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.
Max Ingrand Pendant Lamp by Fontana Arte, Brass and Glass, Italy, 1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte pendant lamp, Italy, 1960. Formidable smaller pendant light which comes in chromed brass and textured acid-etched (blinded) shield-form reflector shades. T...
Brass
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. Art Deco brass pendant light, Italy, 1940s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte, Oscar Torlasco, Arredoluce, Stilnovo
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Compatible with US/EU standards. LED compatible. Mid-Century and Art Deco style pendant lamp by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1940s. This chandelier is composed of a brass ...
Metal, Brass, Enamel, Chrome
Rare Table Lamp by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1955-1956, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A rare table lamp designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte, 1955-1956, Milano, Italy. This table lamp is made of blackened cast aluminium with fabric shade in an eleg...
Aluminum
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Pair of ‘Micro’ Sconces, Model 2240, 1950s, Signed
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A rare and authentic pair of ‘Micro’ sconces, model 2240, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the 1950s. Each sconce features double profiled glass panels: two thick, polishe...
Brass
$4,500 / item
1960s Max Ingrand '1963' Wall Light for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Max Ingrand Vintage '1963' Wall Light for FontanaArte Designed in 1963 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this increasingly hard-to-find vintage wall ...
Brass
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Chandelier in Satin Crystal and Brass
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, chandelier, model '2054', nickel-plated brass, satin crystal glass, Italy, circa 1960 This chandelier (c. 1960) by the esteemed French master glass wor...
Crystal, Brass, Nickel
A Radical MURANO Glass TABLE LAMP by FRANCO RAGGI, by FONTANA ARTE, Italy 1970
By Fontana Arte
Located in PARIS, FR
A large and airy table lamp, Post-Modernist, Shabby-Chic, Memphis, circular base in cast aluminum with integrated dimmer, 2 axes supporting 2 sheets of glass with white diffusing dec...
Metal, Chrome
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte, Model 1944 Thick Glass Sconces 5 Pieces, Italy, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Five (5) of Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, chiseled thick glass sconces, Italy, 1960- they are priced individually. Formidable, beautiful set of five (5) deep-beveled oval wall lamps...
Brass
Fontana Arte by Max Ingrand sconces model 2434, set of 2, Italy circa 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Long Island City, NY
Fontana Arte by Max Ingrand sconces model 2434. Designed and manufactured in Italy in 1960s. Green and white curved glass, enameled metal frame. 1 candelabra socket each. FREE US rew...
Metal
Set of 3 Painted Metal Suspensions, Fontana Arte, Italy 1970s
By Fontana Arte
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Set of 3 metal hanging lamps painted in dark green, yellow and red, produced by Fontana arte in the 1970s. The lamps have all been rewired and are in excellent condition. Dimension...
Metal
Pair of wall lights by Pietro Chiesa produced by Fontana Arte, Italy 1940s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Rare pair of brass and etched glass wall lights by Pietro Chiesa and produced by Fontana Arte, circa 1940. Each fixture is composed of a curved satin-finished crystal diffuser held ...
Brass
Pair of Model "1963" Brass Wall Lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An iconic and rare pair of large-scale wall lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, produced around 1963. These sculptural sconces embody the refined material sensibility and moderni...
Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Semi Flush Mount Chandelier Mod. 1462 Glass Brass, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare original Max Ingrand Fontana Arte semi flush mount Mod. 1642 Beautiful 28" ceiling fixture from blue-ish polished and satin glass, partially with clear and satin finish and smo...
Brass
Fontana Arte Max Ingrand Pendant Lamp 2259, Glass Pantinated Brass, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A fantastic pendant light model no. 2259 designed by famous designer Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, manufactured in Mid-Century, circa 1960. It is made of solid brass with a na...
Brass
Pair of Model 2433 Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Model 2433 Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s This pair of sconces, model 2433 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, reflects the designer's gift for pairing a...
Brass, Chrome
Fontana Arte Glass Flush Mount Model 1990, Mid Century
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Max Ingrand Large Fontana Arte Flush Mount Model 1990, circa 1960 Rare Max Ingrand semi flush mount lamp for Fontana Arte, 1960. Painted metal, brass, frosted glass, glass. It's i...
Brass, Aluminum
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Rare Pair of Large Sconces, Italy 1955
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Designed in 1955 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, this rare pair of large wall sconces exemplifies the poetic elegance and technical mastery that defined postwar Italian lighting. Ea...
Brass, Metal
Monumental Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Rare 7-Light Glass Sconces, 1950s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An important and exceptionally rare pair of seven-light wall sconces by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s. These striking architectural appliques perfectly embody the poe...
Metal, Brass
Three-Light Pendant in Green Nilo Glass by Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This pendant light presents itself as a vertically articulated composition, defined by a measured balance between structural rigor and visual fluidity. Its proportions are slender an...
Brass
Pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Model 1933, Italy, 1961
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
An iconic design pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 1933, Italy, 1961. Organically shaped double lens cut panels of thick profiled polished Murano glass with sandblasted ...
