Fontana Arte Italian Design, 1960s Mirrored Crystal Vase
View Similar Items
Fontana Arte Italian Design, 1960s Mirrored Crystal Vase
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Brescia, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3300110200251
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.
- "Cartoccio" Fontana Arte Italian Design Midcentury Crystal VaseBy Fontana ArteLocated in Brescia, IT"Cartoccio" vase by Fontana Arte Italy, 1940-1950s Acid crystal Perfect condition.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- 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
- 1960s Italian Design Diamond Glass BowlLocated in Brescia, ITDiamond glass vase Perfect condiction.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCrystal
- 1960s Italian Design Crystal Key Fontana Arte Style PaperweightBy Fontana ArteLocated in Brescia, ITRare crystal key paperweight Perfect condiction.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
MaterialsCrystal
- 1950 Fontana Arte Italian Design Midcentury Cut Crystal Glass MirrorBy Fontana ArteLocated in Brescia, ITCut mirrored crystal Perfect condition.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCrystal
- 1950s Ercole Barovier Zebrati Glass Murano Midcentury Design Italy Bowl VaseBy Ercole BarovierLocated in Brescia, IT"Zebrati" Murano glass Perfect condiction Measures: H 14 x 30 cm.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Transparent Glass Vase "Cartoccio" by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, ItalyBy Pietro Chiesa, Fontana ArteLocated in Bresso, LombardyMade in Italy, 1960s. This vase was designed by Pietro Chiesa and manufactured by Fontana Arte. It is made in transparent etched glass and has a very nice ‘Cartoccio’ (paper bag) sha...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Midcentury Yellow Crystal Vase, Poland, 1960sLocated in Chorzów, PLA crystal cut glass vase in yellow Made in Poland in the 1960s Stab very good, no damage Measures: height 30cm, diameter 10cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCrystal
$86 Sale Price20% Off - Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Sommerso Glass Vase, 1960sBy Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio PoliLocated in Berghuelen, DESeguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Sommerso Glass Vase, 1960s. A vintage Murano sommerso art glass vase. Designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri d'Arte circa 1960s. Manufac...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass, Murano Glass
- Murano Vase in Mouth Blown Art Glass, Italian Design, 1960sLocated in Copenhagen, DKMurano vase in mouth blown art glass. Italian design, 1960s. Measures: 22 x 12 cm. In perfect condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsArt Glass
- Mid Century Maroon Crystal Vase, Poland, 1960sLocated in Chorzów, PLCrystal cut burgundy/maroon vase. Made in Poland in the 1960s. Very good condition. Measures: Height 25cm, diameter 14cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCrystal
$86 Sale Price20% Off - Murano Vase in Mouth-Blown Art Glass, Italian Design, 1960sLocated in Copenhagen, DKMurano vase in mouth-blown art glass. Italian design, 1960s. Measuriong: H 28.0 x D 24.0 cm. In excellent condition. Sticker.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Vases
MaterialsArt Glass