An architect, furniture and industrial designer and editor, Gio Ponti was arguably the most influential figure in 20th-century Italian modernism.
Ponti designed thousands of furnishings and products — from cabinets, mirrors and chairs to ceramics and coffeemakers — and his buildings, including the brawny Pirelli Tower (1956) in his native Milan, and the castle-like Denver Art Museum (1971), were erected in 14 countries. Through Domus, the magazine he founded in 1928, Ponti brought attention to virtually every significant movement and creator in the spheres of modern art and design.
The questing intelligence Ponti brought to Domus is reflected in his work: as protean as he was prolific, Ponti’s style can’t be pegged to a specific genre.
In the 1920s, as artistic director for the Tuscan porcelain maker Richard Ginori, he fused old and new; his ceramic forms were modern, but decorated with motifs from Roman antiquity. In pre-war Italy, modernist design was encouraged, and after the conflict, Ponti — along with designers such as Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini, Marco Zanuso — found a receptive audience for their novel, idiosyncratic work. Ponti’s typical furniture forms from the period, such as the wedge-shaped Distex chair, are simple, gently angular, and colorful; equally elegant and functional. In the 1960s and ’70s, Ponti’s style evolved again as he explored biomorphic shapes, and embraced the expressive, experimental designs of Ettore Sottsass Jr., Joe Colombo and others.
Ponti's signature furniture piece — the one by which he is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Germany’s Vitra Design Museum and elsewhere — is the sleek Superleggera chair, produced by Cassina starting in 1957. (The name translates as “superlightweight” — advertisements featured a model lifting it with one finger.)
Ponti had a playful side, best shown in a collaboration he began in the late 1940s with the graphic artist Piero Fornasetti. Ponti furnishings were decorated with bright finishes and Fornasetti's whimsical lithographic transfer prints of things such as butterflies, birds or flowers; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts possesses a 1950 secretary from their Architetturra series, which feature case pieces covered in images of building interiors and facades. The grandest project Ponti and Fornasetti undertook, however, lies on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean: the interiors of the luxury liner Andrea Doria, which sank in 1956.
Widely praised retrospectives at the Queens Museum of Art in 2001 and at the Design Museum London in 2002 sparked a renewed interest in Ponti among modern design aficionados. (Marco Romanelli’s monograph, which was written for the London show, offers a fine overview of Ponti’s work.) Today, a wide array of Ponti’s designs are snapped up by savvy collectors who want to give their homes a touch of Italian panache and effortless chic.
Find a range of vintage Gio Ponti desks, dining chairs, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Rare Early Gio Ponti Chair, Giordano Chiesa, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare Gio Ponti Model armchair, Italy, 1950s. Manufactured by Giordano Chiesa, Milan, Italy. Ash and new green velvet fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Brass
Gio Ponti Silver Plated Tureen, Sauce Boat, large Serving Dish and Bowls, Krupp
By Gio Ponti, Arthur Krupp
Located in London, Fitzrovia
1930s-1950s Gio Ponti Silver plated Alpacca deep tureen (140cl) , large sauce boat and small serving bowl designed by Gio Ponti for the VI Trienale, as well as a large heavy Serving ...
Silver Plate
Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini Italian Silver-Plated "Musk" Sculpture 1970s
By Gio Ponti, Sabattini Argenteria
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian sculpture ‘Cuckolded Mask” in silver-plated metal designed by Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini with the manufacturer’s mark engraved, Italy 1970s Please note that the item...
Silver Plate
20th Century, Gio Ponti Dining Table, Wooden Structure with Brass Details, 1954
By Gio Ponti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
An eclectic personality, from his early days he was active in the fields of architecture, painting, graphics and set design. He graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic i...
Brass
20th Century, Gio Ponti and Lino Sabattini Sculpture Maschera Cornuta, 1978
By Gio Ponti, Lino Sabattini
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Now thirty, Sabattini moved from Blevio to Milan, where he found a small laboratory with all the essential tools of his Craft. His contacts with “Domus” became more frequent. This be...
