FontanaArte

Milanese firm for glass and lighting, founded with Gio Ponti as artistic director, followed by Pietro Chiesa. Known for lamps and furniture of thick, cut glass.

Luigi Fontana had a plate-glass business in Milan, and Gio Ponti became artistic director of the new FontanaArte division. The glass was ground, bent and coloured into lamps, mirrors and tables.

Pietro Chiesa took over the direction and made works such as the Fontana table and the Luminator lamp. Gio Ponti's Bilia lamp of 1931 and Max Ingrand's Fontana of 1954 are still in production.

Labels or engraved markings; the glass is often thick and curved.

• Lighting