Fontana Arte vase in incamiciato blown glass 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 11.62 in (29.5 cm)Diameter: 13.78 in (35 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970-79
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Parma, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6799238770232
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: Parma, Italy
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Ettore Sottsass crystal vase for Fontana Arte 1970sBy Fontana Arte, Ettore SottsassLocated in Parma, ITEttore Sottsass colored crystal vase mod.2665 produced by Fontana Arte in the 1970s. In colored crystal assembled by glue. In excellent condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Vases
MaterialsCrystal
- Large Wall Lamp by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte, 1970sBy Fontana Arte, Gianni CeladaLocated in Parma, ITLarge wall lamp design Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte 1970s. Structure in painted metal with 4 lamps. Square diffuser made of two types of glass, t...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- Cenedese Murano Spherical Vase, 1970sBy CenedeseLocated in Parma, ITVase produced by Cenedese Murano 1970s. Spherical vase with acid-treated matte surface and ground mouth. Engraved signature on the bottom. In excelle...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Venini Large Opalino Vase, 1970sBy VeniniLocated in Parma, ITLarge Opalino vase by Venini, 1970s. In opaline incmicito blown glass, engraved signature and label. In excellent condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Tapio Wirkkala for Venini 'Coreani' Vases, circa 1970sBy Tapio Wirkkala, VeniniLocated in Parma, ITPair of Venini vases "Coreani" design Tapio Wirkkala, circa 1970s. In two-tone blown glass with overlapping spirals. Signature engraved on bottom and Venini label...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Sinuous Vase Design Roberto Rigon Ceramiche Nove 1970sBy Roberto RigonLocated in Parma, ITCeramic vase design Roberto Rigon for ceramiche Nove 1970s. Dark blue in color with distinctive anthropomorphic sinuous shape. Signed at the base. In excellent condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Fontana Arte Vase Glass 1950 ItalyBy Fontana ArteLocated in Milano, ITCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Other Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte “Pietro Chiesa “ Vase Glass, 1940, ItalyBy Fontana ArteLocated in Milano, ITFontana Arte.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte “Cartoccio” Glass, 1949By Fontana ArteLocated in Milano, ITFontana Arte “Cartoccio” glass, 1940.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte crystal vase and metalBy Fontana ArteLocated in Monaco, MCHow chic is this vase? Lovely Fontana Arte production of the 60's. Blue mirrored glass and a piece of metal ready to hold a single flower. Perfect condition More information u...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCrystal
- Vintage Blown Glass Vase, Italy, 1970sLocated in Roma, ITBlown glass vase is a beautiful glass decorative object, realized by an Italian manufacture during the 1970s. Very fashionable transparent vase realized with blown glass processi...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Vases
MaterialsBlown Glass, Murano Glass
- 20th Century Pietro Chiesa Fontana Arte Vase mod. Cartoccio in Glass, 30sBy Pietro Chiesa, Fontana ArteLocated in Turin, TurinAfter an apprenticeship with the glassmaker Giannotti Pietro Chiesa opened his own glass workshop in 1921. In the early 1920s he participated in the Monza Biennale, the Venice Bienna...Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass