Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
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.
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Creator: Fontana Arte
20th Century Fontana Arte Max Ingrand Centerpiece 2039 in Colored Glass
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Turin, Turin
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...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Gio Ponti & Pietro Chiesa, Unique Cigars Box, Fontana Arte, Italy, 1930
By Pietro Chiesa, Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Firenze, IT
Unique piece. “Grissinato” turned wood box with decorated blue crystal, blue corrugated crystal lid, hand-decorated. “Pipe smoking man” decoration.
Designed by masters Gio Ponti &...
Category
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Brass
$8,627 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century Pietro Chiesa Fontana Arte Photo Frame in Wood and Ground Glass 40s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Turin, Turin
Photo frame designed in 40s by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. The photo frame is composed of two parts united as a "sandwich", one side is in ground glass, the back is in wood, the support is in brass. This frame is very rare for its dimensions.
Perfect idea for wedding, birthday, anniversary or graduation gift...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Fontana Arte Mirrored Crystal Italian Design, 1960s Ashtray Bowl
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, IT
Fontana Arte
1960s
Mirrored crystal
Perfect condiction
Measure: Diameter 16.5 cm, height 2.5 cm.
Category
1960s Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal
Fontana Arte Glass Wall Soap Dish, 1970s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Delft, NL
Fontana Arte glass wall soap dish, 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Rare and Exquisite Decorative Bowl by Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Step into the world of mid-century elegance with this rare and exquisite decorative bowl by Fontana Arte, dating back to the 1960s. Radiating with timeless allure, this piece seamles...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$1,572 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Brass Vase
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Turin, Turin
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...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Green Glass Pen Holder by Fontana Arte, 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Green glass base with the black Bakelite and bras pen holder.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
$550 Sale Price
26% Off
Fontana Arte Glass Notepad, Italy 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
A beautiful Fontana Arte two-colored glass notepad.
Original label.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Erwin Walter Burger for FONTANA ARTE crystal pocket emptier
By Erwin Walter Burger, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
A masterpiece of grace and craftsmanship, this elegant 1950s beveled crystal bowl emptier bears the unmistakable signature of Erwin Walter Burger for Fontana Arte. Entirely hand grou...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Empties pockets or glass card holders
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
This exquisite crystal card tray or holder is attributed to Fontana Arte and Max Ingrand and dates from the 1950s, the golden age of Italian design. The object is distinguished by it...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Brass
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.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Fontana Arte “Cartoccio” Glass, 1949
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte “Cartoccio” glass, 1940.
Category
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Max Ingrand mod. 2291 paperweight for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
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
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Cut Glass
Fontana Arte reverse painted glass dish
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
Fontana Arte.
Rare reverse painted glass dish / vide poche / pocket empty.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Octagonal Green Centrepiece / Vide Poche by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
Beautiful and unique octagonal centrepiece or vide poche signed Fontana Arte.
Green Art Glass. A remarkable piece for a study or living room.
Signed FX
Italy 1950s.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Fontana Arte Empty Pocket Glass, 1955, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana arte empty pocket.
Category
1950s Italian Other Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Fontana Arte Glass/ Crystal, Dish, Vide-Poche, Free Form Shape Signed FX
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very pretty signed Fontana Arte, vide-poche. We think is Max Ingrand design.Also Pietro Chiesa worked at Fontana's at same time. Signed with FX and acid Fontana Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass, Glass
Fontana Arte Glass Tray by Dube, Duilio Barnabe, Abstract Painting, Signed
By Fontana Arte, Duilio Dubé Bernabe
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.
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
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...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Fontana Arte 1970 By Erwin Walter Burger Decorative Art Glass Squared Dish Bowl
By Erwin Burger, Fontana Arte
Located in Miami, FL
Dish bowl designed by Fontana Arte.
A beautiful vintage piece of art-glass, created in Milano Italy by Fontana-Arte, back in the early 1970. This exceptional decorative piece has be...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Fontana Arte Vide Poche Glass Bowl 1960 Set of 3
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
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 ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
$4,313 / set
Model "2004" Box by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
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
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Brass
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...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Max Ingrand bowl model 1639 Fontana Arte Italy 1960 brown
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Behold the exquisite Glass Bowl Model 1639, a testament to the visionary design of Max Ingrand and the meticulous craftsmanship of Fontana Arte, Italy, in 1960. Crafted from thick br...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Vintage Vase Lamp by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s
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...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Metal
Fontana Arte Center Piece or Wall Decoration by Dube’
By Fontana Arte, Duilio Dubé Bernabe
Located in New York, NY
Fontana Arte center piece made by Italian artist Dube’ in the 1950s representing a red lily with gold accents. He created the piece by back painting a curved glass and then etching i...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
$3,900 Sale Price
40% Off
Italian Important Duilio Dubé Bernabe Fontana Arte Glass Centerpiece Bowl c1950s
By Duilio Dubé Bernabe, Fontana Arte
Located in Miami, FL
Italian Important Duilio Dubé Bernabe Fontana Arte Glass Centerpiece Bowl c1950s
Offered for sale is an original Fontana Arte glass footed centerpiece mad...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
$6,500 Sale Price
23% Off
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte Vase Model 2665
By Fontana Arte, Ettore Sottsass
Located in New York, NY
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte rare large graphic colored crystal vase consisting of dark blue central square cylinder with attached brown tria...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Max Ingrand bowl model 2007 Fontana Arte Italy 1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Behold the exquisite Glass Bowl Model 2007, a testament to the visionary design of Max Ingrand and the meticulous craftsmanship of Fontana Arte, Italy, in 1960. Crafted from thick gr...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Fontana Arte Large Gray Glass Dish or Centerpiece Model 1419
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
Fontana Arte large gray glass dish or centerpiece with profiled and curved glass resting on an angular fitted black enameled metal base, Italy, c. 1956. This gray glass is a rare colorway in this model and the form is quite elegant in its curved form.
Literture:
Roberto Aloi, Esempi di Decorazione Moderna di Tutto il mondo, Vetri d’Oggi, Milan, 1955, p.54 (picture 11)
Franco Deboni, Fontana Arte : Gio Ponti, Pietra Chiesa...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Fontana Arte vase in incamiciato blown glass 1970s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Parma, IT
Glass vase produced by Fontana Arte 1970s. In gray and white blown and incamiciato glass of distinctive conical shape.
In excellent condition.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
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
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
'Scalpellato' Glass Dish by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1935
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
A circa 1930 ‘scalpellato’ handcut glass dish designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. The beautiful aquamarine coloured glass was produced using the ‘scalpellato’ or ‘chiselled’ ...
Category
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Fontana Arte crystal vase and metal
By Fontana Arte
Located in Monaco, MC
How chic is this vase?
Lovely Fontana Arte production of the 60's.
Blue mirrored glass and a piece of metal ready to hold a single flower.
Perfect condition
More information u...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal
Fontana Arte decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Fontana Arte decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Fontana Arte decorative objects, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 85 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original decorative objects by Fontana Arte were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Piero Fornasetti, Marcello Fantoni, and Dino Martens. Prices for Fontana Arte decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $304 and can go as high as $12,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,124.
Creators Similar to Fontana Arte
Questions About Fontana Arte Decorative Objects
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025Painting 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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