Fontana Arte Lighting
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
Demi-Volee Floor Lamp by Odo Fioravanti for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Odo Fioravanti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Volee is a Led Luminaire of the latest generation, in which the formal research is combined with technological innovation.
Featured by an essential design, Volée switches on with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Aluminum
Floor Lamp by Fontana Arte, Italy, 2010s, Two Items Available
By Fontana Arte
Located in Praha, CZ
Design floor lamp by Fontana Arte.
Steel legs.
Glass shades.
1x100W, E25-E27 bulb
Two items available. One has slightly darker grey color than the other.
US plug adapter include...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Stainless Steel
Fontana Arte Chandelier in Glass and Chrome, 04 Zero Quatro
By Zero Quattro, Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
Spherical shaped glass chandelier designed by O4 (Zero Quattro) with Fontana Arte, Milano, Italy in the 1960's. Twelve of the glass segments are arched to create this ball shape when each is attached to the chrome frame. The chipped edges of the Verde Nilo colour crystal glass...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Bianca Medium Table Lamp with Stem by Matti Klenell from Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Matti Klenell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bianca medium table lamp with stem by Matti Klenell from Fontana Arte.
Its beautifully balanced shape is enriched and made unique by an orderly series of delicate, light grooves that, on the white volume of the glass, look like tiny prints...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Bianca Large Table Lamp with Stem by Matti Klenell from Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Matti Klenell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bianca large table lamp with stem by Matti Klenell from Fontana Arte.
Its beautifully balanced shape is enriched and made unique by an orderly series of delicate, light grooves that, on the white volume of the glass, look like tiny prints...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Clear "Dalia" Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of Fontana Arte wall lights, model 1461 from the "Dalia" series. The glasses are clear with turquoise beveling while the frame is brass with two candelabra sockets. On...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lampada Luminator, Pietro Chiesa, FontanaArte
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Lampada Luminator, creata da Pietro Chiesa per FontanaArte. Uno straordinario pezzo di illuminazione cattura l'essenza del design italiano, unendo forme classiche ed eleganti a mater...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Elegant Fontana Arte Floor Lamp
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Munich, DE
Wonderful patinated and elegant floor lamp by fontana arte.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Fontana Arte Floor Lamp, Glass Lighting , Sculptural
By Matteo Nunziati, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Modern and Sculptural Italian floor lamp - Rare and Collectible lighting
The present lamp, penned in the 2000s by Italian designer Matteo Nunziati, is inspired by the straight, ve...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Brutalist Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal, Steel
Max Ingrand, molded glass table lamp, Zero Quattro for Fontana Arte, Italy 1970
By Zero Quattro, Fontana Arte
Located in Firenze, IT
Max Ingrand, molded glass table lamp
Zero Four for Fontana Arte, circa 1970
metal and molded glass
H 60 cm x 26 cm diam.
Conditions: good consistent with age and use. Original c...
Category
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Large Fontana Arte Wall Light, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in New York, NY
Large Fontana Arte wall light, Italy, 1960s.
$7,500.00
Large scale wall light designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte in the 1960s. Features a massive textured conical glass mou...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Brass
FONTANA 1853 - Medium Table Lamp - White Satin Glass by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Designed in 1954 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this lamp was originally named 1853 and, at a later time, Fontana, in homage to the company of whic...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pietro Chiesa 0836 Table Lamp Fontana Arte, Italy, 1939
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare table lamp designed by Pietro Chiesa and manufactured by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1933. The original design is from 1939, this lamp is from the 1960s. The lamp has very nice patinat...
Category
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Brass
Fontana Arte Chandelier
By Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Chandelier made of a central chromed tube housing a bulb. Attached are 3 large curved thick pieces of glass and curving in the opposite direction 3 sheets of chromed metal with a tub...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Set of Two "Pugno" Table Lamps by Richard Carruthers for Fontana Arte, 1970s
By Richard Carruthers, Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
Rare set of two Pugno table lamps model 2545 by Richard Carruthers for Fontana Arte.
Early 1970s piece with Gino Sarfatti craquele surface finish influence.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
"Pugno" Metal Table Lamp Model 2545 by Richard Carruthers for Fontana Arte, 1970
By Richard Carruthers, Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
Rare "Pugno" table lamp model 2545 by Richard Carruthers for Fontana Arte. Early 1970s piece with Gino Sarfatti craquele surface finish influence.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Eugenio Gentili Tedeschi For Fontana Arte “Yoyo” Table Lamp, 1970s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Renens, CH
Table lamp named “Yoyo”, consisting of a red coated metal structure with two round glass inserts:
This lamp originates from the 1970s and was produced in Italy. The design is attributed to Eugenio Gentili Tedeschi...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Fontana Arte Chandelier Brass Glass 1960 Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte.
