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 wooden and glass occasional table, Italy, 1930s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
An occasional table with a black lacquered wood base and ground glass tops, designed by Gio Ponti in 1932 and produced by the Italian company Luigi Fontana & C. This side table, tho...
Metal
Gio Ponti Set of Two Hexagonal Coffee Tables in Wood and Metal I.S.A. 1950s
By I.S.A. Italy, Gio Ponti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of two hexagonal coffee tables with legs in painted metal and wooden/laminate top, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by ISA, 1950s, Italy, Literature: Fabio Fioroni, Alessandra ...
Metal
Gio Ponti Set of Eight Hexagonal Coffee Tables in Wood and Metal I.S.A. 1950s
By Gio Ponti, I.S.A. Italy
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of eight hexagonal coffee tables with legs in painted metal and wooden/laminate top, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by ISA, 1950s, Italy, Literature: Fabio Fioroni, Alessandr...
Metal
Gio Ponti Set of Six Hexagonal Coffee Tables in Wood and Metal I.S.A. 1950s
By I.S.A. Italy, Gio Ponti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of six hexagonal coffee tables with legs in painted metal and wooden/laminate top, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by ISA, 1950s, Italy, Literature: Fabio Fioroni, Alessandra ...
Metal
$11,300Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Gio Ponti Walnut Side Tables, Luggage Racks for Hotel Royal Naples, 1955
By Giordano Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Gio Ponti side tables (stands) produced by Giordano Chiesa, from the suite of the Hotel Royal Naples, 1953 Italian walnut, brass. Brass details Handles, foot and seven sections (ea...
Brass
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
Gio Ponti walnut side table from the Casa e Giardino series, Italy, 1940s
By Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino
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
$4,137Sale Price / set|48% Off
pair of GIO PONTI oak hanging nightstand tables, side tables Hotel Royal, 1955
By Giordano Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
pair of hanging oak wood nightstands or bed side tables by Gio Ponti wall mounted two shelves side tables finishing of the owl's beak top part of a pair of original headboards whe...
Oak
$22,000
Cocktail Table by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low hourglass table by Gio Ponti with original green glass top. Made in Milan circa 1940s. Includes a certificate of authenticity from the Gio Po...
Glass, Oak
Gio Ponti Side Table for Fondazione Garzanti di Forlì, 1950
By Gio Ponti
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti Side Table for Fondazione Garzanti di Forlì, wood, Italy, 1950 Designed in 1950 by Gio Ponti for the Fondazione Garzanti di Forlì, this side table embodies the designer’s ...
Wood
Gio Ponti & Pietro Chiesa Side Table Set 2 by Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
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
Gio Ponti Set of Three Hexagonal Coffee Tables in Wood and Metal I.S.A. 1950s
By I.S.A. Italy, Gio Ponti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of three hexagonal coffee tables with legs in painted metal and wooden/laminate top, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by ISA, 1950s, Italy, Literature: Fabio Fioroni, Alessandr...
Metal
Gio Ponti coffee tables for ISA Bergamo in teak, set of 2
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Gio Ponti coffee tables for ISA Bergamo, made of teak. The project reflects the elegant and measured language of the Milanese architect, in which formal lightness, proportion and cra...
Metal
Gio Ponti, Side Table, Wood, Metal, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, ISA Bergamo
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and iron coffee or side table designed by Gio Ponti and produced by ISA Bergamo, Italy. 1950s.
Metal
pair Gio Ponti Black Lacquered Side Tables from Hotel Royal, Naples, 1955
By Giordano Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Pair of luggage-racks, side tables designed by Gio Ponti and executed by Giordano Chiesa for Hotel Royal, Naples 1955 in 2005 arch. Cristina Longo used original items from Hotel Roy...
Brass
$4,137Sale Price / set|48% Off
H 13 in W 23.63 in D 15.36 in
pair of GIO PONTI oak hanging nightstand tables, side tables Hotel Royal, 1955
By Giordano Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
pair of hanging oak wood nightstands or bed side tables by Gio Ponti wall mounted two shelves side tables finishing of the owl's beak top part of a pair of original headboards whe...
Oak
Gio Coffee Table Ponti ''tripod'' of the 1950s 20th century
By Gio Ponti
Located in Palermo, IT
This coffee table designed by Giò Ponti embodies the timeless elegance and innovation of 20th-century Italian design. Featuring a tripod frame with a central key holder support in pa...
Brass
$4,213 / set
H 22.45 in W 10.63 in D 25.99 in
Gio Ponti (Attr.) Pair of Mid-Century Wooden Bedside Tables, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Argelato, BO
Gio Ponti (Attr.), Pair of Mid-Century Wooden Side Tables, Italy, 1950s Rare and very elegant pair of (side tables, bedside tables - occasional table) in walnut wood. These are sobe...
Wood
$3,798
H 19.69 in W 37.41 in D 22.84 in
Gio Ponti Coffee Table in Walnut and Brass with Crystal, Italy 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, IT
Fabulous and incredibly rare Italian Mid-Century coffee table in walnut wood, brass, and metal with a crystal glass top. This charming coffee table is attributed to the iconic design...
Crystal, Metal, Brass
$1,424
H 19.3 in W 34.26 in D 16.54 in
Wood Coffee Table in the Style of Gio Ponti Glass and Mahogany, 1950s, Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Splendid coffee table featuring a wooden structure and two shelves of different dimensions, which gives the whole table a trapezium shape. In the style of the Italian designer Gio Po...
Brass
Gio Ponti Compass Coffee Table, Walnut & Glass, Italy, 1950s
By M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in Chicago, IL
Gio Ponti for Singer & Sons "compass" cocktail table in solid walnut. Model 1101. Original in every way from the finish to the glass to the lightly patinated brass sabots.
Brass
$10,000
H 15.38 in W 60 in D 17.75 in
Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons Walnut Coffee Table with Travertine Top
By M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in West Chester, PA
Mid-Century Modern coffee table with a travertine top on a sculptural solid walnut base. Top measures 60” x 15 7/16” x 3/4”. Designed by Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons circa 1950s un...
Travertine
$1,690Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.66 in Dm 23.23 in
Midcentury Two-Tier Round Rope and Chestnut Wood Italian Coffee Table, 1950s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury two-tier round rope and chestnut wood coffee table. This incredible piece was produced in Italy during the 1950s, and it is attributed to Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig. T...
Wood, Rope, Chestnut
Gio Ponti Directional Desk for Egidio Proserpio, 1955
By Gio Ponti, Egidio Proserpio
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti Directional Desk for Egidio Proserpio, mahogany, Italy, 1955 Executed by Egidio Proserpio in Barzanò, the “Directional” desk by Gio Ponti translates architectural precisio...
Mahogany
$16,617 / set
H 15.75 in W 22.84 in D 19.89 in
Set of 7 Gio Ponti Modular Hexagonal Coffee Tables, ISA Bergamo, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, ISA Bergamo
Located in The Hague, NL
This very rare set of modular coffee tables was designed by Gio Ponti and produced by ISA Bergamo in Italy in the 1950s. Each table is marked with a metal manufacturers tag 'ISA'. T...
Iron
Italian Gio Ponti Inspired Bronze and Glass Cocktail Table
By Maison Baguès, Gio Ponti, Romeo Rega, Maison Ramsay, Maison Jansen
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Gio Ponti inspired bronze and glass cocktail table. Italian Gio Ponti style bronze or brass cocktail table with an unusual etc...
Brass, Bronze
$20,178 / set
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 9.45 in
Gio Ponti & Pietro Chiesa Side Table Set 2 by Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
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
Sold
H 41.34 in W 15.36 in D 15.36 in
Side table with drawers designed by Gio Ponti for BNL, Genoa, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Side table with drawers designed by Gio Ponti for the BNL offices, Genoa, Italy, 1950s. Crafted in wood, the piece features a compact and well-proportioned structure with three drawe...
Wood
Sold
H 16 in W 24 in D 9.5 in
Gio Ponti Pietro Chiesa Side Tables Mirrored Glass Tops Asymmetrical Form
By Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Italian master architect Gio Ponti compass legs side tables with mirrored glass tops by Pietro Chiesa. All original. The slightly mirrored glass reflects the light and whatev...
Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 15.36 in W 23.63 in D 9.85 in
1940's Gio Ponti Pietro Chiesa Side Tables Mirror Glass Walnut Black Lacquer
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa, Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Rare pair of side tables, circa 1941 Black lacquered walnut and top in mirror glass. Manufactured by Fontana Arte, Milan, Italy. Dimensions: 60 W x 25 D x 39 H cm / 23.6 W x 9.8 D x...
Glass, Mirror, Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Sold
H 31.5 in Dm 17.72 in
Gio Ponti brass, wood, and linoleum side table for the Oceania ship, Italy, 1952
By Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A rare and highly collectible occasional table in brass, wood, and linoleum from the furnishings of the motor ship Oceania – design by Gio Ponti, Italy, 1952 Evocative images remain...
Brass
Gio Ponti Tiered Walnut Side Tables for M.Singer and Sons - a Pair
By Gio Ponti
Located in Esperance, NY
Great quality set of tiered walnut tables designed by Gio Ponti for M Singer Brothers.They have great lines and design very clean
Walnut
Gio Ponti set of 4 modular hexagonal coffee tables
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A 1st edition set of 4 modular hexagonal coffee tables produced by ISA bergamo for Gio Ponti C1950 Italy Solid oak hexagonal tops supported by V shaped black iron frame allowing it t...
Metal
Gio Ponti Tiered Walnut Side Table For Singer & Sons
By M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This fantiastic, mid-century modern two-tier end / side table was designed in the 1950s for Singer & Sons by the extremely popular Italian designer Gio Ponti. The solid walnut frame ...
Walnut
Gio Ponti Model 2132 Occasional Table for Singer & Sons, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Coronado, CA
A stunning, sculptural accent table, Model 2146, designed by Gio Ponti for by M. Singer & Sons, and produced in Italy by Giordano Chiesa in the 1950s. The table features a sculpted s...
Formica, Walnut
Gio Ponti Ocassional Tables for Singer & Sons Model 2136
By M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of Gio Ponti design ocassional tables for Singer & Sons, Model 2136. Rare pair of elegant tables by the master of Italian design Gio Ponti. Executed in figured walnut with two t...
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Side Table 1128 by Gio Ponti, Singer and Sons, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Side Table 1128 by Gio Ponti, Singer and Sons, 1950s With official certificate from Gio Ponti Archives
Brass
Sold
H 25.6 in Dm 20.08 in
Gio Ponti pair of walnut and blue formica occasional tables, Italy, circa 1950
By Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A pair of rare wooden and blue formica side tables, of Italian craftsmanship, designed by Gio Ponti. This pair of occasional tables bears the signature of the great Italian designer...
Formica, Walnut
Sold
H 21.46 in W 23.63 in D 13.78 in
Gio Ponti walnut, parchment and brass bedside tables, Italy, 1930s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Pair of bedside tables in American walnut, parchment, and brass, designed by Gio Ponti in the 1930s, produced in Italy. These refined bedside tables, conceived by Gio Ponti and char...
Brass