Metal
Gio Ponti Ceramic Cigarette Box for Richard Ginori, Italy 1930s
By Gio Ponti, Richard Ginori
Located in Milan, IT
Gio Ponti Ceramic Cigarette Box for Richard Ginori Italy 1930s The box was later ( 1940s ) repainted in light green with flower blossoms.
Ceramic
Gio Ponti and Venini, Morandiana model bottle, 1990.
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Busnago, IT
Rare bottle by Gio Ponti for Venini, designed in the 1950s, from the Morandiana series. This specimen is a 1990 edition, Venini '90 signature engraved under the base, original cap. T...
Glass
$7,759Sale Price|30% Off
Gio Ponti Mod 572 Rocking Chair by Cassina, Hand-Carved Ash, 1955
By Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Cassina Rocking Chair - Mod 572 - Gio Ponti Rocking chair model 572, produced by ‘Figli di Amadeo Cassina’ Milan in 1955, solid ash wood, elastic straps Pirelli, completely original...
Ash, Rubber
Gio Ponti, Tea for 6 with Dessert Plates, in Porcelain Richard Ginori, Year 1939
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
GIO PONTI - servizio da the DA 6 in porcellana RICHARD GINORI, decorazione di Doccia. Periodo. ART DECO Pezzi. 21
Porcelain
Pair of large Gio Ponti olm Wardrobe Doors from the Hotel Royal, Naples, 1955
By Giordano Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Rare and large pair of Gio Ponti wardrobe doors, 1955 from the furniture of the Hotel Royal, Naples manufactured by Giordano Chiesa and produced by Dassi Lissone 2 mirrors on the ver...
Brass
Pair of Gio Ponti Wardrobe Doors from the Hotel Royal, Naples, 1955
By Gio Ponti, Giordano Chiesa
Located in Rome, IT
Rare pair of Gio Ponti wardrobe doors, 1955 from the furniture of the Hotel Royal, Naples manufactured by Giordano Chiesa and produced by Dassi Lissone 2 mirrors on the verso walnut,...
Brass
Giò Ponti's desk in blond wood with brass tips
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Giò Ponti (1891-1979) Desk in blond wood with brass tips designed and produced for the University of Padua and a few years later for the BNL of Milan. Production I.S.A, Bergamo, 1949.
Walnut
One Off Doors by Gio Ponti Manufactured by Proserpio and Barzanò, Italy, 1957
By Egidio Proserpio, Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
Carpentry door by Gio Ponti and manufactured by Proserpio and Barzanò. Seven pieces available with different sizes. Literature available upon request
Glass, Wood
Gio Ponti for Lumi Rare Pair of Quadri Luminosi Sconces Model 575 and 576, 1960s
By Lumi, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Gio Ponti for Lumi, rare pair of first edition 'Quadri Luminosi' sconces models 575 and 576, Italy, 1960s. Brass and enameled brass arch...
Brass, Metal
Set of Gio Ponti Reed & Barton "Diamond" Sterling Silverware
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Set of sterling silver flatware, designed by Gio Ponti for Reed and Barton, in the diamond pattern. A total of 18 place settings are a...
Sterling Silver
Modern Multicolor Murano Glass Chandelier by Gio Ponti for Venini, Italy, 2012.
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking modern Italian Murano glass and brass chandelier originally designed by Gio Ponti for Venini in 1946 and masterfully reissued in 2012. This exceptional piece features a ce...
Brass
Gio Ponti 699 “Superleggera” Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1957, Set of 4
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti 699 “Superleggera” Dining Chairs for Cassina, Ash, Rope, Italy, 1957, Set of four. In 1957 the Italian furniture manufacturer Amedeo Cassina added a new dining chair to it...
Rope, Ash, Wood
Armchair mod. BP 16 Continuum, design Giò PONTI for P. BONACINA. Italy, 60s
By Pierantonio Bonacina, Gio Ponti
Located in Torino, IT
Armchair mod. BP 16 Continuum, design Giò PONTI for P. BONACINA. Italy, 60s ORIGIN Italy PERIOD Anni 60 DESIGNER Gio PONTI (1891-1979) MARK Pierantonio BONACINE MODEL BP 16 Cont...
