Printing blocks - Italy - Pontinia Nero 12
03
days
04
hours
22
minutes
25
seconds
Current bid
€ 10
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Ashley Calvert
He has 15 years of experience trading 20th century glass and antiques.
Estimate € 180 - € 220
28 other people are watching this object
 | €10 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €10 | |
| €7 | |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 136165 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Antique solid wood printer’s tray from an Italian workshop, Corpo 12 Pontinia Nero font, mid‑20th century, with two original metal front handles, interior divided into dozens of compartments, dimensions 80 cm × 55 cm × 5 cm, weight 4.2 kg, in good used condition with minor wear and ink traces.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Antique Wooden Printer's Tray – Original Drawer from Movable Type Blocks, Font "Pontinia Nero" – Italy, Mid-20th Century
Splendid and authentic vintage wooden printer's tray (or "polizza") in solid wood, dating to the mid-twentieth century and sourced from a historic Italian printing house. This piece is not only a piece of graphic craft history but also a unique industrial-style decor element that is highly on-trend.
Original Label: On the side edge, the vintage label is perfectly preserved with the inscription "CORPO 12 PONTINIA NERO", which precisely identifies the size (corpo 12) and the famous Italian typeface (Pontinia, a variant of the classic Bodoni style) originally housed inside.
The tray features two robust original front metal handles in a satin finish, once used to easily pull the drawer from large printing cabinets.
The interior is divided into dozens of small compartments of various sizes (the so-called "fonti"), originally designed to hold individual letters in lead or wood, punctuation, and spacing.
The piece is presented in excellent vintage condition. The wood has developed a beautiful warm amber patina over time. It shows charming and minimal signs of natural wear on the back and edges (small scratches from rubbing and historic ink traces), which only certify its authenticity and industrial history. The structure is solid, sturdy, and perfectly intact.
Decor Potential (Interior Design):
Today these drawers are highly sought after as wall-mounted decorative elements or table-top statements. It is perfect for displaying small collections (miniature objects, perfumes, crystals, jewelry), as a decorative display case, or converted into a unique visual art piece for Industrial, Vintage, or Minimal interiors.
Technical Specifications:
Material: Solid wood and metal handles
Dimensions: 80 cm (length) x 55 cm (width) x 5 cm (thickness)
Weight: 4.2 kg
Origin: Italy
Antique Wooden Printers Type Drawer – Original Letterpress Type Setter Tray, Font "Pontinia Nero" – Italy, Mid-20th Century
Splendid and authentic vintage wooden printer's tray (letterpress drawer), dating back to the mid-20th century and sourced from a historic Italian printing house. This piece is not just a fragment of graphic craftsmanship history, but also a highly trendy and unique industrial design decor piece.
Historical Details & Charm:
Original Label: On the side edge, the vintage paper label is beautifully preserved, reading "CORPO 12 PONTINIA NERO". This precisely identifies the font size (corpo 12) and the famous Italian typeface family (Pontinia, a variation of the classic Bodoni style) that was originally stored inside.
Hardware: The drawer features its two original, sturdy satin-finish metal pull handles, once used to slide the tray out of the large printing cabinets.
Internal Geometry: The interior is divided into dozens of small compartments of various sizes, originally designed to meticulously organize lead or wooden metal types, punctuation, and spacing blocks.
Condition Report:
The item is in excellent vintage condition. The wood has developed a gorgeous, warm amber patina over the decades. It displays charming, minor signs of natural wear on the back and edges (light scratches and historic ink traces), which enhance its character and certify its authentic industrial past. The structure is solid, sturdy, and completely intact.
Decor Potential (Interior Design):
Today, these printer drawers are highly sought after as wall-mounted display cases or tabletop statement pieces. It is perfect for showcasing small collections (miniatures, crystals, perfumes, jewelry), used as a shadow box, or converted into a unique piece of visual art for Industrial, Vintage, or Minimalist interiors.
