Mid Century Modern Fontana arte letter rack.
About the Item
- Creator:Fontana Arte (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light scratches to the base (see image) consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU985636811382
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: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Mid-Century Modern Chandelier by Fontana Arte 'Attrib'By Fontana ArteLocated in London, GBUnusual glass, brass and metal chandelier attributed to Fontana Arte. This is a useful piece as it has a low drop so is suitable for installation in rooms with lower ceilings. The sh...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Side Table Attributed to Fontana ArteBy Fontana ArteLocated in London, GBUnusual side table with brass and glass base and thick glass top.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Chandelier Attributed to Gino Paroldo for Fontana ArteBy Gino ParoldoLocated in London, GBLarge sized elegant brass and glass chandelier with twelve brass arms terminating in square glass shades with central hole. The round brass frame h...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsGlass
- Mid-Century Modern Stitched Leather Desk Set Attributed to Jacques AdnetBy Jacques AdnetLocated in London, GBA classic stitched leather desk set in dark green leather, attributed to Jacques Adnet. The set comprises a clock with wind up mechanism and nickel plated stylized numbers on the fac...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Sets
MaterialsLeather
- Mid Century Modern rare brass floor lamp by Pieto Chiesa for Fontana Arte.Located in London, GBIlluminator Floor lamp in brass, an rare early heavy brass model, designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte in 1933. As one of the premiere exp...Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Bronze and Glass Pendant Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana ArteBy Max IngrandLocated in London, GBBronzed metal and crystal pendant lamp Model 1995 designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960. This quality but simple stylish pendant would be ideal above an ele...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal
- 1950s Fontana Arte Attributed Mid-Century Modern Glass Italian Desk SetBy Fontana ArteLocated in Aci Castello, ITAn Italian stylish desk set attributed to Fontana Arte, very heavy verde nilo glass, has been made in 1950s, there is a small chip in one black pen holder. ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsCut Glass
- Fontana Arte Mid-Century Modern 1950s Glass Pen Holder Stand & Ashtray Desk SetBy Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Landau an der Isar, BayernMax Ingrand for Fontana Arte (attributed) Midcentury Modern desk set featuring a pen holder or stand with a tray and an ashtray. Made in Ita...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Mid-Century Fontana Arte Card Holder Italian Design 1960sBy Fontana ArteLocated in Palermo, ITMid-Century Fontana Arte card holder Italian design 1960s Intact and in good condition, small signs of aging.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Fontana Arte Desk SetBy Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NYA Fontana Arte desk set consisting of letter knife, ink blotter and pen holder.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Rare Mid Century Fontana Arte Modernist Glass Pen Stand & Ashtray Desk SetBy Fontana ArteLocated in Vancouver, British ColumbiaCirca 1950's Thick slabs of light sea green glass pen stand and ashtray desk set by the esteemed Fontana Arte company. Original condition down to pen hold...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsGlass
- Duilio 'Dubé' Barnabé, Fontana ArteBy Fontana Arte, Duilio Dubé BernabeLocated in London, GBGlass dish by Duilio (Dube´) Barnabé Reverse painted and bevelled glass Produced by Fontana Arte Italy c 1956.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsGlass