An architect, furniture and industrial designer and editor, Gio Ponti was arguably the most influential figure in 20th-century Italian modernism.
Ponti designed thousands of furnishings and products — from cabinets, mirrors and chairs to ceramics and coffeemakers — and his buildings, including the brawny Pirelli Tower (1956) in his native Milan, and the castle-like Denver Art Museum (1971), were erected in 14 countries. Through Domus, the magazine he founded in 1928, Ponti brought attention to virtually every significant movement and creator in the spheres of modern art and design.
The questing intelligence Ponti brought to Domus is reflected in his work: as protean as he was prolific, Ponti’s style can’t be pegged to a specific genre.
In the 1920s, as artistic director for the Tuscan porcelain maker Richard Ginori, he fused old and new; his ceramic forms were modern, but decorated with motifs from Roman antiquity. In pre-war Italy, modernist design was encouraged, and after the conflict, Ponti — along with designers such as Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini, Marco Zanuso — found a receptive audience for their novel, idiosyncratic work. Ponti’s typical furniture forms from the period, such as the wedge-shaped Distex chair, are simple, gently angular, and colorful; equally elegant and functional. In the 1960s and ’70s, Ponti’s style evolved again as he explored biomorphic shapes, and embraced the expressive, experimental designs of Ettore Sottsass Jr., Joe Colombo and others.
Ponti's signature furniture piece — the one by which he is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Germany’s Vitra Design Museum and elsewhere — is the sleek Superleggera chair, produced by Cassina starting in 1957. (The name translates as “superlightweight” — advertisements featured a model lifting it with one finger.)
Ponti had a playful side, best shown in a collaboration he began in the late 1940s with the graphic artist Piero Fornasetti. Ponti furnishings were decorated with bright finishes and Fornasetti's whimsical lithographic transfer prints of things such as butterflies, birds or flowers; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts possesses a 1950 secretary from their Architetturra series, which feature case pieces covered in images of building interiors and facades. The grandest project Ponti and Fornasetti undertook, however, lies on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean: the interiors of the luxury liner Andrea Doria, which sank in 1956.
Widely praised retrospectives at the Queens Museum of Art in 2001 and at the Design Museum London in 2002 sparked a renewed interest in Ponti among modern design aficionados. (Marco Romanelli’s monograph, which was written for the London show, offers a fine overview of Ponti’s work.) Today, a wide array of Ponti’s designs are snapped up by savvy collectors who want to give their homes a touch of Italian panache and effortless chic.
Find a range of vintage Gio Ponti desks, dining chairs, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Morandiana bottle in Venini and Gio Ponti glass for Iveco
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Busnago, IT
This elegant and refined 1989 Murano glass bottle by Venini is inspired by the paintings of Giorgio Morandi. Conceived in 1956 by Adv. Paolo Venini was made with the collaboration of...
Glass
Gio Ponti for Venini Morandiane Murano Glass Bottle with Stopper, Signed
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Chicago, IL
A striking Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini for Venini tall “A Canne” striped bottle or decanter with matching stopper. 18” tall. Created in the Venini workshop in Murano Italy, an island ...
Glass, Blown Glass
Gio Ponti and Venini, Morandiana model bottle, 1990.
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Busnago, IT
Rare bottle by Gio Ponti for Venini, designed in the 1950s, from the Morandiana series. This specimen is a 1990 edition, Venini '90 signature engraved under the base, original cap. T...
Glass
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
Striped ‘A Canne’ Glass Carafe by Gio Ponti for Venini
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Chicago, IL
Small, striped glass carafe by Gio Ponti for Venini. This is an ‘A Canne’ or caned glass carafe or pitcher. It was produced in Italy at the Venini glass factory. In 1921 Venini and ...
Glass, Blown Glass
Set of 6 Glasses and Pitcher by Gio Ponti for Venini, Italy, 1959
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 6 Glasses and Pitcher by Gio Ponti for Venini, Italy, 1959
Murano Glass
Murano Blown Glass Chandelier Design by Gio Ponti for Venini Official
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in murano, IT
The models in the 99.81 collection were designed by Gio Ponti, who in 1946 applied to the contemporary style the refined colours introduced in the Venini palette by the great desig...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Gio Ponti Paolo Venini Murano Glass Bottle Morandiana Series 1982
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini bottle for Venini designed in the 1950s, “ A Canne” model from the Morandiana series. This example is a 1980s edition, signed Venini 82, with its orig...