Rattan
Mid-Century Gio Ponti Silver Plated Set, tea Pot, sugar and bowl, for A. Krupp
By Gio Ponti, Arthur Krupp
Located in London, Fitzrovia
Gio Ponti, A large Mid-Century Silver Plated 75CL Tea Pot with sugar, breakfast bowl and a small dish, for Arthur Krupp. (4 items) Designed for the VI triennale, 1930's to 1950's. d...
Metal
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia Rare Set of Three Three-Arm Sconces, Italy, 1920s
By Emilio Lancia, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia exquisite early and rare set of three 3-arm sconces or wall lights with elegantly draped arms radiating upwards from central foliate motif and ending in i...
Aluminum, Brass
Gio Ponti, pair flamed wood Headboard, fitted bedside tables, Hotel Royal, 1955
By Giordano Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
A pair of headboards by Gio Ponti from the furniture of the Hotel Royal in Naples, 1955. Manufactured by Giordano Chiesa by Dassi. flamed walnut, finish mahogany and metal two tiere...
Metal
$19,603Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet "Alata" Lounge Chairs, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of bergère armchairs, Alata Mod. 820 armchairs, designed by Gio Ponti for the Royal Hotel in Naples and produced by Cassina, Italy, 1950. Completely restored and recently uphols...
Velvet, Beech
Gio Ponti armchair for Cassina. Mod. ‘820’, Italy 1950, Hotel Royal, Naples.
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Gio Ponti designed this armchair especially for the Hotel Royal in Naples. The ‘Model 820’ was produced by Cassina in the 1950s. The armchair has a wooden frame and is upholstered in...
Fabric, Wood
$5,363Sale Price|48% Off
Gio Ponti & Pietro Chiesa, Unique Cigars Box, Fontana Arte, Italy, 1930
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
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 &...
Crystal, Brass
1940s Coffee Table Oak Structure Glass Top Italian, Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A very organic, rare, iconic and beautiful coffee table. 1940s Italian design by Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. Original thick crystal top on a solid oak wood base a v...
Glass, Wood
Gio Ponti certified walnut and glass display table for A.P.E.M., Italy, 1946
By Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A rare and significant display table designed by Gio Ponti in 1946 for A.P.E.M. (Artigianato Produzione Esportazione Milano) and certified by the Gio Ponti Archives. The design refle...
Glass, Walnut
Gio Ponti rare model Le Mie Terre vase manufactured by Richard-Ginori
By Richard Ginori, Gio Ponti
Located in Skokie, IL
Gio Ponti rare large vase designed in 1929-30. Glazed maiolica. Painted designer's and manufacturer's marks. This exquisite piece showcases the artistry of glazed maiolica, combinin...
Majolica
Italian Mahogany Table Desk by Gio Ponti, Mid-Century Modern, 1930s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Queens, NY
Italian 1930s mahogany table desk with geometric form legs with brass sabot feet and a single drawer with a stretcher (GIO PONTI - for the University of Padua)
Brass
Gio Ponti, Emilio Lancia Art Deco Italian Design Brass Six-Lights Chandelier
By Emilio Lancia, Gio Ponti
Located in Firenze, IT
This 1930s original vintage important six arms chandelier made of gilt and burnished brass with white lacquered details is attributable to the designer Gio Ponti and the architect Em...
Metal, Brass
Gio Ponti Singer & Sons Walnut, Rosewood Chest of Drawers Restored
By Richard Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in Miami, FL
Gio Ponti Singer & Sons Walnut, Rosewood Chest of Drawers Restored Offered for sale is a Gio Ponti for Singer & Sons rosewood and walnut restored chest of drawers from the 1950s. T...
Rosewood, Walnut
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Portable Lamp in Brass & Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
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 designs...
Metal, Brass
$2,520Sale Price|38% Off
Art Deco Gio Ponti Planter for Richard Ginori Italy
By Gio Ponti, Richard Ginori
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A rare and beautiful striking planter designed by Gio Ponti during the 1930's for Italian manufacturer Richard Ginori, which still is in production today doing collaborations with fa...
Ceramic
Gio Ponti 'Luna Orizzontale' Floor Lamp in White & Blue Diffuser for Tato Italia
By Tato Italia, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gio Ponti 'Luna Orizzontale' Floor Lamp in White & Blue Diffuser for Tato Italia Based on an incredible but never before issued prototype designed by Ponti in 1957 for the Triennale...
Nickel, Brass
$8,576Sale Price|30% Off
Pair of Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Velvet Armchairs for Casa e Giardino, 1950s
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of armchairs designed by Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino series, wooden structure, padding and covering in original textured velvet of the time, kept in excellent condition, as shown...
Velvet, Beech
20th Century, Gio Ponti Lino Sabattini Sculpture Horse in Silver Metal End '70s
By Gio Ponti, Lino Sabattini
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Statue in silver metal designed by the Maestro Gio Ponti and produced for Lino Sabattini since the end of '70s. The sculpture is in silver metal and represents a horse. This example ...
Metal, Silver
Gio Ponti Ceramic Box for Richard Ginori San Cristoforo, Italy, 1927
By Gio Ponti, Richard-Ginori San Cristoforo, Richard Ginori
Located in Malmö, SE
A glazed and hand painted porcelain box and cover with figural serpent finial. Model no. 5709, 'The passions of man'. Designed by Gio Ponti for Richard Ginori, Milan, Italy, circa 1...
Ceramic, Porcelain
GIO PONTI - FONTANA ARTE - Mirror with brass frame - Made in ITALY 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Clean and elegant line this mirror matchable with all types of furniture , is original from the 50s. The brass frame is perfect and has the patina of time, but if the customer prefer...
Brass
Gio Ponti “ Superleggera” N. 4, Chair Wood Straw Padding, 1950, Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
N . 4 Superleggera Gio Ponti.
Wood, Raffia
"Horned Mask" Gio Ponti by Sabattini Silver Plated 1970s Italian Design
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brescia, IT
"Horned Mask" Gio Ponti by Sabattini, 1978 Openwork metal sheet.
Metal
$26,400 / set
A rare set of Gio Ponti dining chairs. (Model #602)
By Gio Ponti
Located in Albany, NY
Manufacturer: Cassina model #601 Date made: circa 1950 Material: walnut and fabric Size: 17.5”w x 20”d x 34”h Country: Italy Literature: Gio Ponti. Ugo La Pietra. Rizzoli Milan...
Walnut
Murano Art Glass Chandelier by Gio Ponti for Venini 1940s
By Gio Ponti, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Murano Art Glass Chandelier by Gio Ponti for Venini 1940s A magnificent chandelier from Murano, designed in 1946 by Gio Ponti for Venini, Venice. White opaque “lattimo” glass with s...
Murano Glass
Gio Ponti Alpaca Coffee Set for the Sixth Triennale, Italy, 1930s
By Arthur Krupp, Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
Gio Ponti Alpaca Coffee set for the XI Triennale, Italy 1930s.
Alpaca
"Polsino" Floor Lamp by Gio Ponti for Guzzini, Italy, 1960s
By Guzzini, Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
"Polsino" floor lamp by Gio Ponti for Design House - Guzzini. Rare version with a white plexiglass tile connected to a twin steel tile. Lamp is in working conditions and comes with o...
Steel
$4,480Sale Price|20% Off
Isa Bergamo Gio Ponti Style Armchair Made in Italy 1950s Original Fabric
By Gio Ponti
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Isa Bergamo Gio Ponti armchair made in Italy 1950s original fabric.
Aluminum
Gio Ponti & Pietro Chiesa Side Table Set 2 by Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, MI
Rare pair of side tables by Gio Ponti & Pietro Chiesa produced by Fontana Arte. Petite pair of tables with compass legs and angled mirror tops. Wood h...
Mirror, Wood
$12,602Sale Price|20% Off
Monumental Wooden Cabinet with Parchment Panels by Gio Ponti, Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. It features parchment panels and it is made in a rare exotic wood. Its bar part features mirrored glass interiors. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might s...
Brass
Gio Ponti for ISA Rare Pair of Ivory Bouclé Armchairs and Ottomans 1950s
By ISA Bergamo, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Gio Ponti in 1936 and manufactured by ISA Bergamo in the 1950s, this rare and exceptional set includes a pair of upholstered armchairs or lounge chairs accompanied by mat...
Brass
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Gio Ponti For Casa E Giardino Fireside Side Accent Chair Black Rush Seat 1930's
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in Wayne, NJ
Black fireside chair by Gio Ponti for Casa E Giardino , Italy. Wood High back ladder chair with rush seating . Marked Made in Italy. If you are in the New Jersey, New York City Metro...
Wood
20th Century, Gio Ponti & Paolo De Poli Slice of Watermelon
By Paolo De Poli, Gio Ponti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
An eclectic personality, from his early days he was active in the fields of architecture, painting, graphics and set design. He graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic i...
Copper, Enamel
Gio Ponti Set of Four Painted and Gilded Iron Armchairs, 1948
By Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino
Located in Milan, IT
Gio Ponti set of four painted and gilded Iron armchairs 1948.
Iron
Gio Ponti Style Italian Mid-Century Walnut and Damask Curved Back Armchair
By Gio Ponti
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Mid-Century Walnut armchair with a curved wingback form and tapering atomic style armrests with beige damask upholstery on the seat and back (style of GIO PONTI)
Damask
Gio Ponti Chair Mod. "646 Leggera" in Wood and Blue Fabric, Italy 1960s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Naples, IT
A very rare and iconic chair Mod. "646 Leggera" by Gio' Ponti, the chair is made of wood and the upholstery of blue fabric.
Fabric, Wood
Gio Ponti Occasional Table for Singer & Sons Model 2136
By Gio Ponti
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gio Point Occasional table for Singer & Son's, Italy. A round low table in European walnut designed and made by Gio Ponti in Italy for M. Singer & Sons in United States. Excellent Re...
Brass
$4,875Sale Price / set|25% Off
Pair of Gio Ponti Art Deco Fleche Candelabra Lamps Gold Finished
By Gio Ponti, Christofle
Located in Hanover, MA
BG SUMMER SALE Pair of early edition Gio Ponti candelabra fleche lamps, an original cornucopia design of interlaced tapered horns framing a sing...
Pewter
$10,210Sale Price|30% Off
Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet "Alata" Lounge Chair, 1950s
By Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Bergère armchair, Alata Mod. 820 armchair, designed by Gio Ponti for the Royal Hotel in Naples and produced by Cassina, Italy, 1950. Completely restored and recently upholstered in v...
Velvet, Beech
Gio Ponti 699 “Superleggera” Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1957, Set of 6
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti 699 “Superleggera” Dining Chairs for Cassina, Ash, Rope, Italy, 1957, set of six. In 1957 the Italian furniture manufacturer Amedeo Cassina added a new dining chair to its...
Rope, Wood, Ash
Gio Ponti Flat Face Brass Handles (One set)
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, England
Designed by Gio Ponti in the 1950s and signed by the designer, this piece features elegant brass handles that highlight its quality craftsmanship and timeless appeal. With round door...
Brass
$18,500 / set
Gio Ponti Leggera Chairs Set of Ten for Cassina
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Chicago, IL
Gio Ponti Leggera Chairs Set of Ten for Cassina Model 699 Italy, 1952 This set includes ten Leggera chairs designed by Gio Ponti for Cassina. The c...
Faux Leather, Ash
Gio Ponti walnut side table from the Casa e Giardino series, Italy, 1940s
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A rare walnut side table, Italian production, design by Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino, 1940s A small yet significant piece of design history, this walnut side table embodies the ess...
Walnut
Gio Ponti 699 Superleggera by Cassina in Black, White or Ash
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Prices are dependent on the chosen material. Gio Ponti 699 Superleggera by Cassina. Available in ASHWOOD LACQUERED BLACK or ASHWOOD LACQUERED WHITE or NATURAL ASHWOOD. Manufactured since 1957, the Superleggera wood chair is the rare combination of the architect’s innovative quest and the cutting-edge experimentation by the Meda-based company, becoming the indisputable icon and masterpiece of modernity and extreme artisanal elegance. A highlight of Cassina’s catalogue...
Cane, Ash