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.
Eugenio Gentili Tedeschi For Fontana Arte “Yoyo” Table Lamp, 1970s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Renens, CH
Table lamp named “Yoyo”, consisting of a red coated metal structure with two round glass inserts: This lamp originates from the 1970s and was produced in Italy. The design is attributed to Eugenio Gentili Tedeschi...
Metal
1970s Italian Round Wall Mirror with a Dark Leather-Covered Frame by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Vigonza, Padua
An elegant Italian round wall mirror from the 1970s, manufactured by Fontanit and still bearing its original triangular paper label on the back. The mirror features a distinctly cir...
Leather
Free Shipping Bilia Led Table Lamp - Brass Base, White Satin Glass Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A simplistic combination of shapes creates a lively addition to minimal décor. The Bilia Table Lamp by FontanaArte presents a glowing frosted blown glass sphere balanced on the end o...
Metal
Nobi Lamp Mod. 3023/1 by Metis Lightning and manufactured by Fontana Arte, 1992
By Fontana Arte, Metis Lighting
Located in Ravenna, IT
Nobi hanging lamp Mod. 3023/1 designed by Metis Lightning and produced by Fontana Arte in Italy in 1992. With a fixed-length polished steel stem, the lamp consists of a circular ligh...
Steel
Giova table lamp designed by Gae Aulenti and produced by Fontana Arte 1964
By Fontana Arte, Gae Aulenti
Located in Ravenna, IT
Giova table lamp designed by Gal Aulenti and produced by Fontana Arte in 1964. A hybrid between a vase and a lamp, Giova is a true glass light sculpture. A transparent globe is place...
Metal
Max Ingrand Model 2576 Floor Lamp, Nickel-Plated Brass, Italy, 1968
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Uccle, BE
Floor lamp whose nickel-plated brass structure supports 4 large transparent / green colored glass legs fixed by two large cross-shaped spacers. The floor lamp is equipped with a cyl...
Brass, Nickel
Model 2211 Suspension Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Suspension light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1960. Glass diffusers, brushed satin glass internal cylinders, brass armature and hardware...
Brass
Fontana Arte Six-Panel Cross Mirror in Engraved Glass, Italy, 1940s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte (Italy) Cross Mirror, circa 1940s An elegant and rare mirror by Fontana Arte, Italy, dating from the 1940s. The piece is composed of six square golden mirrored glass pan...
Glass
Piero Castiglioni & Roberto Menghi, Canna lamp, prod. Fountain Art, 1981
By Fontana Arte, Roberto Menghi
Located in Rivoli, IT
Blown and frosted glass lamp, mod. Canna, designed by Piero Castiglioni and Roberto Menghi, produced by Fontana Arte in 1981
Glass
Model 2230 side table designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Model 2230 side table designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1960s. This elegant side table features a circular smoked glass top supported by a refined brushed metal ...
Metal
Tavolo con ruote by Gae Aulenti for FontanaArte 80s
By Gae Aulenti, Fontana Arte
Located in Padova, IT
Gaetana Emilia Aulenti, known as Gae Aulenti (1927–2012), was one of the most influential and multifaceted figures in 20th-century Italian architecture and design. She was celebrated...
Metal
'Scalpellato' Glass Dish by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1935
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in London, GB
A circa 1930 ‘scalpellato’ handcut glass dish designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte. The beautiful aquamarine coloured glass was produced using the ‘scalpellato’ or ‘chiselled’ ...
Glass
Bilia Table Lamp in Glossy Copper Designed by Gio Ponti
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A cone and a sphere: two essential, recognizable geometric shapes. An unpretentious composition, enriched by the extraordinary balance of its proportions and the stylish discretion o...
Metal
Fontana Arte Pudding Aluminium Suspension Lamp, Designed 1995
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
From the archives of Fontana Arte, the pudding suspension lamp was designed in 1995 and is made of faceted anodized and cast aluminum reflector that looks like a pudding mold. It is ...