Glass
Gio Ponti bootle in Murano glass circa 1950
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Gio Ponti bootle in Murano glass by Venini circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini A Canne Morandiane Series Glass for Venini, 1955
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
Large Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini A Canne Morandiane series murano glass for Venini, 1955 Signed with three-line acid stamp to underside 'Venini Murano ...
Murano Glass
Gio Ponti for Venini Old Lady Bottle Model 4492
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Gio Ponti for Venini "Old Lady Bottle" with stopper model 4492, Italy, 1990. This lovely bottle has the shape of a female made in glass with two colo...
Blown Glass
Bottle with Stopper by Gio Ponti for Venini
By Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Hand blown incalmo glass decanter in white and green with stopper. Unsigned. Published: Venini: Catalog Raisonné 1921-1986, Diaz de Santillana, pg. 296. ...
Blown Glass
Gio Ponti "A Canne" Glass Pitcher for Venini
By Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Gio Ponti "A Canne" Glass Pitcher for Venini, Italy. "A Canne" translates to "With Reeds". Blue and Green stripes. Excellent vintage condition with age related wear. No chips, cra...
Murano Glass
Set of six Venini Murano "Esagonali" Glasses by Carlo Scarpa
By Venini
Located in Vienna, AT
Elevate your glassware collection with this exquisite set of six handcrafted Murano glass tumblers by Carlo Scarpa for Venini. These incredible thin and very lightweight glasses demo...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$1,575
H 10.25 in W 2.25 in D 2.25 in
Murano Hand-blown Decanter with Stopper, attributed to Gio Ponti for Venini
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a vintage Mid-Century Modern, hand-blown art glass, barware decanter with a matching spherical stopper. This piece closely matches the iconic styles produced by Murano gl...
Blown Glass
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s A rare Venini art glass bowl of the 'Diamante' series. Heavy transparent glass with a ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Venini Art Glass Vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956 A vintage art glass vase in erba pesante (grass green) glass with layered...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$5,517
H 27 in Dm 18 in
Vintage Murano Venini Cascading Five Tier Glass Prism Chandelier And Nickel Cage
By Venini
Located in North Miami, FL
In this vintage Murano Venini chandelier there are five tiers of hanging prism glass pendants that make up this chandelier. It is Italian and the f...
Nickel
Artistic Handmade Design Ca' Rezzonico Murano Glass Chandelier
By Roberto Beltrami
Located in Murano, VE
Discover the timeless elegance of Rezzonico style chandeliers, one of the oldest and most beloved chandelier designs made in Murano, here in a modern transparent version. The peculia...
Blown Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Polipo Venini Plate Murano Sculpture, 1990
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare beautiful Tapio Wirkkala “Polipo” plate for Venini, from the serie “Piatti di Tapio” signed and dated Venini TW 90 on the back, made of Murano glass using Incalmo technique. The...
Murano Glass
$2,125
H 3.35 in Dm 20.08 in
Very Large Vetro Soffiato Glass Dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano
By Venini, Vittorio Zecchin
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Very large Vetro Soffiato glass dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano ca. 1925 A very large 'vetro soffiato' glass dish in amethyst transparent glass, designed by Vittorio Zecchin in 1925 and manufactured by Venini, Murano Venice. Acid stamped signature 'venini murano' on the base. Venini model number 1306. The dish has been manufactured in different sizes, this is the larges version which is very rare. One of the early 20th century designs of Zecchin for Cappellin and Venini which motivated the muranese glass companies to set out for new shores. Good condition with some surface scratches. The last picture shows it together with a mid size version with 14.29" inches as comparison of the sizes. Measures: Height: 3.35" (8.5 cm) Diameter: 20.08" (51 cm) Literature Reference: Marino Barovier, Vittorio Zecchin: Transparent Glass for Cappellin and Venini, Milano 2017, pages 326, 336 and 357 Vittorio Zecchin (1878 - 1947) was a native Muranese and son of a glasswork technician. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Together with the painter Teodoro Wolf Ferrari...
