Pair of Fontana Arte Sconces
View Similar Items
Pair of Fontana Arte Sconces
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: A15111stDibs: LU90865750393
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.
- Curved Arm PH 4½/3 Copper Sconce by Poul HenningsenBy Louis Poulsen, Poul HenningsenLocated in San Francisco, CAA PH 4.5/3 outdoor sconce with a gently curved arm. The sconce is made from copper and has been restored so it is bright and shiny. The underside is painted white to reflect the ligh...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsCopper, Enamel
Price Upon Request - Straight Arm PH 4½/3 Copper Sconce by Poul HenningsenBy Poul HenningsenLocated in San Francisco, CAA PH 4.5/3 outdoor sconce with a straight arm. The sconce is made from copper and has been restored so it is bright and shiny. The underside is painted white to reflect the light and...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsCopper
Price Upon Request - Brazilian Rosewood Sofa by Liceu de Arte e OfficiosLocated in San Francisco, CAA Brazilian hardwood sofa. Attractive slatted back, cyclindrical legs and curved arms. Cushions not included. We have matching side chairs, coffe...Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Modern Sofas
MaterialsJacaranda, Rosewood, Wool
- Architectural Pair of ChairsLocated in San Francisco, CAArchitect / Designer pair of lounge chairs are of solid Mahogany, with brass accents. The cushions soften the cubic form seats that sit atop solid round hard wood legs.Category
Vintage 1960s Scottish Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass
$10,000 / item - Pair of Lounge Chairs by Joaquim TenreiroBy Joaquim TenreiroLocated in San Francisco, CAA pair of chairs in Jacaranda and upholstered in black faux leather, made in Brazil, circa 1950 by Joaquim Tenreiro. A total of four chairs are available.Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Jacaranda
$24,000 / set - A Pair of Emile Guillaume VasesLocated in San Francisco, CAA pair of French art nouveau vases of earthenware modeled with two handles. Decorated with glazes in shades of brown. Marked GuillaumeCategory
Vintage 1930s French Art Nouveau Vases
MaterialsStoneware
Price Upon Request
- Pair of Max Ingrand Wall Lights Sconces for Fontana Arte Model 2093, Italy, 1961By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DEA pair of wall lights sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 2093, Italy, 1960-1961. Organically shaped double lens cut panels of of thick profiled polished Murano glass with...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
On Hold$12,580 / set - Fontana Arte Style Gold Bronze Mirror Glass Flush Mount or Sconce, Italy, 1970sBy Cristal Arte, Fontana ArteLocated in Vienna, ATA Italian round lamp from the 1970s, to be used as a wall light / sconce or flush mount / ceiling light. Made of bronze tinted mirror glass with golde...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- Brass and Beveled Glass Hexagonal Sconce or Ceiling Lamp Fontana Arte Italy 1950By Fontana ArteLocated in Roma, ITMagnificent wall or ceiling lamp made in bevelled glass and solid brass. This amazing and rare piece was made in Italy during the 1950s and is attributed to Fontana Arte. This vers...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
- Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Chiseled Tear Drop Glass Sconces, Italy circa 1960By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYMax Ingrand (1908 - 1969) A rare and exceptional pair of deep-beveled oval sconces in contrasting polished and frosted glass, by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. The sensuous tear-drop...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
$10,000 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Ladybug Sconces by Fontana Arte, 2 Pairs AvailableBy Fontana ArteLocated in Los Angeles, CAOriginal vintage Italian wall lights "Lampira" model, with ABC cover and white opaline glass shade designed by Gianemilio, Piero and Anna Monti for Fontana Arte / Made in Italy, circ...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsGlass, PVC
- Pair of Beveled Glass Sconces by Fontana ArteBy Fontana ArteLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Italian wall lights with thick beveled glass diffusers mounted on nickel wall brackets / Made in Italy by Fontana Arte, circa 1970s Measures: height 5 inches, width 16 inches...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsNickel
$2,500 / set