Italian Mid-Century Brass and Glass Applique Zero Quattro of Fontana Arte, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Manufacturer),Zero Quattro (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 13.78 in (35 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 12.6 in (32 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:MIlano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4860230969842
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: Milan, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Italian Mid-Century Modern Curved Glass and Brass Wall Lamp, 1950sLocated in MIlano, ITItalian Mid-Century Modern curved glass and brass wall lamp, 1950s Curved wall lamp with light green background, double central line pattern in brass...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Mid-Century Modern Cast Brass and Crystal Pair of Appliques, 1960sLocated in MIlano, ITItalian Mid-Century Modern cast brass and crystal pair of appliques, 1960s. Pair of large wall lamps, with structure in cast brass with leaf decorat...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
- Italian mid century modern brass and colored metal adjustable arm lamp, 1950sLocated in MIlano, ITItalian mid century modern brass and colored metal adjustable arm lamp, 1950s Adjustable arm lamp with adjustable brass rod structure, with joint a...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- Sweden Mid Century Appliques by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Markaryd, 1950sBy AB Markaryd, Hans-Agne JakobssonLocated in MIlano, ITSweden mid century modern set of metal and opaline glass appliques by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Ab Markaryd Sweden, 1950s. Set of four appliques or wall lamps in curved metal with bra...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Mid-Century Metal Support Glass Lampshader Leaf-Shape Wall Lamp, 1950sLocated in MIlano, ITItalian Mid-Century Modern metal support and glass lampshader leaf-shaped wall lamp, 1950s. Wall lamp with metal wall support, on which the lamp holder with E14 connection is positi...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsGlass
- Sweden Mid-Century Modern Brass Glass Applique Jakobsson for Ab Markaryd, 1970sBy Svegards Markaryd, Henry JakobsenLocated in MIlano, ITSweden Mid-Century Modern brass and glass applique by Jakobsson for Ab Markaryd Sweden, 1970s. Brass and glass wall light with curved metal structure with a golden finish that enclo...Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Sconces Art Glass by 04 Zero Quattro for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1970sBy Zero Quattro, Fontana ArteLocated in Rome, ITCurved glass pair sconces by O4 (Zero Quattro) edited by Fontana Arte, Milano, Italy in the 1970s. Every sconce is composed of 4 glass and features 2 lights. Zero Quattro was ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsSteel, Metal
- Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Long Sculptural Brass and Glass Sconces Italy 1950sBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYMax Ingrand (1908-1969) A beautiful pair of long, curved frosted glass sconces on sculptural projecting mounts with elegant keyhole detail, in polished brass, by Max Ingrand for Fo...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Zero Quattro-Fontana Arte Frosted Glass ChandelierBy Quattro Zero Edited By Fontana Arte, Zero Quattro, Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand, Pietro ChiesaLocated in Houston, TXItalian Zero Quattro-Fontana Arte frosted glass chandelier. Chic Italian Mid-Century Modern sandblasted chiselled glass lantern style chandelier...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsChrome
- Pair of Max Ingrand White Glass Brass Wall Sconces for Fontana Arte Italy, 1950sBy Fontana ArteLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DEA Pair of Fontana Arte wall sconces, Italy, 1950, modernist and clear lines design atributed to Max Ingrand, satin opal glass supported by elegant brass mounts. Both sconces in fine ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Articulated Italian Appliques Chromed Metal and Opal Glass Fontana Arte StyleBy Fontana ArteLocated in Roma, ITArticulated Italian appliques chromed metal and opal glass. Fontana Arte style, Italy, 1970s Two pieces available.Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Pair of Italian Fontana Arte Style Brass and Etched Glass SconcesBy Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand, Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa, Cristal ArteLocated in Houston, TXPair of Italian Fontana Arte style brass and etched glass sconces. Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern brass and etched glass sconces. This interesting pair of Italian Gio Ponti / Fo...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
