HISTORY OF THE BRAND
FontanaArte was founded in Milan in 1932, originating in an encounter between Gio Ponti (the great 20th-century maestro of Italian architecture), Luigi Fontana (entrepreneur of sheet glass) and Pietro Chiesa (a master glass artisan).
FontanaArte accompanied Italy’s exploration of modernity, where glass and metal expressed a new idea of beauty infused with light and transparen cy . The history of FontanaArte is distinguished by lamps and every type of object that brought light into the inhabited space. This timeless mission has been passed down from icon to new product, a generations’ link.
It was Ponti’s idea to add the word “Arte” to the new section of Luigi Fontana & C., the original company. Still now art remains the key to a brand identity that exists over and above each single serially produced object. The visions expressed during the artistic direction of Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa, of Max Ingrand and of Gae Aulenti are embodied in the contributions of many designers who interpreted their times, participating in the construction of the FontanaArte identity over more than 80 years.
Since 2024, FontanaArte has been part of Nemo Group, Italian leading player in high-end decorative and architectural lighting headed by Federico Palazzari. FontanaArte is in Altagamma, the Foundation which gathers high-end Italian cultural and creative companies.
2022 MARCHIO STORICO
In the year of the 90th anniversary of the company’s birth,FontanaArte becomes part of the special Register of Historical Trademarks of National Interest, established by the Ministry of Economic Development, created to protect and enhance historically Made in Italy manufacturing enterprises of excellence.
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