stile Giò Ponti - Art Deco italiano - Corpus 4 disegni ornamentali / progetti

Scope of Gio Ponti (1930s) - Corpus of 4 design drawings for ornamental fountains - Scale 1:10

Rare and elegant archival corpus composed of four period design plates, fully placeable in the cultural context of Italian Deco and Milanese Neoclassicism of the 1930s. The lot constitutes a "presentation of a commission" integrated from a leading professional studio of the era: it combines a decorative-artistic plate and scenographic view with three geometric-executive variants at a usable scale, conceived to be submitted for the client’s selection.
Form references, the zoomorphic decorative apparatus, and the purity of the lines show evident affinities with the iconography, repertoires, and expressive language developed by Gio Ponti for the applied arts and architectural decoration in that decade.

TECHNICAL SHEET AND COMPOSITION OF THE LOT
Era: 1930s (Twentieth Century / Italian Deco).
Support: Medium gray contemporary cardboard, machine-laminated, characterized by a smooth verso and a porous, felt-like recto.
Execution peculiarity: All drawings are deliberately made on the velvety (felt) side of the cardboard. This choice attests to a high level of execution: the paper’s porosity absorbs light and eliminates reflections, creating a dull gray background that makes color fields stand out.
Technique: Pencil, black india ink (perimeter lines and geometric details), tempera/watercolor (gold, emerald green, faux marble and terracotta) and solid white lead to model the three-dimensional water.

List and dimensions of the plates:
Prospective Plate (cm 50 x 69): Overall, scenographic view of an elongated fountain in faux marble with a modan border. On the sides rise two gilded nude figures (a male back view on the left, a frontal female on the right) holding the links of a gold chain connected to a central silver dolphin. The corners of the structure are adorned with gilded turtles serving as diagonal corner acroteria.
Technical Plate I (cm 68 x 46):
Elevation and plan at a scale of a monumental cascading fountain with two concentric, overlapping cylindrical levels, base finished with emerald green vertical slats. Indicates the office geometry "SCALE 1:10".
Technical Plate II (cm 68 x 46):
Elevation and plan at a scale of a geometric fountain with a central pedestal, adorned with bronze mascaroni, terracotta brick base, and crowned at the top by a sculpted green pinecone. Indicates "SCALE 1:10".
Technical Plate III (cm 68 x 46):
Elevation and plan at a scale of a goblet-shaped fountain with a tall fluted shaft in green marble and an elaborate crown of multiple arched water jets at the base. Indicates "SCALE 1:10".

CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND STATE OF PRESERVATION
Stylistic details: The inscription "SCALE 1:10" on the three technical plates shows a geometric and rationalist hand typical of office lettering of the period. The application of white lead on the micro-roughness of the velvety cardboard was done in relief, giving the cascades and jets a nearly sculptural and luminous texture.
Condition: Good and coherent with the era. The sheets retain excellent color freshness. As these are works not protected by final varnish and executed on the porous side of the cardboard, they show very minor archival storage traces along the outer edges (visible in photos), which do not affect the painted portion in the slightest.