FontanaArte Tabletop Display Sign - Satin Crystal and Metal - Promotional Item Year - Advertising sign - Steel, Glass
04
days
18
hours
20
minutes
46
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ashley Calvert
He has 15 years of experience trading 20th century glass and antiques.
Estimate € 550 - € 650
No bids placed
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FontanaArte Milano original table display sign in satinised and acidified crystal with a metal stem and base, circa 1960–1970, produced in Italy, in good used condition with minor age-related marks and stains; height 29 cm, width 21 cm, depth 12 cm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Rare FontanaArte Table Sign - Satin Crystal and Metal - Promotional Showroom/Historic Dealership Item
An extraordinary opportunity for true connoisseurs of Italian Design of the twentieth century. An original rare and elegant desk/showroom sign by FontanaArte is being presented at auction.
This exceptional advertising object was not intended for public sale. It was supplied exclusively to the most prestigious lighting ateliers and authorized showrooms to identify masterpieces by masters such as Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa and Max Ingrand. A true "holy grail" for modern decorative collectors, perfect to embellish a room when paired with iconic brand lamps or to add a touch of class to a professional studio.
The History of Design Behind the Sign
The sign itself perfectly embodies the productive philosophy founded in Milan in 1932 by the enlightened minds of Gio Ponti and Luigi Fontana. The choice of materials is not incidental: the heavy squared crystal block with satin/acid finish evokes the glassworking mastery that made the company famous worldwide.
The plate bears the famous institutional logo with the font typical of the Milanese house. It is supported by a solid, geometric chrome-plated metal stem ending on a circular stepped base. This geometric detail clearly recalls the metallic bases of the most famous table lamps of Milanese modern design’s golden age.
This is not a simple advertising plaque, but a prolongation of industrial glassmaking art elevated to a sculptural object.
Technical Details and Condition
* Producer: FontanaArte Milano (Official Website)
* Country of production: Italy (Milano)
* Materials: Satin/acid-etched solid crystal, stem and base in chrome/satin metal
* Estimated period: Second half of the 20th century
* Dimensions: Height about XX cm | Plate width XX cm | Base diameter XX cm
* Weight: Heavy (due to crystal thickness and weighted base)
* Conditions: Excellent overall aesthetic condition. The crystal shows no chips or filaments, the satin finish is uniform. The logo is perfectly intact. The metal retains its original luster with minimal and charming signs of time attesting to its authenticity. (Carefully view the photos for details).
Shipping and Packaging
As this is an art object containing a precious and heavy crystal slab, the packaging will be executed in a professional and meticulous manner, using specific shock-absorbing materials. The shipment will be traceable and insured for the full value of the award via international express courier.
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateRare FontanaArte Table Sign - Satin Crystal and Metal - Promotional Showroom/Historic Dealership Item
An extraordinary opportunity for true connoisseurs of Italian Design of the twentieth century. An original rare and elegant desk/showroom sign by FontanaArte is being presented at auction.
This exceptional advertising object was not intended for public sale. It was supplied exclusively to the most prestigious lighting ateliers and authorized showrooms to identify masterpieces by masters such as Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa and Max Ingrand. A true "holy grail" for modern decorative collectors, perfect to embellish a room when paired with iconic brand lamps or to add a touch of class to a professional studio.
The History of Design Behind the Sign
The sign itself perfectly embodies the productive philosophy founded in Milan in 1932 by the enlightened minds of Gio Ponti and Luigi Fontana. The choice of materials is not incidental: the heavy squared crystal block with satin/acid finish evokes the glassworking mastery that made the company famous worldwide.
The plate bears the famous institutional logo with the font typical of the Milanese house. It is supported by a solid, geometric chrome-plated metal stem ending on a circular stepped base. This geometric detail clearly recalls the metallic bases of the most famous table lamps of Milanese modern design’s golden age.
This is not a simple advertising plaque, but a prolongation of industrial glassmaking art elevated to a sculptural object.
Technical Details and Condition
* Producer: FontanaArte Milano (Official Website)
* Country of production: Italy (Milano)
* Materials: Satin/acid-etched solid crystal, stem and base in chrome/satin metal
* Estimated period: Second half of the 20th century
* Dimensions: Height about XX cm | Plate width XX cm | Base diameter XX cm
* Weight: Heavy (due to crystal thickness and weighted base)
* Conditions: Excellent overall aesthetic condition. The crystal shows no chips or filaments, the satin finish is uniform. The logo is perfectly intact. The metal retains its original luster with minimal and charming signs of time attesting to its authenticity. (Carefully view the photos for details).
Shipping and Packaging
As this is an art object containing a precious and heavy crystal slab, the packaging will be executed in a professional and meticulous manner, using specific shock-absorbing materials. The shipment will be traceable and insured for the full value of the award via international express courier.
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1900-2000
Title
FontanaArte Tabletop Display Sign - Satin Crystal and Metal - Promotional Item Year
Country of origin
Italy
Material
Glass, Steel
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
29 cm
Width
21 cm
Depth
12 cm
Autographed by a famous person
No
Estimated period
1960-1970
Qualification
Original/official
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