Art Glass
Set of 6 Tropical Bird Glasses and Peacock Pitcher
By Casarialto
Located in Milan, IT
Refined and charming, this set is part of a new Casarialto collection inspired by the bright colors of tropical islands. Handmade of blown glass by skilled Venetian artisans, the set...
Glass
Gio Ponti Paolo Venini Murano Glass Bottle Morandiana Series 1982
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini bottle for Venini designed in the 1950s, “ A Canne” model from the Morandiana series. This example is a 1980s edition, signed Venini 82, with its orig...
Glass
Archimede Seguso Murano Green Sommerso Glass Bottle with Stopper
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Archimede Seguso
Located in New Windsor, NY
A beautiful example in glass of the refined elegance of an Archimede Seguso design. A light, seafoam green glass perfume bottle and tear drop stopper encased in clear. Ribbed exteri...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Seguso Murano Latticino Bottle/Decanter with Stopper
By Seguso
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Latticino glass bottle/decanter by Seguso, White and clear glass with delicate metallic gold aventurine threads. Bottle measures 19.25" tall with stopper and 4.25" in diameter. Stopp...
Art Glass
Sold
H 18.75 in Dm 3.5 in
Mid Century Italian Murano Glass Morandiane Bottle Gio Ponti & Paolo Venini 1955
By Gio Ponti, Paolo Venini
Located in Portland, OR
A fine original tall Gio Ponti for Venini "Morandiane" Murano Glass Bottle with Stopper, Signed and dating from 1955. A striking & elegant Gio Ponti & Paolo Venini for Venini, tall ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 12.6 in W 5.91 in D 7.49 in
Gio Ponti Green Italian Murano Empoli Verde Green Glass Duck Wine Decanter
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A mid-20th century green Murano glass wine decanter in the form of a duck, the base with feet to the front and tail to the rear, and the stopper in the form of the duck’s head. Made with Murano Empoli Verde...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 12.6 in W 5.91 in D 7.49 in
A Gio Ponti Green Italian Murano Empoli Verde Green Glass Duck Wine Decanter
By Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A mid twentieth century green Murano glass wine decanter in the form of a duck, the base with feet to the front and tail to the rear, and the stopper in the form of the duck’s head. Made with Murano Empoli Verde...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 12.8 in W 6.11 in L 12.8 in
Vintage Italian Gio Ponti Murano Empoli Green or Verde Glass Duck Decanter
By Empoli, Gio Ponti, Toso Bagnoli
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish Italian Murano hand blown Empoli Verde decanter, in the shape of a duck thought to be based on the design of Gio Ponti for Taddei di Empoli around 1950 produced circa 1960 ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
![GIO PONTI Glass Decanter [Venini Incalmo] Vessel](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/venini-incalmo-glass-decanter-by-gio-ponti-for-sale/1121189/f_145846211556957697017/14584621_master.jpg?width=240)
![GIO PONTI Glass Decanter [Venini Incalmo] Vessel](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/venini-incalmo-glass-decanter-by-gio-ponti-for-sale-picture-2/f_28963/1556890065847/707_GIO_PONTI2_master.jpg?width=240)
GIO PONTI Glass Decanter [Venini Incalmo] Vessel
By Gio Ponti
Located in Hawthorne, CA
An objet d'art from Venini Incalmo glass decanter designed by Gio Ponti, Italian, 20th century. A beautiful slender glass decanter vessel to embellish y...
Glass
'A Canne' Glass Carafe by Gio Ponti for Venini Glass
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An iconic glass carafe by Gio Ponti for Venini. It is constructed with white and teal 'a canne' filaments, and the inverted conical neck has a ...
Murano Glass
'A Canne" Glass Carafe by Gio Ponti for Venini
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An 'A Canne" glass Carafe by Gio Ponti for Venini with teal and white canes. Base has polished pontil and bears no visible factory mark. He...
Blown Glass
Apothecary Jars by Gio Ponti for Venini
By Gio Ponti
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Incredible pair of apothecary jars by Gio Ponti for Venini. Label exists stating 'Venini Murano Venezia, made in Italy' with stock number which lo...
Glass
Gio Ponti glass bottle vase
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gio Ponti glass bottle vase manufactured by Venini. Beautiful two-tone, colored glass,bronze with red base.
Glass