Pair of Early 20th Century Boxwood Italian Pharmacy Bottles

Early 20th century pair of Italian decorative brass wall lights with mirror. This is a production of the first decade of the century in Venice, and the design recalls heavily the Ven...

Amazing early 20th century oval mirror with external mirror frame. This piece is signed by Luigi Fontana, dated October 14, 1927 and designed in Palermo, Italy. This piece has some signs and chipping but it is definitively a museum piece as it was designed by Luigi Fontana, founder of Fontana Arte, before the foundation of this company. Thanks to its sculped frame, this piece will smarten a living room or a bedroom. Fontana Arte (established in 1933) was founded by Luigi Fontana, Gio Ponti, and Pietro Chiesa as a premier producer and marketer of furniture, lighting, and furnishing accessories, and distinguished itself applying the highest standards of glass craftsmanship and techniques. Throughout Fontana Arte’s history, its lamps and furniture have been highly sought after due to their superior glass craftsmanship and innovative design. Saint-Gobain Invests in Luigi Fontanta e Compagni The origins of Fontana Arte go back to 1881 when Luigi Fontana established Luigi Fontana e Compagni to produce and market sheet glass for the construction industry. Luigi’s success as an entrepreneur in the growing Italian construction sector attracted the attention of the French glass-making company Saint-Gobain, which, in 1910, took a majority stake in the ownership of Luigi Fontana e Compagni transforming it into a “Società Anonima” still under the direction of Luigi Fontana. By the mid-1920s, Fontana e Compagni’s capabilities included the creation of artistic stained glass that was mostly used in functional and decorative settings of churches and cathedrals. Gio Ponti Becomes Fontana e Compagni’s Artistic Director In just a few years, the production of such artistic stained-glass products had become of such importance that a different division within the Fontana e Compagni was created to further its development. In 1930, Luigi Fontana met the successful young Milanese architect Gio Ponti, who was then the art director of Richard-Ginori pottery company, and they formed a partnership, under the name of Luigi Fontana SA, for the production of light fixtures, furniture, and furnishing objects. During this initial period, Gio Ponti designed from Fontana Arte the now-iconic 0024 Pendant light (1931) and the Bilia Table Lamp (1931). Pietro Chiesa, Gio Ponti, and Luigi Fontana Found Fontana Arte In 1932, Gio Ponti approached Pietro Chiesa to join him and Luigi Fontana and to become Luigi Fontana SA’s artistic director. In 1933, Pietro Chiesa merged his studio, the Bottega di Pietro Chiesa, with Fontana SA, and together Luigi Fontana, Gio Ponti, and Chiesa founded Fontana Arte. During Chiesa’s tenure as artistic director, Fontana Arte’s production became rich and varied. It included furniture, tables, mirrors, sculptures, and stained glass, but it was certainly in the lighting sector where Fontana Arte excelled by creating lamps and lights with the highest standards in glass craftsmanship and modern designs. From this period came the Luminator floor lamp, the Cartoccio glass vase, and the Fontana Arte table made out of a single band of bent clear glass, (all designed by Pietro Chiesa, in 1932); and the Naska lamp...

Exquisite large wooden inlaid squared chessboard box. This fantastic item was designed in Italy during the beginning of the 20th century. This handmade box is fantastic because it...

Early 20th century 800 Silver table or wall mirror. This fantastic item was designed in Italy during the 1930s following Louis XV's style. The original silver patina is extraordi...

Incredible futurist multifaceted crystal glass box, this stunning piece was produced in Italy in 1933, as it features the 800 silver engraving that w...

Beautiful four-seater cigar case in leather with a stunning 925 silver decorated accent. The cigar case was made in Florence around 1950s.

R Lalique, Epine model bottle, n°4, in bluish molded-pressed glass Model created in 1920, and not taken back after 1947, unsigned but referenced A crack, a chip on the neck and a t...

Antique set of 2 Tin Boxes for Victory V Gums, England. This British Brand made Liquorice-flavoured lozenges, each by hand so every sweet contained the correct amount of therapeutic ingredient. This Counter Cannisters - Advertising Boxes...

Early 20th Century Italian jewelry box. This sweet petite box is a perfect piece to hold jewelry or any small collectibles. Sitting atop a vanity, dresser or a desk, the hand painted...

A striking early 20th century Austrian box with ebony veneer over birch and with a thin fruitwood inlaid stripe around the lid. A simple brass handle allows the lid to be opened. Per...

A very nice cigar box suitable to any smoking room with ample space even for the biggest cigars and accessories.

Thirty six silver miniatures is an original decorative collection realized in the 20th century in Italy. The group includes thirty six small silver miniature in a blue velvet box....