Pair of Fontana Arte Chiseled Glass Bookends by Max Ingrand, Italy, circa 1950
View Similar Items
Pair of Fontana Arte Chiseled Glass Bookends by Max Ingrand, Italy, circa 1950
About the Item
- Creator:Max Ingrand (Designer),Fontana Arte (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 6.11 in (15.5 cm)Width: 4.34 in (11 cm)Length: 6.11 in (15.5 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: CG004421stDibs: LU2936322312972
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.
- '1669' Model Circular Glass Mirror by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBA '1669' model circular concave glass mirror designed by Max Ingrand for the Milanese company, Fontana Arte, circa 1960. This beautiful green bevelled glass example with an inner chr...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsChrome, Brass
- Dahlia Chandelier Model '1563' by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, c.1954By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBOne of the most iconic pieces from the Fontana Arte archive, the 'Dahlia' chandelier, designed in the mid 1950s, continues to impress some 70 years later. Designed by Max Ingrand, (t...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Max Ingrand '1937' Model Appliques for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960By Max IngrandLocated in London, GBAn original pair of '1937' model wall sconces designed by Max Ingrand for the prestigious Milanese company, Fontana Arte. Designed and produced in 1958, these beautiful wall lights e...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Pair of 'Maschere' (Masks) Bookends by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1950By Piero FornasettiLocated in London, GBA rare and beautiful pair of 1950s 'Maschere' (Masks) bookends designed by the incomparable Piero Fornasetti. The bookends each depict a Greek theatrical mask, (tragedy), and are exe...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsMetal
- '1748' Model Ceiling Light by Max Ingrand and Dubé for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1957By Duilio Barnabe, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBA '1748' model ceiling light designed by Max Ingrand and artist Duilio Barnabé for Fontana Arte in 1957. A tapered, polished brass cent...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Chiseled Crystal Table Lamp Designed by Max Ingrand for Saint Gobain, FranceBy Max Ingrand, Saint GobainLocated in London, GBThis beautiful crystal table lamp was designed by Max Ingrand for the renowned French glass company, Saint-Gobain. Produced in the 1960s, the chiseled emerald green coloured crystal ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass, Nickel
- Max Ingrand mod. 2291 paperweight for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960sBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Milan, ITMax Ingrand model 2291 paperweight for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960s Signed with the incised F X Reference: Quaderni Fontana Arte 6Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
MaterialsCut Glass
- Inkwell attributed to Max Ingrand for Fontana ArteBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Lugo, ITGlass inkwell attributed to a design by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Thank youCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Modern Inkwells
MaterialsGlass
- Fontana Arte Glass Notepad, Italy 1950sBy Fontana ArteLocated in Milan, ITA beautiful Fontana Arte two-colored glass notepad. Original label.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
MaterialsBrass
- 1950s Chiesa Pietro Design Fontana Arte Italy Paperweight Chiseled GlassBy Pietro ChiesaLocated in Biella, ITChiesa Pietro design by Fontana Arte Italy, sculpture chiselled glass years 60. Measure; 17 cm x 11 x 6 cm - 6.5 inches x 2.2" x2.3".Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsArt Glass
- Fontana Arte Glass Italian Design 1950s Desk Sets of 3By Fontana ArteLocated in Palermo, ITFontana Arte desk set (Pietro Chiesa). The glass is a splendid nile green color. Below you will find the measurements of each piece. Note: We try to offer our customers an excellent...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Max Ingrand heart bowl Fontana Arte Italy 1960By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantBeautiful heart-shaped bowl designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte in Italy in 1960. High quality crystal glass in a stunning peach colour. Hilghly decorative piece...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGlass