crystal, Metal
FONTANAARTE - PIETRO CHIESA - vaso modello cartoccio in vetro - ITALIA 1950.
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
FONTANA ARTE - PIETRO CHIESA - Grande vaso in vetro originale degli anni 50, bellissima tonalità di verde ,tipico anni 50. Il vaso e i perfetto stato di conservazione.
Art Glass
P. Chiesa Nile Green Glass and Bronze Pen Holder by Fontana Arte, Italy 1940s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular pen holder in Nile green faceted crystal with a decorative bronze elephant. This outstanding piece was designed by the mastery of Pietro Chiesa and produced by Fontana Ar...
Metal, Bronze
Fruit Bowl in Blue Glass by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte "Model 1419", c 1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
Blue Fruit Bowl "Model 1419" by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, circa 1960 Fontana Arte original label present In excellent vintage condition. Glass is near perfect. The brass ba...
Brass
Fontana Arte Ashtray Glass Metal Crome, 1960, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte Ashtray glass metal Crome, 1960, Italy.
Glass
Transparent Etched Glass Vase "Cartoccio" by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s. This vase was designed by Pietro Chiesa and manufactured by Fontana Arte. It is made in transparent etched glass and has a very nice ‘Cartoccio’ (paper bag) sha...
Glass
Max Ingrand, Mid-Century cut glass ashtray, Italy, 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare elegant pink colored glass ashtray designed by the famous designer Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s. A work that demonstrates al...
Glass
Max Ingrand centerpiece bowl Fontana Arte Italy 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A refined and highly sculptural vide poche or centerpiece designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960. This elegant piece exemplifies the refined sens...
Brass
Vintage Fontana Arte Vase Lamp, Lacquered Metal & Brass, Modern Design
By Fontana Arte
Located in Roma, IT
Vase-lamp in lacquered metal and brass, satin white glass diffuser made by Fontana Arte, Italian company founded in Milan in 1932 by Luigi Fontana and Giò Ponti. Specializing in g...
Brass, Metal
$4,208 / set
Fontana Arte Vide Poche Glass Bowl 1960 Set of 3
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Munich, DE
Rare blue glass dish, vide poche, candy dish in three different sizes attributed to Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, circa 1960. Made in blue and green shining crystal Murano glass and ...
Murano Glass
Italian Square Crystal Vase by Pierangelo Gallotti & Luigi Radice, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural Italian cut crystal vase designed by Pierangelo Gallotti & Luigi Radice in the 1960s. Produced by Fontana Arte, one of Italy’s most esteemed glass manufacturers, its...
Chrome
Fontana Arte Turquoise Hand-Cut Glass Pen Holder, Italy, c.1950
By Fontana Arte
Located in Dublin, IE
Details Pen Holder by Fontana Arte Turquoise-toned hand-cut glass Italy, c.1950 Length 23 cm (9.1 in) Width 15.5 cm (6.1 in) Glass Depth 3 cm (1.2 in) Pen Holder Height 6.5 cm (2...
Metal
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte Sculptural Glass Vase Model 2665, Italy, 1970s
By Fontana Arte, Ettore Sottsass
Located in New York, NY
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte rare large sculptural colored crystal vase, Italy, circa 1979. This exceptional architectural vase is composed o...
Art Glass
Italian Round Crystal Vase by Pierangelo Gallotti & Luigi Radice, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural Italian cut crystal vase designed by Pierangelo Gallotti & Luigi Radice in the 1960s. Produced by Fontana Arte, one of Italy’s most esteemed glass manufacturers, its...
Chrome
Model "2004" Box by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lidded box with brass handle manufactured by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. Made in Milan circa 1960s. Literature: Quaderni di Fontana Arte
Crystal, Brass
Italian Glass Picture Frame by Erwin Walter Burger for Fontana Arte, 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural glass picture frame from the 1950s, designed by Erwin Walter Burger for Fontana Arte and sourced in Parma, Italy. Composed of two joined pieces of thick cut glass, the f...
Glass
Fontana Arte Glass Tray by Dube, Duilio Barnabe, Abstract Painting, Signed
By Duilio Dubé Bernabe, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice abstract glass painted tray, by the well-known artist, Duilio Barnabe. Signed "Dube" it measures 14 x 14 square high 1.5.
Glass
Decorative Box by Fontana Arte, Wood and Glass, Vintage 1940s Design
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brussels, BE
Box by Fontana Arte, Wood and Glass, 1940s
Glass, Wood
Blue Fruit Bowl "Model 1419" by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brussels, BE
Blue Fruit Bowl "Model 1419" by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1960s
Glass