Storyfing | FontanaArte

1931.

Gio Ponti starts as Luigi Fontana’s art director

Gio Ponti’s first Fontana icon: the 0024 hanging lamp

Cone + sphere = Bilia, an extraordinary design of ‘the moment’, the table lamp by Gio Ponti

1932.

Gio Ponti meets Pietro Chiesa. FontanaArte is born

Still rolling off the production line, Ponti’s “Tavolino 1932” coffee table

Is it glass or is it paper? Pietro Chiesa works the raw material for his Cartoccio vase

One material, one seamless line: the essence of the Fontana coffee table

1933.

Welcome Luminator, the archetypal indirect emission floor lamp

Ponti and Chiesa designs for FontanaArte steal the show at the Triennale

1937.

Pietro Chiesa designs the first version of 006, a makeover of the classic lamp

1954.

Max Ingrand, a new art director leads FontanaArte into the industrial age

Max Ingrand designs the company’s iconic table lamp, also named Fontana, and still a winner today

1967.

Gio Ponti’s tribute to Milan’s famous skyscraper: the classic Pirellina and Pirellone collection

1972.

The Uovo design, retrieved from corporate archives, has been a favourite for the last 40 years

The Scintilla system to launch a new sector: a hybrid of decorative and technical lighting

1979.

New art director Gae Aulenti develops product and communication synergies

1980.

A new catalogue entry, Tavolo con Ruote: a surprising piece heralding Gae Aulenti’s design approach

Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni bring handcrafting to industry with the Parola table lamp

1987.

Renzo Piano knocks on the door of design with his Teso collection for FontanaArte. Who says glass is not as hard as steel?

1988.

Franco Raggi designs Velo: less is definitely more

1992.

Prima Signora: the unmatched style of Daniela Puppa

FontanaArte buys out Candle and considers new forms of expression

1993.

Not just another pretty face. Nobi, as handy as it is decorative

Sara is Pierluigi Cerri’s design for a small table lamp design embracing new materials and production processes

1995.

1997.

FontanaArte buys out legendary Naskaloris. 1998.

Established greats and new talents partner up for this collection

FontanaArte receives ADI’s Compasso d’Oro for its creative vision

2005.

FontanaArte enters the contract sector by lighting up prestige projects

2010.

FontanaArte joins forces with the Nice Group.

2011.

Sole forges ahead with new generation light sources