Italian Crystal Glass Ashtray or Vide-Poche by Fontana Arte, 1960s
View Similar Items
Italian Crystal Glass Ashtray or Vide-Poche by Fontana Arte, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 4.73 in (12 cm)Diameter: 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:The glass is in excellent condition. Just a little wear at the underside.
- Seller Location:Morazzone, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2089315367032
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.
- Italian Cast Brass Large Decorative Catch All Tray or Vide-Poche, 1970sLocated in Morazzone, VareseBeautiful large bowl made of solid brass in the shape of a leaf. Made in Italy in the 1970s. The bowl can be used as a centerpiece or vide-poche and much more. There are 2 bowls avai...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-P...
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Midcentury Crystal Glass Coffee Table in Fontana Arte Style, 1970sBy Fontana ArteLocated in Morazzone, VareseBeautiful crystal glass coffee table made in the 1970s in Italy. It reminds very much to tables from Fontana Arte. The table consists of one big glass top, which lays on the table ba...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsCrystal
- Italian Midcentury Large Crystal Glass Wall Mirror by Cristal Arte, 1970sBy Cristal ArteLocated in Morazzone, VareseRound wall mirror made of heavy crystal mirrored glasses, Made in Italy by Cristal Arte during the 1970s. The mirror is made of two mirror plates, the bigger round one behind is in light brown (smoke) color. The smaller mirror on top has beautifully serrated edges, which makes the silver coating of the backside shimmer. The mirror has still the original wooden back plate and hook for wall...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCrystal
- Carlo Nason Flushmount Light or Sconce in Iridescent Glass, Italy, 1960sBy Mazzega, Carlo NasonLocated in Morazzone, VareseAn Italian modernist light fixture designed by Carlo Nason and manufactured from Mazzega, manufactured in midcentury. A chrome back-plate hold...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
MaterialsChrome
- Italian Brass and Smoke Glass Chandelier by Vistosi, 1960sBy Gino VistosiLocated in Morazzone, VareseBeautiful and elegant original chandelier made of lamp's frame in brass and 27 cut smoke crystal glass plates. Made in Italy in the 1960s in Visto...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Midcentury Brass and Crystal Glass Chandelier, 1950sBy Fontana Arte, Pietro ChiesaLocated in Morazzone, VareseMagnificent big chandelier made of cut crystal glass and full brass lamp base. Made in Italy in the midcentury in the style of Pietro Chiesa and Fontana Arte chandeliers. The glass i...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
- Fontana Arte Mirrored Crystal Italian Design, 1960s Ashtray BowlBy Fontana ArteLocated in Brescia, ITFontana Arte 1960s Mirrored crystal Perfect condiction Measure: Diameter 16.5 cm, height 2.5 cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCrystal
- Round Bowl or Ashtray in Green Glass Mirrored by Fontana Arte, Italy 1960sBy Max Ingrand, Fontana ArteLocated in Rome, ITRare round bowl or ashtray in green crystal glass and mirrored underside with four concave circle by Fontana Arte. Made in Italy in the 1960s.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsCrystal
- Octagonal Green Centrepiece / Vide Poche by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950sBy Fontana ArteLocated in London, GBBeautiful and unique octagonal centrepiece or vide poche signed Fontana Arte. Green Art Glass. A remarkable piece for a study or living room. Signed FX Italy 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsArt Glass
- 1960s Astonishing Blue Ashtray or Vide Poche by Flavio PoliBy Flavio PoliLocated in Milano, IT1960s Astonishing Blue ashtray or Vide Poche Rare Designed By Flavio Poli in Murano Glass. The item is in very good condition. Dimensions: 5,11 diamet...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsMurano Glass
- 1960s Astonishing Green Ashtray or Vide Poche by Flavio PoliBy Flavio PoliLocated in Milano, ITAstonishing green ashtray or vide poche rare by Flavio Poli in Murano glass. The item is in excellent condition. Dimensions: 4,33 diameter x 3,93 he...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Midcentury Crystal Glass Ashtray/ Vide-Poche by Fontana ArteBy Fontana ArteLocated in East Hampton, NYIndulge in the elegance of this exquisite ashtray or Vide-Poche, crafted in Italy during the prestigious Fontana Arte's prime in the 1960s. The square-shaped design boasts a transpar...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsMurano Glass