Fontana Arte Mirror
View Similar Items
Fontana Arte Mirror
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Width: 23.5 in (59.69 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 03 FA 101stDibs: LU78562747392
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.
- Ovoid Mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana ArteBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYModel #2085. Ovoid shaped mirror with thick blue-glass surround, beveled edges and brass mounts. Published in Fontana Arte 6, makers catalog.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Wall LightsBy Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NYRare Pair of Sconces by Fontana Arte. Blue colored glass, acid-etched glass, brass. Each sconce takes 1 x E12 (candelabra) bulb.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
$16,500 / set - Wall-Mounted Console by Fontana ArteBy Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NYGlass, brass. Fantastic system for wall mounting and beautiful slab glass top.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte ChandelierBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYChandelier #2128 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Fantastic 3 light fixture featuring thick slabs of aqua-marine glass, with frosted glass cyli...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- “Dahlia” Chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana ArteBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYPolished & nickeled brass, curved glass. 16 arms, each ending with a candelabra socket. Green glass petals on each arm. Second matching one available.Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass, Nickel
- Rare Table Lamps by Max Ingrand for Fontana ArteBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in New York, NYPainted aluminum, fabric. Cast aluminum table lamps, each with 2 x E12, (candelabra) sockets and newly made fabric shades. A very rare model.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsAluminum
$36,000 / set
- Fontana Arte Round MirrorBy Pietro Chiesa, Fontana ArteLocated in Hanover, MAFontana Arte pale green shallow concave dish mirror designed by Pietro Chiesa. 23 inch diameter green bowl, 19 inch diameter mirrored glass with 'eyelid' style bevel along the top...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Attributed MirrorBy Fontana ArteLocated in Beverly Hills, CAFontana Arte attributed wall mirror in brass Petite in scale - grande in charm!Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Fontana Arte Style Mirror AttributedBy Fontana ArteLocated in Lucca, ITThe modernist mirror in the style of Fontana Arte exquisite crafted, large mirror produced in the style of Fontana Arte leader in the furniture sector, with its elegant and essential...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Post-Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror
- Mirror attributed to Fontana ArteBy Fontana ArteLocated in Vlimmeren, BEBecause of its high-quality finish and design, I can attribute this mirror to Fontana Arte. The mirror is aged and have some small marks as you can see in the pictures. The mirror i...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBronze
- Fontana Arte Mirror by Max IngrandBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Dronten, NLA stunning mirror with 2 integrated lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. The lights are designed with a typical Max Ingrand beveled emerald green base and a white colored glass shade. They are fitted with standard E14 sockets suitable for worldwide use. This beautiful piece came from a mid-century modern villa in Sicily, Italy. The late owner was an avid collector of Italian design by Tobia Scarpa, Gio Ponti, Achile Castiglioni and others. Max Ingrand (1908-1969) was a distinguished French-Italian artist and designer whose creative influence extended across various fields. He is celebrated for his exceptional contributions to the world of glasswork, lighting, and interior design. Ingrand's career was marked by a deep appreciation for the interplay of light and material, and his innovative designs often focused on the harmonious integration of glass and light. His iconic light fixtures, particularly those designed for Fontana Arte, are still revered for their timeless elegance and the way they manipulate light to create a captivating ambiance. In addition to his lighting designs, Ingrand also made substantial contributions to stained glass art...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Murano Glass
- Fontana Arte, Large Brass Framed MirrorBy Fontana ArteLocated in Brooklyn, NYElegant and large rectangular brass framed wall mirror with gently tapering sides. Backed with wood panel.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
We Took Over a Historic Milan Palazzo and Filled It with Edgy Design
With "A New Breed," we showcased exceptional pieces by rising talents, a rapidly growing area of strength among 1stdibs' many offerings.
Mid-Century Master Osvaldo Borsani Gets His Due at Donzella
The New York City gallery has devoted its latest show to the work of the modernist Italian designer.