Incollect Magazine - Issue 14

Incollect Magazine 27 Paul Donzella, Donzella Ltd. What is different and special about Fontana Arte? At the core of the company’s work is plate glass. Before Luigi Fontana and Gio Ponti partnered to create Fontana Arte in 1932, Fontana had a thriving business supplying plate glass, which was a technological innovation at that time, for modern buildings. Plate glass remained an intrinsic and distinctive part of the company’s ethos and brand style. Can anyone afford to buy a work of Fontana Arte? While their pieces were so chic and appeared to be expensive, most were modestly priced and intended for popular distribution. Their guiding belief was that everyone should be able to have elements of luxury in their home. As a result, while there are many models that remain rare and are therefore expensive, there are also many models that were huge sellers and can readily be found on the secondary market. Some are still in production today. Model No. 1880 chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. A tour de force of a fixture, and a very rare model. Glass, frosted glass, brass, and painted metal with 60 crystal glass fins. Italy, circa 1956. Available from Donzella on Incollect.com. Photo: courtesy Donzella Ltd. Rare Frosted Cone Chandelier by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. A beautiful and rare model. Colored glass, frosted glass, and brass. Italy, circa 1955. Available from Donzella on Incollect. com. Photo: courtesy Donzella Ltd.