Aluminum
Free ShippingFONTANA 1853 - Small Table Lamp - White Satin Glass by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Designed in 1954 by the famous French Master glassmaker and decorator Max Ingrand, this lamp was originally named 1853 and, at a later time, Fontana, in homage to the company of whic...
Metal
Free Shipping PALLINA - Small Table Lamp - Brass Metal Base by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The perfection of glass and sphere to create the most essential object of the collection. A must-have for every space of the house, inspired by the Italian theatre and Broadway music...
Metal
Free Shipping BILIA MINI - Small Table Lamp - Green Metal Base by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Nothing more than a sphere, set in an apparently impossible feat of balance, upon a cone that serves as the base. One of Gio Ponti’s many compositional magic tricks, designed in 1932...
Metal
Max Ingrand Round Blue Mirror Fontana Arte Model 1699, Mid Century Italy
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Mod. 1699 mirror by Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte, Italy. Max Ingrand round blue mirror Fontana Arte Model 1699, Italy, circa 1968. Elegant light blu...
Brass
Mod. 2200 Faceted Ceiling Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy. c.1960
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
A rare, Mod. 2220 nickel-plated brass ceiling pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy c.1960. This curvaceous, tapered ceiling light has a lovely aged patina which contrasts b...
Brass, Nickel
Metis Lighting Fontana Arte Nobi Floor Lamp in Frosted Glass, Designed in 1992
By Metis Lighting, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Metis Lighting in 1992 and manufactured by Fontana Arte, the Nobi floor lamp guarantees total practicality for innovative elegant design. The two bowl-shaped glass discs ...
Metal
Fontana Arte, Round bevelled-edge mirror
By Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
c.1960s Brass and blue bevelled glass D71 cm
Mirror
Rare Fontana Arte Flute Magnum Floor Standing Glass and Chrome Lamp
By Fontana Arte
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of original RRP £4500 Fontana Arte Magnum uplighter lamps in glass and chrome These lamps are exceptionally stylish, pure han...
Blown Glass
Teso Glass Table Designed by Renzo Piano in 1985 for Fontana Arte
By Renzo Piano, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Renzo Piano made his design debut with a coordinated line of furnishing systems for Fontana Arte, using only one material: Glass, symbol of the company’s production history. Availabl...
Glass
Fontana Arte Empty Ashtray Pockets Cut and Hollowed Crystal, 1960, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte empty ashtray pockets and hollowed crystal, 1960, Italy.
Crystal
Cigar Box and Ashtray by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950
By Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, PA
Introducing an exquisite piece of functional art: the Fontana Arte Cigar Box and Ashtray. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this unique item seamlessly combines the elegan...
Crystal
Pressed Glass Table Lamp, Eugenio Gentili Tedeschi for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1971
By Fontana Arte, Eugenio Gentili
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
Midcentury "Diaframma" Sconce by Piero & Monti Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1968
By Fontana Arte, Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti
Located in Merida, Yucatan
"Diaframma" wall light, circa 1968 Chrome-plated metal, opaque glass, lacquered metal. Measures: 12 in. (30.5 cm) deep, 19 in. (48.3 cm) wide when fully opened. Manufactured by Font...
Chrome
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
Pietro Chiesa For Fontana Arte Brass & Murano Glass Torchiere
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Brass & Murano glass Torchiere Italy, 20th century A rare model, of seamless organic tiered design, fitted wit...
Brass
Postmodern Franco Raggi for Fontana Arte Drinks Trolley / Bar Cart, Circa 1980s
By Fontana Arte, Franco Raggi
Located in Peabody, MA
A postmodern drinks trolley by the Milanese designer Franco Raggi for Fontana Arte, circa 1980s.
Glass, Acrylic
Tapira Desk Lamp by Gianemilio, Piero and Anna Monti for Fontana Arte, 1970s
By Fontana Arte, G.P.A. Monti
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Tapira desk lamp designed by Gianemilio, Piero and Anna Monti (G.P.A. Monti) and produced by Fontana Arte, during the 1970s. The lamp is made of plastic and contains an opaline glas...
Plastic, Glass
Free Ship Fontanella Large Table Lamp Chrome Galvanized Metal Base Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The Fontanella Table Lamp from FontanaArte presents personalized Italian craftsmanship, showing off luminous artistry. Designed by Federico Peri, this contemporary masterpiece marrie...
Metal
Italian mid-century modern glass chandelier 1462 Max Ingrand Fontana Arte, 1950s
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern pink and opaline glass chandelier 1462 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1950s Chandelier n 1462 with rounded diffuser composed of two parts: one in opaline...
Brass
Rare Art Deco Modernist Cocktail Table By Pietro Chiesa by Fontana Italia C.1940
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Bernville, PA
Exceptional and Rare cocktail table by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Italia circa 1940. Beautifully done silvered metal over brass, etched glass and mirrored top with a compass ...
Brass, Chrome
Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Hand-chiseled ticket holder Mid-Century Italy 40s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Palermo, IT
Hand-chiseled crystal office card holder. Designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1940s. The thickness of the crystal is 2.3 cm. Nile green color. Very rare and valuable a...
Brass
Pietro Chiesa 'Luminator' Floor Lamp in White for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pietro Chiesa 'Luminator' floor lamp in white for Fontana Arte. Originally designed in 1933 and produced by Fontana Arte, this iconic design retains such a modern personality that ...
Metal
Fontana Arte, Wall Lights, Brass, Glass, Italy, 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of glass and brass wall lights designed and produced by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s. Overall Dimensions: 9.25" H x 3" W x 3.25" D Backplate Dimensions (inches): 4.75" H x 1....
Brass
Mirror Coffee Table by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, 1950
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This striking coffee table, designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte in 1950, exemplifies the refined elegance and innovative craftsmanship of mid-century Italian design. The rect...
Smoked Glass
Space Age Fontana Arte "Tris" Glass Table Lamp with Chrome Base Italy, ca 2000
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This table lamp Fontana Arte, with its delicate design will work perfect for any sophisticated home. The lamp is created with a white bowl form shade with a white glass ring below a...
Chrome
20th Century, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Umbrella Stand 60s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Some notes about the author Max Ingrand: a famous French master glass worker and decorator, he was artistic director of FontanaArte for one decade, starting from 1954. During that ti...
Brass
Pair of Glass Sconces with Green Metal Base by Candle, 1970s, Italy
By Fontana Arte, Candle
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Pair of Glass Sconces with Green Metal Base by Candle, 1970s, Italy Fontana Arte Edition, probably designed and manufactured in 1974 by catalog Minimalist and rare design. Lampsh...
Metal
Triangular Fontana Arte Bowl, Turquoise Blown Glass, Italy, Circa 1970
By Fontana Arte
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A super example of a pale turquoise Fontana Arte decorative bowl. In a triangular shape with turquoise glass. In good condition.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
$5,000
Fontana Arte Chandelier
By Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Chandelier made of a central chromed tube housing a bulb. Attached are 3 large curved thick pieces of glass and curving in the opposite direction 3 sheets of chromed metal with a tub...
Chrome
Pietro Chiesa 'Luminator' Floor Lamp in Satin Nickel for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pietro Chiesa 'Luminator' floor lamp in satin nickel for Fontana Arte. Originally designed in 1933 and produced by Fontana Arte, this iconic design retains such a modern personalit...
Metal, Nickel
Gi-Gi table lamp by Umberto Riva for Fontana Arte, 1990s
By Fontana Arte, Umberto Riva
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Gi-Gi table lamp designed by Umberto Riva and manufactured by Fontana Arte. The first prototype of Gi-Gi was made in 1975, but production did not start until 1990. The lamp consists...
Metal
Charles Williams "Amax" Pendant for Fontana Arte, Metal and Polyethylene, 2005
By Charles Williams, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extra large AMAX pendant lamp designed in 2003 by Charles Williams and manufactured by Fontana Arte in 2005 The pendant is in very good used condition, the acrylic frame has minimal...
Acrylic
Uovo Pendant Light by Ben Swildens for Fontana Arte (2 available), Italy, 1972
By Ben Swildens, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic “Uovo” pendant light designed in 1972 by Ben Swildens for the renowned Italian lighting house Fontana Arte. This celebrated design is characterized by its softly sculptural eg...
Chrome
Pair of "Daruma" Table Lamps by Sergio Asti for FontanaArte
By Fontana Arte, Sergio Asti
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of "Daruma" table lamps designed by Sergio Asti for FontanaArte. The lamps feature a unique two-part spherical body made of white blown glass. The larger lamp measures 12"h x 9....
Glass
Fontana Arte Peach and Green Glass Notepad Holder, Italy 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milan, IT
A beautiful Fontana Arte two-colored glass notepad. Original label.
Brass
Fontana Arte, Wall Mirror, Teak, Metal, Italy, 1950s
By Fontana Arte
Located in High Point, NC
A teak and black-lacquered metal wall mirror, designed and produced by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s. With paper label to backside.
Metal
$1,250 / set
Fontana Arte Milk Glass Wall Sconces
By Fontana Arte
Located in Montréal, QC
Fontana Arte milk glass wall sconces. 40 watts E-26 Edison medium base incandescent bulb recommended or higher if LED/CFL. Verified E-26 Edison medium base socket. Hard wire.
Art Glass
Pair of “Diaframma” Sconces by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare 1960s “Diaframma” wall lamp by the visionary trio Gianemilio, Piero & Anna Monti (G.P.A. Monti) for Fontana Arte, where technical ingenuity meets pure design. Crafted in c...
Metal
Fontana Arte Table Lamp Brass Glass, 1950, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte table lamp brass glass, 1950, Italy.
Brass
20th Century, Max Ingrand Pendant Lamp for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Some notes about the author Max Ingrand: a famous French master glass worker and decorator, he was artistic director of FontanaArte for one decade, starting from 1954. During that ti...
Brass
$5,800 / item
Large Max Ingrand Pendant, 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Vienna, AT
Large model 1954 pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte from the 1950s. A large satin glass diffuser with a black lacquered shade sits on a minimal brass structure. Nice condition w...
Aluminum, Brass
20th Century, Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Pair of Wall Lights
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
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
$1,670Sale Price|20% Off
Erwin Walter Burger for FONTANA ARTE crystal photo holder
By Erwin Walter Burger, Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant photo frame designed by Erwin Walter Burger for Fontana Arte in the 1950s, a refined example of Italian design that combines functionality and beauty. Made entirely of ground...
Crystal
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte Sculptural Glass Vase Model 2665, Italy, 1970s
By Ettore Sottsass, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Rare large sculptural colored crystal vase designed by Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte, Italy, circa 1970. This striking architectural compositi...
Art Glass
Rare Mongolfiera Lamp by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Gianni Celada
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare "Mongolfiera model 2491" oversized lamp designed by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte, made in Italy circa 1968, composed of opaline blown glasses on chrome-plated metal frame. It ...
Chrome
Pen Holder Desk by Fontana Arte for Rolex Shop Dealer, 1960s
By Rolex, Fontana Arte
Located in taranto, IT
Extremely rare complete desk pen holder from the 1960s, Fontana Arte production for Rolex, consisting of a thick two-tone glass, amber and Nile Green base, with double internal engraving of the Rolex logo and large central crown from a closed Rolex dealer shop...
Glass
Midcentury Crystal Glass Ashtray/ Vide-Poche by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in North Miami, FL
Indulge in the elegance of this exquisite ashtray or Vide-Poche, crafted in Italy during the prestigious Fontana Arte's prime in the 1960s. The square-shaped design boasts a transpar...
Murano Glass