Pair of 1960s Fontana Vetri Arte Turquoise Geometric Bowls
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 1.58 in (4 cm)Width: 7.09 in (18 cm)Depth: 7.09 in (18 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Roma, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8425238075902
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: Amelia, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 1960s Fontana Vetri Arte Turquoise Geometric BowlBy Fontana ArteLocated in Roma, ITAn exceptional Turquoise geometric bowl by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Fontana Arte was the design house co-founded by Gio Ponti in Milan in the 1930s. These rare original pieces a...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Glass
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- 1960s Large Fontana Arte Decorative CentrepieceBy Fontana ArteLocated in Roma, ITA very beautiful example of a large Fontana Arte centerpiece. This wonderful Milanese heavy glass bowl is a vibrant turquoise colour. It has four folded corners making what was once ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
- 1940s Fontana Arte Large signed rectangular bowl and ashtrayBy Fontana ArteLocated in Roma, ITA very large 1940s pale green glass rectangular bowl which can be used as a 'tasca vuota' (empty pocket) or ashtray. The piece is signed on the base as per the photo. This very heavy...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
- 1970s Transparent Geometric Murano Glass BowlLocated in Roma, ITA geometric faceted hand-blown 1970s Murano transparent bowl found in Rome and in very good condition. Due to its cut and shine, the bowl has a gem like quality. Perfect as a decorat...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Glass
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- 1960s Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Blue Glass MirrorBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Roma, ITA stunning and rare example of a deep blue circular glass mirror designed by Max Ingrand and made by Fontana Arte in 1966. The mirror is surrounded by a concave glass frame in deep b...Category
Vintage 1960s Wall Mirrors
MaterialsArt Glass, Mirror
- 1970s Articulated Gold Gucci BowlsBy GucciLocated in Roma, ITThis pair of conjoined heavy brass bowls or ashtrays were made by Gucci in Italy in the 1970s. They can be used either for aperitivo or on a desk or dressing table to hold small obje...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsBrass
- Seguso Vetri d'Arte 'attr.' Murano Sommerso Glass Bowl 1960sBy Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'ArteLocated in Berghuelen, DEA heavy Murano sommerso glass bowl most probably manufactured by Seguso Vetri d'Arte circa 1950s. Manufactured in green glass with a thick a...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsArt Glass, Murano Glass
- Fontana Arte Large Grey Glass Centerpiece Model 1639By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYFontana Arte large bevelled curved smoky grey glass centerpiece or dish, model 1639, Italy, circa 1961. This exquisite glass centerpiece has a triangular shape with softly rounded co...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Large Gray Glass Dish or Centerpiece Model 1419By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYFontana Arte large gray glass dish or centerpiece with profiled and curved glass resting on an angular fitted black enameled metal base, Italy, c. 1956. This gray glass is a rare colorway in this model and the form is quite elegant in its curved form. Literture: Roberto Aloi, Esempi di Decorazione Moderna di Tutto il mondo, Vetri d’Oggi, Milan, 1955, p.54 (picture 11) Franco Deboni, Fontana Arte : Gio Ponti, Pietra Chiesa...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsMetal
- Seguso Vetri d'Arte Triple Cased Pulegoso Murano Bowl Teal Turquoise Black GoldBy Seguso Vetri d'ArteLocated in North Miami, FLThis substantial stunning and hard to find hand blown glass vintage Murano bowl is by Seguso Vetri d'Arte from the 50's. it is triple cased of glas...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsGold
- Fontana Arte Glass Tray by Dube, Duilio Barnabe, Abstract Painting, SignedBy Duilio Dubé Bernabe, Fontana ArteLocated in Los Angeles, CAVery nice abstract glass painted tray, by the well-known artist, Duilio Barnabe. Signed "Dube" it measures 14 x 14 square high 1.5.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Modern Glass
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Glass/ Crystal, Dish, Vide-Poche, Free Form Shape Signed FXBy Max Ingrand, Fontana ArteLocated in Los Angeles, CAVery pretty signed Fontana Arte, vide-poche. We think is Max Ingrand design.Also Pietro Chiesa worked at Fontana's at same time. Signed with FX and acid Fontana Italy.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Modern Glass
MaterialsArt Glass, Glass