Brass
Model 1829 Wall Lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Italy c. 1961
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Palermo, IT
These vintage wall lamps were designed by the renowned Max Ingrand and produced by Fontana Arte in Milan, Italy, around the 1960s. The wall lamps feature a sophisticated and luxuriou...
Brass
Pietro Chiesa Table Lamp for Fontana Arte in Glass and Brass
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Elegant table lamp crafted in brass and exquisite smoked glass, attributed to the designs of Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, as evidenced by a pair of documented floor lamps featured...
Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Semi Flush Mount Chandelier Mod. 1748 Glass Brass, 1957
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte semi flush mount Mod. 1748, Italy, 1957. Beautiful 22" ceiling fixture from very thick profiled glass, partially with clear and satin finish and smooth cut...
Brass
Max Ingrand 'Fontana 1853' Small Table Lamb for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Max Ingrand 'Fontana 1853' Small Table Lamb for Fontana Arte Designed in 1954 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this lamp was originally named 1853 a...
Metal
Max Ingrand 'Fontana 1853' Table Lamb for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Max Ingrand 'Fontana 1853' Table Lamb for Fontana Arte Designed in 1954 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this lamp was originally named 1853 and, la...
Metal
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' Table Lamp in Satin Nickel and Opaline Glass for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gio Ponti 'Bilia' table lamp in satin nickel and opaline glass for Fontana Arte. In 1931, Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa approached the Luigi Fontana Company to manufacture their desi...
Metal
"Lampira" Sconce for Fontana Arte by Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti
Located in Long Island City, NY
Fontana Arte sconce "Lampira" ( Ladybug) Designed by Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti and manufactured in Italy in 1970s. Stamped "Fontana Arte" in the back. Shade can be open at diff...
Glass, Acrylic
Fontana Arte Scintilla Sommatoria sculptural lighting Livio Castiglioni
By Fontana Arte, Livio Castiglioni
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Sculptural hanging light designed by Livio Castiglioni in 1972. Produced by Fontana Arte. This lighting fixture consists of one base and six hanging units and one weight. Hanging u...
Steel
Max Ingrand Floor Lamp for Fontana Arte Model 2020, Italy, 1961
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
An elegant floor lamp designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 2020, Italy, 1961. Organically shaped double lens cutted with chisel panels of thick Murano polished glass with ...
Brass, Metal
"Lampira" Sconce by Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti for Fontana Arte, Italy
By Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti, Fontana Arte
Located in Long Island City, NY
Fontana Arte sconce "Lampira" ( Ladybug) Designed by Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti and manufactured in Italy in 1970s. Stamped "Fontana Arte" on the back. Shades can be open at dif...
Glass, Acrylic
"Parola" wall lamp, Gae Aulenti, Piero Castiglioni, Fontana Arte, 1981
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Parola wall lamp, mod. 2689 with adjustable opaline blown glass diffuser and satin-finish brass frame, designed by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for Fontana Arte. Year 1981. Avai...
Brass
Max Ingrand Table Lamp Brass Glass Mod. 2278, Italy 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
An old version of the mod. 2278 for Fontana Arte, with green interior shade and flat glass diffuser. The brass has had a beautiful patina over the years. A heavy and elegant table la...
Brass
Fontana Arte by Pietro Chiesa suspension ceiling light, Italy circa 1940s
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Long Island City, NY
Fontana Arte by Pietro Chiesa suspension ceiling light. Designed and made in Italy in 1940s. Etched glass diffuser with a floral motif and a second diffuser in acid etched glass. Tak...
Brass
Fontana Arte flush mount light model 1940, Italy circa 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Long Island City, NY
Fontana Arte flush mount light. Designed and manufactured in Italy in 1960s. Intricate textured glass, brass and enameled metal frame. Four candelabra sockets. FREE US rewiring upon ...
Metal, Brass
Rare Mid-Century Modern Pietro Chiesa Chandelier for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Buccinasco, MI
Rare and highly sculptural chandelier designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, distinguished by its extraordinary composition of large curved glass panels, brass structure ...
Metal, Brass
Rare Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Model #1088 Chandelier 1959
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Rare Model 1088 chandelier with 9 dual lense sets of thick studio glass, sand blasted at the center to diffuse light and configured arround a suspended ring of nickel plated brass. D...
Nickel
Archivio Storico Fontana Arte Aluminum Pear Tree Blown Glass Floor Lamp Italy
By Charles Williams, Archivio Storico Gallotti, Fontana Arte
Located in Miami, FL
A pure and elegant modernist floor lamp designed by Archivio Storico for Fontana Arte. The 2198 Model from Fontana Arte is a classic Floor Lamp. The diffuser is in satin white blown ...
Metal, Aluminum
$1,902 / item
Fontana Arte 'Bis/Tris' Table Lamp in Brass & Glass
By Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fontana Arte 'Bis/Tris' table lamp in brass & glass. Designed in 1954, the 'Bis / Tris' table lamp is one of the most classic yet contemporary table lamps produced by Fontana Arte....
