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.
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Table Lamp in Black and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' table lamp in black and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company t...
Metal
Gio Ponti Fato Artemide Italian Design White Table Lamp 1967
By Gio Ponti, Artemide
Located in Brescia, IT
White square frame with folded geometric metal forms creating light and dark Iconic light object and a beautiful lamp. First production Fato lamp designed by Gio Ponti and produced ...
Metal
Pair of “Quadro di Luce” Table Lamps by Gio Ponti for Pollice, Italy, 1960s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Gio Ponti for Pollice, this rare pair of "Quadro di Luce" table lamps exemplifies Ponti’s poetic approach to light as an architectural element. Each lamp is conceived as ...
Metal, Brass
Pirellina Table Lamp by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, Italy 1967
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, IT
Pirellina table light is a work deigned by Gio Ponti in 1967. Made by Fontana Arte, Milan. H. 36 x 17 x 8.5 cm. Cast aluminum, painted gray, glass, frosted and ribbed, metal ro...
Metal, Aluminum
Silver Plate Table Lamp by Gio Ponti for Christofle
By Gio Ponti
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Silver plate arrow and horn candelabra style table lamp by Gio Ponti for Gallia / Christofle. Signed.
Silver Plate
$466Sale Price / item|20% Off
Bilia Mini Table Lamp Designed by Gio Ponti in 1931 for Fontana Arte
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
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
Gio Ponti Bilia Table Lamp in Black Metal and Opaline Glass by Fontana Arte 1970
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Bilia table lamp with a black lacquered metal conical base connected with a spherical shade in blown opaline glass. This is an iconic lamp based on two essential shapes which mixed ...
Metal
$6,500 / set
Pair of Gio Ponti Candelabra Fleche Lamps
By Christofle, Gio Ponti
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of early edition Gio Ponti candelabra fleche lamps, an original cornucopia design of interlaced tapered horns framing a single arrow, imagine...
Pewter
Fato White Metal Table or Wall Lamp by Gio Ponti for Artemide, Italy, 1970s
By Gio Ponti, Artemide
Located in Vicenza, IT
Designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti for Artemide in the late 1960s, the Fato lamp embodies the refined geometry and sculptural minimalism that define mid-century Italian design. ...
Metal
Pair of Gio Ponti Polsino Table Lamps for Guzzini 1960s
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, England
Rare Gio Ponti 'Polsino' lamps, white and orange plexiglass with steel. No structural damage. Some scratches to plastic. Minimal tarnishing to steel handles which can swivel 180 degr...
Steel
$4,219 / set
Coppia Lampade da tavolo Polsino
By Harvey Guzzini, Gio Ponti
Located in Baranzate, IT
Coppia di Lampade da tavolo Poldino con paralume tubolare bianco e nero. Maniglia cromata. Designer: Gio Ponti nel 1967. Produttore: Harvey Guzzini DH (Design House), via Mariano Guzzini, 37. 62019, Recanati, Italia. Oggi si chiama iGuzzini. Altre versioni: La lampada da tavolo Gio Ponti Polsino...
Steel
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' Table Lamp in Satin Nickel and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' table lamp in satin nickel and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their desi...
Metal
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Table Lamp in White and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' table lamp in white and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company t...
Metal
$1,020Sale Price / item|20% Off
Bilia Table Lamp in Glossy Copper Designed by Gio Ponti
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
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Table Lamp in Glossy Black and Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' table lamp in glossy black and glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their designs ...
Metal
$871Sale Price / item|20% Off
Bilia 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
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' Table Lamp in Satin Brass and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' table lamp in satin brass and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their desig...
Brass
Gio Ponti, Polsino Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Guzzini, Gio Ponti
Located in Renens, CH
A very rare Polsino lamp designed by Gio Ponti for Guzzini during the late 1960s: The table lamp has a tubular design built up with an acrylic diffusor and a chromed metal backplate...
Aluminum, Steel
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Table Lamp in Nickel and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' table lamp in nickel and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their desig...
Nickel
Fontana Arte Pirellina floor table lamp Gio Ponti Italy mid century design
By Gio Ponti
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Production piece from Fontana Arte archives made in 1990s from early Gio Ponti design. No issues.
Glass
Vintage Replica Gio Ponti Large Brass Table Lamp
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, Park Royal
A large, stylish table lamp, circa early 1940’s, sourced and made in Italy, in the Gio Ponti style. The Lamp base is made in brass and has its original parchment lamp shade. The lamp...
Brass
Bilia table lamp by Giò Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Gio Ponti's Bilia table lamp is an icon of 1930s Italian design. Featuring clean lines and a distinctive shape, this lamp is a perfect example of Ponti's modern style. The Bilia cons...
Metal
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Table Lamp in Brass and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' table lamp in brass and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their design...
Metal, Brass
$3,608Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.7 in Dm 18.5 in
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Fontana Total Black Table Lamp in Glass, 2014 Edition
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte, the Fontana total black table lamp, 2014 Edition, is an unusual Total Black produced in 2014 to mark the 60th anniversary of...
Metal
Pietro Chiesa Table Lamp for Fontana Arte in Glass and Brass
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Elegant table lamp crafted in brass and exquisite smoked glass, attributed to the designs of Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, as evidenced by a pair of documented floor lamps featured...
Brass
$2,398Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 30.7 in Dm 18.5 in
Fontana Glass Table Lamp Designed by Max Ingrand in 1954 for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An evergreen, timeless design icon, this is the lampshade par excellence. A fabulous lamp in frosted white blown glass, an example of the art of master glassmakers, it pays tribute ...
Metal
$2,896 / set
H 13.39 in Dm 4.34 in
Pair 1940s / 50s Brass Table Lamps attributed to Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia
By Gio Ponti, Emilio Lancia
Located in London, Fitzrovia
A very elegant pair of 1940's to 1950's brass table lamps, attributed to, and most probably by, Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia. They could be polished if needed but we prefer them as f...
Brass
Saffo Table Lamp designed by Angelo Mangiarotti for Artemide, 1967
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Lampada da tavolo mod. Saffo disegnata da Angelo Mangiarotti, per Artemide, 1967. Diffusore in vetro soffiato di Murano, diffusore interno in vetro fumè, base in alluminio stampato, ...
Aluminum
$645 / item
H 10.2 in Dm 4.7 in
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' Table Lamp in Brass and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia Mini' table lamp in brass and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their design...
Metal, Brass
$1,066 / item
H 16.9 in Dm 7.9 in
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' Table Lamp in Satin Brass and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' table lamp in satin brass and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their desig...
Brass
Black Pipistrello Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti for Martinelli Luce, 1960s
By Martinelli Luce, Gae Aulenti
Located in bruxelles, BE
Black metal and plastic lamp from the 60s designed by Gae Aulenti. Height-adjustable min: 70 cm max: 90 cm Stamped under the lamp. Wear due to time and age. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US...
Metal
$15,400
H 65.75 in W 35.44 in D 13.19 in
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte ‘Parco dei Principi’ Floor Lamp with Beige Shade
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
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
$871Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 16.93 in Dm 7.88 in
Bilia 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
Pair of Italian Art Deco Stone Table Lamps in the style of Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of Italian Art Deco Stone table lamps in the style of Gio Ponti. The pieces are in the form of an urn on a raised pedestal base and are ...
Stone
Pirellone Floor Lamp by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, 1967
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brussels, BE
Pirellone floor lamp by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, 1967.
Glass
Gio Ponti Lamp
By Gio Ponti
Located in Studio City, CA
Gio Ponti Table Lamp Italy, c. 1970. Produced by FontanaArte. Gio Ponti (1881 - 1979) was an important Italian architect, industrial and furniture designer, artist and publisher. He...
Concrete
Pirellina Table Lamp by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, designed 1970s
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in BARCELONA, ES
The Pirellina Table Lamp by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte is more than just a lighting fixture; it is a piece of design history that embodies the brilliance of one of the most influenti...
Aluminum
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte "Bilia" Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
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...
Metal
Sold
H 17.72 in Dm 7.88 in
1960 Lamp Designed by Gio Ponti Model No. 2474 for Fontana Arte, circa 1960
By Gio Ponti
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare lamp designed by Gio Ponti in 1931. table lamp 'Bilia' mod. 2474 by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960. Composed of two primitive forms: a cone and a sphere. The co...
Metal
Gio Ponti Fato lamp by Artemide 1967
By Gio Ponti, Artemide
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A super rare first production Fato lamp designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Artemide in 1967. What sets it apart from the later versions is that the early versions of the Fato lamp...
Metal
Carlo Nason LT 359 table lamp for Mazzega, Italy 1960s
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Large sculptural table lamp by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, Italy 1960s. Refined and monumental design composed of lively blown Murano glass parts on a chic architectonic bronze base. Th...
Bronze
Bilia Table Lamp by Gio Ponti, Italy, circa 1930
By Gio Ponti
Located in Culver City, CA
Bilia table lamp by Gio Ponti Italy circa 1930 Bilia table lamp made for Fontana Arte with Nickel-plated metal base and opal glass. shade. M...
Metal, Nickel
Gio Ponti for Ugo Pollice Model 546 Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By Gio Ponti, Ugo Pollice
Located in Naples, IT
Table lamp in chromed metal, aluminum and sandblasted glass by Gio Ponti for Ugo Pollice 1950s. Good vintage condition, defect on lampshade visible in photo.
Metal
Double Brass Stem Table Lamp By Gio Ponti For Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Italian, mid century modern, double table lamp by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte features a thick, green glass, amoeba-shaped base supporting two, writhing, brass stems with clip-on, sti...
Brass
Table Lamp by Gio Ponti for Del Campo
By Del Campo, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Table Lamp by Gio Ponti for Del Campo. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1950. Comprised of enabled copper, wood, and a custom silk shade. We recommend using an E27 40w maxim...
Enamel
Gio Ponti Light Box for Artemide
By Gio Ponti, Artemide
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Gio Ponti light box for Artemide, Italy, 1970s.
Steel
Fontana Arte ‘Pirellina’ Mid-Size Floor Lamp '1967' by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in CULEMBORG, GE
Designed in the 1970s and manufactured by Fontana Arte, this Pirellina mid-size Floor Lamp (or large table lamp) was modeled after the Pirelli Tower in Milan — also designed by Gio P...
Stainless Steel