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.
David Chipper field Fontana Arte Metal Single Version Chandelier, Designed 2004
By Fontana Arte, David Chipperfield
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This spectacular chandelier Suspension lamp designed by David Chipper field in 2004 and manufactured by Fontana Arte, 2017, is inspired by those at the court of King Arthur. The Chan...
Metal, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Glass Pendant by Gino Paroldo
By Fontana Arte, Gino Paroldo
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Glass pendant by Gino Paroldo
Brass
Charles Williams Fontana Arte Avico Suspension Lamp in Polyethylene, 2006
By Charles Williams, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 2006 by Charles Williams for Fontana Arte, the Avico is a big-impact suspension lamp, spectacular thanks to its large sizes, available in 47.2" and 63” diameters. The lam...
Metal, Chrome
Fontana Arte Ceiling Light Metal Crome Glass, 1960, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte ceiling light metal crome glass, 1960, Italy.
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
Matti Klenell Fontana Arte Bianca Ceiling Lamp in Blown Glass, Designed 2015
By Matti Klenell, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Matti Klenell in 2015 and manufactured by Fontana Arte, the Bianca floor lamp is a family of lamps with diffuser in blown glass, comprising of pendant, floor, wall/ceiling and table versions, the latter with or without base. Its beautifully balanced shape is enriched and made unique by an orderly series of delicate, light grooves that, on the white volume of the glass, look like tiny prints...
Metal
Fontana Arte Lampara Suspension Lamp in Natural Aluminum, Designed 1965
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
From the archives of Fontana Arte, the Lampara Suspension Lamp in natural aluminium with white painted interior was designed in 1965. It is reminiscent of Industrial architecture, a...
Aluminum
Max Ingrand Fontana Arte N 4 Chandeliers Metal Crome Glass 1950 Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte chandeliers.
Glass
Charles Williams Fontana Arte Small Amax Suspension Lamp, 2003
By Charles Williams, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 2003 by Charles Williams for Fontana Arte, the Amax suspension lamp is an extra-large interpretation of the Classic FontanaArte lampshade. Amax is a family of suspension ...
Metal, Chrome
Matti Klenell Fontana Arte Bianca Suspension Lamp in Blown Glass, Designed 2015
By Matti Klenell, Fontana Arte
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Matti Klenell in 2015 and manufactured by Fontana Arte, the Bianca suspension lamp is a family of lamps with diffuser in blown glass, comprising pendant, floor, wall/ceiling and table versions, the latter with or without base. Its beautifully balanced shape is enriched and made unique by an orderly series of delicate, light grooves that, on the white volume of the glass, look like tiny prints...
Blown Glass
Italian Midcentury Glass Chandelier or Pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Rare Italian Mid-Century Modern chandelier / pendant / fixture by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in double saucer form with opaque, satin green glass in a textured pattern. A 3 part ta...
Brass
Pendant Model '1954' from Max Ingrand, 1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Berlin, DE
This rare ceiling lamp by the French designer and glass painter Max Ingrand was designed for Fontana Arte in 1960, known as the ‘1954’ model. This beautiful harmonious lamp is made o...
Metal, Brass
Sopsensione in chrome and etched glass, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Rare and unusual pendant designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the late 1960s, chrome cap and white inner reflector. Etched and frosted diffuser glass. In excellent condition, ...
Chrome
Gino Paroldo pendant Lamp Made by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Gino Paroldo Pendant Lamp Made by Fontana Arte, Italy, ca. 1960. Metal frame with thick, vertical, hammered glass diffusers in Nile Green, arranged radially in an irregular pattern...
Crystal
Italian space age Opaline glass steel chandelier by Fontana Arte, 1940s
By Fontana Arte
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age Opaline glass steel chandelier by Fontana Arte, 1940s Chandelier in matte opaline glass and steel. The dome diffuser has a chromed ...
Steel
1960s Glass and Chrome Pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Schoorl, NL
Classic drop-shaped pendant designed by Max Ingrand. Two thick and heavy glass panels with frosted glass center to diffuse the single E14 lightbulb. We als have one with brown/yello...
Chrome
Sisten Series Chandelier by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte
By Gianni Celada, Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, IT
Sisten Series Chandelier by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte Up-and-down pendant lamp in lacquered metal, chrome-plated metal, and opal glass. The Sisten series is a line of lamps pr...
Metal
"Sisten" Chandelier by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte
By Gianni Celada, Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, IT
Sisten Series Chandelier by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte Up-and-down pendant lamp in lacquered metal, chrome-plated metal, and opal glass. The Sisten series is a line of lamps pr...
Metal
‘2259' Glass Pendant Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
The ‘2259' pendant light was designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the 1960s. This modernist design features two teardrop-form glass diffusers with frosted egg-shaped cutouts, ...
Brass
Fontana Arte Chandelier Brass Glass 1960 Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte.
Brass
Vintage Italian Pendant w/ Beveled Glass by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1960s.
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage pendant with two large curved faceted beveled glasses, mounted on chrome frame by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte/ Made in Italy, circa 1960s
Glass
$5,708Sale Price|20% Off
FONTANARTE - Ceiling Light Curved Etched Glass Wood Brass, 1940, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte ceiling light curved etched glass wood brass, 1940, Italy.
Brass
Mod. 1995 Faceted Ceiling Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy. c.1960
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in London, GB
A rare, Mod. 1195 nickel-plated brass ceiling pendant by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy c.1960. This tapered, conical shaped ceiling light has a lovely aged patina which contras...
Brass, Nickel
Small 1970s Chandelier by Quattro Zero
By Quattro Zero Edited By Fontana Arte, Fontana Arte
Located in Paris, FR
Small 1970s chandelier by Quattro Zero, made with elements of cut glass.
Metal
Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Rare Domed Flush Mount Ceiling Light
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in North Miami, FL
This large 35 inch diameter glass ceiling mounted chandelier # 1508 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte is very RARE and ALL original vintage. Wonderful patina to brass ring diffuser - l...
Brass