Technical Specifications:
Material: Solid wood and metal handles
Dimensions: 80 cm (Length) x 55 cm (Width) x 5 cm (Depth)
Weight: 4.2 kg
Origin: Italy
Antique Wooden Printer's Tray – Original Drawer from Movable Type Blocks, Font "Pontinia Nero" – Italy, Mid-20th Century
Splendid and authentic vintage wooden printer's tray (or "polizza") in solid wood, dating to the mid-twentieth century and sourced from a historic Italian printing house. This piece is not only a piece of graphic craft history but also a unique industrial-style decor element that is highly on-trend.
Original Label: On the side edge, the vintage label is perfectly preserved with the inscription "CORPO 12 PONTINIA NERO", which precisely identifies the size (corpo 12) and the famous Italian typeface (Pontinia, a variant of the classic Bodoni style) originally housed inside.
The tray features two robust original front metal handles in a satin finish, once used to easily pull the drawer from large printing cabinets.
The interior is divided into dozens of small compartments of various sizes (the so-called "fonti"), originally designed to hold individual letters in lead or wood, punctuation, and spacing.
The piece is presented in excellent vintage condition. The wood has developed a beautiful warm amber patina over time. It shows charming and minimal signs of natural wear on the back and edges (small scratches from rubbing and historic ink traces), which only certify its authenticity and industrial history. The structure is solid, sturdy, and perfectly intact.
Decor Potential (Interior Design):
Today these drawers are highly sought after as wall-mounted decorative elements or table-top statements. It is perfect for displaying small collections (miniature objects, perfumes, crystals, jewelry), as a decorative display case, or converted into a unique visual art piece for Industrial, Vintage, or Minimal interiors.
Technical Specifications:
Material: Solid wood and metal handles
Dimensions: 80 cm (length) x 55 cm (width) x 5 cm (thickness)
Weight: 4.2 kg
Origin: Italy
Antique Wooden Printers Type Drawer – Original Letterpress Type Setter Tray, Font "Pontinia Nero" – Italy, Mid-20th Century
Splendid and authentic vintage wooden printer's tray (letterpress drawer), dating back to the mid-20th century and sourced from a historic Italian printing house. This piece is not just a fragment of graphic craftsmanship history, but also a highly trendy and unique industrial design decor piece.
Historical Details & Charm:
Original Label: On the side edge, the vintage paper label is beautifully preserved, reading "CORPO 12 PONTINIA NERO". This precisely identifies the font size (corpo 12) and the famous Italian typeface family (Pontinia, a variation of the classic Bodoni style) that was originally stored inside.
Hardware: The drawer features its two original, sturdy satin-finish metal pull handles, once used to slide the tray out of the large printing cabinets.
Internal Geometry: The interior is divided into dozens of small compartments of various sizes, originally designed to meticulously organize lead or wooden metal types, punctuation, and spacing blocks.
Condition Report:
The item is in excellent vintage condition. The wood has developed a gorgeous, warm amber patina over the decades. It displays charming, minor signs of natural wear on the back and edges (light scratches and historic ink traces), which enhance its character and certify its authentic industrial past. The structure is solid, sturdy, and completely intact.
Decor Potential (Interior Design):
Today, these printer drawers are highly sought after as wall-mounted display cases or tabletop statement pieces. It is perfect for showcasing small collections (miniatures, crystals, perfumes, jewelry), used as a shadow box, or converted into a unique piece of visual art for Industrial, Vintage, or Minimalist interiors.
Technical Specifications:
Material: Solid wood and metal handles
Dimensions: 80 cm (Length) x 55 cm (Width) x 5 cm (Depth)
Weight: 4.2 kg
Origin: Italy
Details
Era
1900-2000
Weight
4.2 kg
Style subtype
Upcycled
Title additional information
Pontinia Nero 12
Number of objects
1
Material
Wood
Country of origin
Italy
Style
Industrial
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
56 cm
Width
80 cm
Depth
6 cm
Estimated period
1940-1950
Sold by
