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.
Free Shipping PANGEN - Medium Suspension Lamp - Black by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This lampshade is a fluid, minimal dome shape, its lacquer finish and modern colors ensuring surprising lighting. Available in suspension and ceiling mounted versions. Suspension la...
Metal
Free Shipping BIANCA Medium Table Lamp White Frosted Glass Shade by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bianca is a family of luminaires with the decoration on the diffuser surface features an orderly series of shallow delicate grooves etched into the white glass, yielding an effect re...
Metal
Free ShippingEQUATORE - Medium Table Lamp - Metal Base Matt Gold by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
EQUATORE - Small Floor Lamp - Galvanized Metal Base Black by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
EQUATORE - Medium Floor Lamp - Metal Base Matt Gold by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
PINECONE - Medium Suspension Lamp - Gold Plated Metal by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pinecone is a suspension and table lamp. The diffuser is manufactured using the ancient caged blown glass technique: the glass maker blows the molten glass blob into a metal cage, wh...
Metal
Free Ship EQUATORE - Medium Table Lamp - Galvanized Metal Body by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
PALLINA - Small Table Lamp - Nickel 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 PALLINA - Small Table Lamp - Rose Gold 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
Metal and Glass Coffee table by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Red Lion, PA
Black lacquered metal and grey mirrored glass top mod. 2001 coffee table by Max Ingrand - Circa 1960 Edition Fontana Arte
Metal
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
Blue Fruit Bowl "Model 1419" by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brussels, BE
Blue Fruit Bowl "Model 1419" by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, 1960s
Glass
Cini Boeri Hand Blown Murano Milk Glass White Table Lamp
By Fontana Arte, Cini Boeri
Located in London, England
An elegant table lamp made from hand blown Murano glass and a circular metal base. A single piece of glass forms the shade, connecting to the fluted glass stem via three screws. Li...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Reeded Glass
Pinecone Model Table Lamp by Paola Navone for FontanArte
By Paola Navone, Fontana Arte
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Pinecone is a support lamp, characterized by a diffuser produced using the ancient technique of caged blown glass: the master glassmaker blows the glass bubble into a metal cage, whi...
Metal
20th Century, Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte Floor Lamp mod. 1967
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
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
Free Ship Nobi Medium Wall Lamp White Metal by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Nobi - Medium Wall Lamp - White Metal, Frosted Glass Shades With a simple spin, the Nobi Wall Sconce by FontanaArte creates an elegant and unique ambiance. Designed by Italian duo M...
Metal
Setareh Large Suspension Lamp - Gold Glossy Galvanized Metal Frame Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Setareh - Large Suspension Lamp - Gold Glossy Galvanized Metal Frame, White Glass Diffuser & Shade Bring an inspiring and transcendent presence to your modern home, with the simple ...
Metal
Setareh Large Suspension Lamp - Black Glossy Galvanized Metal Frame Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Setareh - Large Suspension Lamp - Black Glossy Galvanized Metal Frame, White Glass Diffuser & Shade Bring an inspiring and transcendent presence to your modern home, with the simple...
Metal
PINECONE - Medium Table Lamp - Gold Plated Metal by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pinecone - Medium Table Lamp - Gold Plated Metal Wire Mesh, Clear Glass Shade Pinecone is a suspension and table lamp. The diffuser is manufactured using the ancient caged blown gla...
Metal
Free Ship Fontanella Large Table Lamp Black 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
Free ShippingBilia Led Table LampSatin Nicel 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
Free Shipping BILIA Medium Table Lamp Glossy Black Metal Base by 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
Free Shipping BIANCA Large Table Lamp White Frosted Glass Shade by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bianca is a family of luminaires with the decoration on the diffuser surface features an orderly series of shallow delicate grooves etched into the white glass, yielding an effect re...
Metal
Free Shipping Bianca - Large Suspension Light (E26) by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The Bianca Pendant from FontanaArte is a charming family of lights, each featuring a beautifully textured diffuser with delicate, shallow grooves etched into the white glass, reminis...
Metal
AVICO Large Suspension Lamp White Polymer Shade Double-Coated Black Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Sophisticated drama. The Avico Pendant by FontanaArte presents a widespread dome-shaped shade that overpowers a space with elegance. Designed by Charles Williams in 2006, this pendan...
Metal
Equatore Medium Table Lamp Galvanized Metal Body Polished Chrome by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
Free Shipping BILIA MINI Small Table Lamp Glossy Black 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
EQUATORE - Small Table Lamp - Galvanized Metal Base Glossy Black by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
Tropico Large Table Lamp White Marble Base Black Galvanized Gold TopFontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The "shape of light" is the central theme of this project by Gabriele and Oscar Buratti, which began with the Equatore family of lamps, presented in 2017 and now expanded to include ...
Marble, Metal
EQUATORE Small Floor Lamp - Galvanized Metal Base PolishedChrome by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
EQUATORE - Small Floor Lamp - Metal Base Matt Gold by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
Free Shipping PANGEN - Suspension Lamp - White by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This lampshade is a fluid, minimal dome shape, its lacquer finish and modern colors ensuring surprising lighting. Available in suspension and ceiling mounted versions. Suspension la...
Metal
$1,355 / item
PANGEN - Ceiling Lamp - White by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This lampshade is a fluid, minimal dome shape, its lacquer finish and modern colors ensuring surprising lighting. Available in suspension and ceiling mounted versions. Ceiling lamp ...
Metal
EQUATORE Medium Floor Lamp - Galvanized Metal Body Polished Chrome Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Equatore is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic lamp with a glass shade. While the traditional abat-jour uses the shade to contain the light source within, in this family ...
Metal
CHESHIRE - Table Lamp - Black Metal Base by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
It echoes the studio’s Nordic imprint in its simplicity and functional aspects. The opaline polycarbonate diffuser ensures soft lighting, while the colored one spreads the light down...
Metal
Free Shipping BILIA MINI - Small Table Lamp - Blue 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
Amax - Small Suspension Lamp - White Polymer Shade by Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Designed by Charles Williams in 2003, this fixture takes a classic tapered design and reinterprets it on a large scale to offer drama and elegance to a space. A chromed metal frame i...
Metal