Category
1960s Italian Other Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Brass
EQUATORE - Medium Table Lamp - Galvanized Metal Body by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Table Lamp Ashangai Model by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Milan, Italy
This extremely elegant table lamp was designed by Max Ingrand in 1955, during the period when this French maestro was artistic director at Fontana Arte. Joints in chromed brass hold ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Brass
AVICO - Large Suspension Lamp - White Polymer Shade by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Suspension lamp with diffused and dimmable light. Chromed metal frame. White polyethylene diffuser. Available separately a optional polycarbonate locking disc with telescopic stem an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
EQUATORE - Small Table Lamp - Galvanized Metal Base Chrome by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Tropico - Medium Table Lamp - Gray Marble Base Black Top, Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The "shape of light" is the central theme of this project by Gabriele and Oscar Buratti, which began with the Equatore family of lamps, presented in 2017 and now expanded to include ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Marble, Metal
FONTANA 1853 - Medium Table Lamp - White Satin Glass by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Designed in 1954 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this lamp was originally named 1853 and, at a later time, Fontana, in homage to the company of whic...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
AVICO - Small Suspension Lamp - White Polymer Shade by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Suspension lamp with diffused and dimmable light. Chromed metal frame. White polyethylene diffuser. Available separately a optional polycarbonate locking disc with telescopic stem an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
EQUATORE - Small Floor Lamp - Galvanized Metal Base Black by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
EQUATORE - Medium Table Lamp - Metal Base Matt Gold by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
EQUATORE - Medium Floor Lamp - Metal Base Matt Gold by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
PALLINA - Small Table Lamp - Brass Metal Base by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The perfection of glass and sphere to create the most essential object of the collection. A must-have for every space of the house, inspired by the Italian theatre and Broadway music...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
FONTANA 1853 - Small Table Lamp - White Satin Glass by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Designed in 1954 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this lamp was originally named 1853 and, at a later time, Fontana, in homage to the company of whic...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
PANGEN - Ceiling Lamp - White by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This lampshade is a fluid, minimal dome shape, its lacquer finish and modern colors ensuring surprising lighting. Available in suspension and ceiling mounted versions.
Ceiling lamp ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
CHESHIRE - Table Lamp - Black Metal Base by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
It echoes the studio’s Nordic imprint in its simplicity and functional aspects. The opaline polycarbonate diffuser ensures soft lighting, while the colored one spreads the light down...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
BIANCA - Medium Ceiling/Wall Lamp - White Frosted Glass Shade by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bianca is a family of luminaires with the decoration on the diffuser surface features an orderly series of shallow delicate grooves etched into the white glass, yielding an effect re...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
PANGEN - Suspension Lamp - White by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This lampshade is a fluid, minimal dome shape, its lacquer finish and modern colors ensuring surprising lighting. Available in suspension and ceiling mounted versions.
Suspension la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
PINECONE - Medium Suspension Lamp - Chrome Plated Metal by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pinecone is a suspension and table lamp. The diffuser is manufactured using the ancient caged blown glass technique: the glass maker blows the molten glass blob into a metal cage, wh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
PINECONE - Medium Suspension Lamp - Gold Plated Metal by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pinecone is a suspension and table lamp. The diffuser is manufactured using the ancient caged blown glass technique: the glass maker blows the molten glass blob into a metal cage, wh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of 1960's Fontana Arte Chrome and Frosted Glass Sconces
By Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 1960's Fontana Arte chrome and frosted glass sconces.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Glass
Italian Midcentury Chrome and Glass Fontana Arte Style Light Fixture, circa 1970
By Fontana Arte
Located in North Miami, FL
Thick curved glass contrasts with thin enameled chrome in this circa 1970 Italian ceiling light in the manner of Fontana Arte. Wired for U.S.. Measurements below are for fixture only...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Small 1970s Chandelier by Quattro Zero
By Quattro Zero Edited By Fontana Arte, Fontana Arte
Located in Paris, FR
Small 1970s chandelier by Quattro Zero, made with elements of cut glass.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Italian Design Classic Table Lamp by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, 1970s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Renens, CH
Model 0836 table lamp by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte.
The lamp consists of a heavy glass base, brass metal structure and an adjustable glass shade, it remains in beautiful con...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
EQUATORE - Small Floor Lamp - Galvanized Metal Base Chrome by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
EQUATORE - Medium Floor Lamp - Galvanized Metal Body by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
BILIA MINI - Small Table Lamp - White Metal Base by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Nothing more than a sphere, set in an apparently impossible feat of balance, upon a cone that serves as the base. One of Gio Ponti’s many compositional magic tricks, designed in 1932...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Rare Pair of Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 1963/1, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Bagnolo Mella, Brescia
A rare pair of nickel-plated sconces designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 1963/1. Produced in the late 1960s, these elegant pieces feature a sophisticated combination of n...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Nickel, Brass
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte "Bilia" Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Naples, IT
This extremely rare and iconic lacquered metal and frosted glass table lamp, mod Bilia, was made in 1960s Italy, designed by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte. Gio Ponti (1881 - 1979) was a...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fontana Arte Lighting
Materials
Metal
Fontana Arte lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Fontana Arte lighting 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 lighting, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 538 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 163 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original lighting 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 lighting by Gaetano Sciolari, Mazzega Murano, and Barovier&Toso. Prices for Fontana Arte lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $155 and can go as high as $85,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,331.
Creators Similar to Fontana Arte
Questions About Fontana Arte Lighting
- 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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