Metal, Brass
Medium 'Pinecone' Table Lamp in Opaline Glass & Gold Metal for Fontana Arte
By Paola Navone, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Medium 'Pinecone' table lamp in opaline glass & gold metal for Fontana Arte. Designed by Paola Navone, the diffuser is expertly handcrafted using the ancient caged-blown glass tech...
Metal, Brass
Gae Aulenti "Giova" Table Lamp, Small Version, Fontana Arte, 1964
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Experience timeless Italian design with this exquisite "Giova" lamp by the legendary Gae Aulenti for Fontana Arte, designed 1964. A beautiful and collectible light sculpture, the "Gi...
Metal
Pressed Glass Table Lamp, Eugenio Gentili Tedeschi for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1971
By Eugenio Gentili, Fontana Arte
Located in Schoorl, NL
A playful pair of Yoyo lamps made of pressed glass. These massive table lamps consist of two glass cylinders joined together by a stainless steel ring. The l...
Stainless Steel
Model 2098 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Single Model 2098 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1960s. Smoked brown tinted panels paired with an etched bottom diffuser. This fixture...
Crystal, Brass
Table Lamp by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Table Lamp by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s This table lamp, attributed to Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960s, reflects the manufacturer's enduring belief in glass as the primary materia...
Brass
Pair of 2052 Fontana Arte by Max Ingrand Wall Sconces
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of sconces model 2052, designed by Max Ingrand circa 1960 for Fontana Arte. Each features a brass rectangular structure and a combination of three clear beveled and frosted glas...
Brass
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Glass and Brass Flush Mount, 1950s, Italy
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This elegant ceiling light by Fontana Arte from the 1950s showcases the timeless sophistication of Italian mid-century design. Featuring a gently curved frosted glass diffuser, it em...
Brass
1970's Wall lights attributed to Max Ingrand
By Fontana Arte
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Paire of 1970's Wall lights By Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte France
Brass
Max Ingrand 1963 sconces chrome Fontana Arte Italy 1963
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A stunning pair of Model 1963 sconces designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte in Italy in 1963. These exceptional wall lights encapsulate the refined elegance and te...
Chrome
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Glass Wall Sconces, circa 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Enhance the elegance and sophistication of your space with these exquisite Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Glass Wall Sconces, circa 1960. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, t...
Metal, Brass
$3,972Sale Price / set|20% Off
Fontana Arte Italian Midcentury Metal Glass Sconces Wall Lamps 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design sconces wall lamps or ceiling lamps ‘1940" model produced by Fontana Arte with varnished metal, chrome-plated brass, moulded glass, 1950s Italy produ...
Metal
20th Century, Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Pair of Wall Lights
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
After an apprenticeship with the glassmaker Giannotti Pietro Chiesa opened his own glass workshop in 1921. In the early 1920s he participated in the Monza Biennale, the Venice Bienna...
Crystal, Brass
Max Ingrand Mod. 1636 Fontana Arte Glass Brass Sconces Pair, Italy, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of large Max Ingrand Fontana Arte sconces model #1636, Italy, 1960. Formidable pair of 15.7" large wall lights in brass and aci...
Brass
$6,148Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Italian chandelier by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Pietro Chiesa Chandelier for Fontana Arte, 1940s – Sculptural Mid-Century Elegance An elegant and rare chandelier designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte in the 1940s, exemplifyi...
Metal, Brass
Fontana Arte Table Lamps Brass Glass Fabric Lampshade, 1950, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte.
Brass
1960's Brass & Murano Glass Pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Schoorl, NL
Very elegant 1960's pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Model 1933, from the Micro series. The iconic double lens cut panels of thick (2cm) profiled polished Murano glass with...
Glass
Floor Lamp mod. 1967, Gio Ponti, Prod. Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950's
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Piacenza, Italy
This elegant floor lamp, model 1967, was designed by Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte in the 1950's. It features a brass stem with joints, a crystal base, and a lacquered metal reflector. ...
Crystal, Aluminum, Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Acid-Etched Chiseled Crystal Pendant Light Model 1748
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, rare and exquisite suspension or ceiling lights model 1748, Italy, 1950s. This iconic sculptural chandelier features a thick, beveled diff...
Brass
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte documented mod 2224 set of 4 wall sconces 1958'
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, IT
The four wall lamps designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte date from 1958-1960 and are a masterpiece of mid-century modern Italian design. Made of the highest quality materials and...
Opal, Metal
Fontana Arte by Max Ingrand ceiling suspension, Italy circa 1960s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Long Island City, NY
Fontana Arte by Max Ingrand ceiling suspension. Designed and made in Italy, 1960s Two large curved acid etched glass shades mounted on a brass frame. Takes 9 candelabra bulbs. Compli...
Brass
20th Century, Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte Floor Lamp mod. 1967
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
An eclectic personality, from his early days he was active in the fields of architecture, painting, graphics and set design. He graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic i...
Crystal, Aluminum, Brass
Model 1933 Ceiling Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 1933 Ceiling Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Manufactured in Italy, circa the 1950s. Textured glass panels meet to form a slim curved rectangle body. The gorgeous aged b...
Brass