Fontana Arte Brass and Glass Fireplace Set, 1970s Italy
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Depth: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 3
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1853335780852
Fontana Arte
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Southampton, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Leather and Brass Fireplace Set by Jacques Adnet, 1950sBy Jacques AdnetLocated in Los Angeles, CAStunning fireplace set by French modernist designer, Jacques Adnet. Solid brass frame with ring handles which are wrapped in an oxblood leather and ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsBrass
- Leather and Brass Fireplace Set by Jacques Adnet, 1950s FranceBy Jacques AdnetLocated in Los Angeles, CAStunning fireplace set by French designer Jacques Adnet. Brass frame with black saddle leather wrapped handles. Signature Adnet contrast stitching. ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsIron, Brass
- Jacques Adnet Style Leather and Iron Fireplace Set, 1980s USABy Jacques AdnetLocated in Los Angeles, CABeautiful fireplace set in the style of Jacques Adnet. Black iron frame with wooden handles wrapped in saddle brown leather with signature Adnet style saddle stitching. Fireplace set...Category
Vintage 1980s American Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsIron
- Leather and Iron Fireplace Set in the Style of Jacques Adnet, 1980s USABy Jacques AdnetLocated in Los Angeles, CABeautiful fireplace set in the style of Jacques Adnet. Black iron frame with wooden handles wrapped in dark brown leather with signature Adnet style saddle stitching. Fireplace set i...Category
Vintage 1980s American Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsIron
- Gucci Wood and Leather Backgammon Set, 1970s ItalyBy GucciLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage portable Gucci backgammon case/game. Tan leather trim with Burl wood on front and back of case and Burl wood game board/playing surface. 15 gr...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Games
MaterialsBrass
- Gucci Desk Planner in Black Leather and Brass, 1970s ItalyBy GucciLocated in Los Angeles, CAChic black leather Gucci desk planner with brass bindings containing two notepads titled “To-day” and “To-Morrow”. Small window at the bottom of each leather flap showing the day. S...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Desk Sets
MaterialsBrass
- Fontana Arte, Modernist Curved Blue Glass and Brass Fire Place Screen, ItalyBy Fontana ArteLocated in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-FranceThis very nice curved fire place screen is made of a brass base and a blue curved glass screen. This is a work by famous Italian Designer Fontana Arte, circa 1970.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsBrass
- 5-Piece Brass Fireplace Set and Brass Tool Holder, Italy, 1970sLocated in Palermo, IT5-piece brass fireplace set and brass tool holder, Italy, 1970s Found inside a noble villa, good condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsBrass
- Set of 2 Brass and Iron Fireplace Andirons, Italy, 1970sLocated in Palermo, ITSet of 2 brass and iron fireplace andirons, Italy, 1970s Found inside a noble villa, good condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsBrass, Iron
- Chrome-plated and Slate Italian Fireplace Tool Set 1970sLocated in Dallas, TX1970s Italian chrome-plated fireplace tools. The black slate base and flat bar steel supports are ultramodern in design and would work well with any upscale interior.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsSlate, Steel
- French Neoclassical Style Brass Fireplace Tools, 1970s, Set of 5Located in Miami, FLNeoclassical style brass fireplace tools. French. Circa 1970.Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney...
MaterialsBronze, Iron
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Dimensione Fuoco Fireplace Set, Italy 1970sBy Dimensione Fuoco, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Naples, ITThe fireplace set consists of five different items: a set of fireplace tools (with broom, , tongs, shovel and awl), a fireguard, a pair of winglets and a firewood bag All of these pi...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
MaterialsBrass, Iron