Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte, floor lamp Parco dei Principi model '1967', brass, glass, coated aluminum, bakelite, Italy, circa 1960

This elegant floor lamp by Gio Ponti is based on a design originally created for the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento. In 1959, Gio Ponti was commissioned to design a modern hotel building along the coast of Sorrento, Italy. The hotel, uniquely positioned on the ancient walls of historic remains, opened its doors in 1962. To this day, the luxurious setting reflects Pontis signature approach, characterized by his exclusive use of blue and white tones throughout the interiors. Ponti initially designed this floor lamp with a blue shade to furnish both private and public areas of the hotel. Its functionality is highlighted by an adjustable stem and lampshade, allowing users to direct the light as desired. The lamps elegance is showcased through its slender brass stem, complemented by a transparent base that enhances the lightness and simplicity of the entire piece. The hemispherical shade in red pairs beautifully with the patinated brass.

Giovanni (Gio) Ponti (1891 1979) is one of the most influential Italian designers of the twentieth century. His contribution to architecture, furniture design and the arts has been substantial. Born in Milan in 1891, he attended the Polytechnic University of Milan, where he graduated in Architecture in 1921 after serving the military during WWI. He opened his first studio in 1927 in Milan with architect Emilio Lancia. Soon after, he founded Domus magazine in 1928 with Gianni Mazzocchi, which became one of the most prominent European magazines in architecture and design. Ponti participated during the Triennale exhibitions of the 1930's, and later he became a member of the Triennial committee. A significant shift can be distinguished in his designs between the two World Wars. During the early years, Ponti's style positioned between rationalism and Lombard Classicism that came forward in his use of decorative elements in his furniture and objects. Functionality and a pragmatic approach started to play a bigger role in his later designs. His work as a designer fully took off after WWII, and he became an important figure in Italian industrial aesthetics that conquered the international markets in the 1950s. Gio Ponti worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has been of great inspiration for even more. A few amongst Ponti's followers are Paolo Buffa, Paco Muoz and Lina Bo Bardi, as with the latter Ponti worked together on a series of projects during the early period of Bo Bardi's career.

Kindly note that the piece is in good, used condition with signs of age and use. For further details, we encourage you to reach out to our team of design specialists.