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Pietro Chiesa Crystal Ashtray for Fontana Arte, Italy 1940
€850Bid from €765
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Exceptional solid crystal ashtray designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte in the 1940s. The piece perfectly expresses the master's poetic vision, capable of blending architectural rigor and sculptural grace through a noble and luminous material. Carved from a single block of hand-cut and polished crystal, the ashtray features a squared and highly disciplined structure where the concave center, precisely geometrically carved, interacts with the flat surfaces and beveled edges. Chiesa, founder and artistic director of Fontana Arte from 1932 until his death in 1948, was one of the absolute pioneers of artistic glass and crystal craftsmanship. He conceived timeless forms capable of blending cutting precision with the softness of light, anticipating research on the relationship between transparency and volume that would characterize post-war Italian design. The crystal, with its delicate aquamarine hue, retains its original luminosity and reveals, under light, a fascinating interplay of depth and reflections. In good vintage condition, with slight signs of age and minor superficial oxidation due to time, which do not compromise the beauty of the piece. An emblematic object of the rational and poetic elegance that made Fontana Arte an icon of Italian modernism.
Product Name: Crystal Ashtray designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, 1940
Designer: Pietro Chiesa
Design Year: 1940s
Style: Italian Modernism; luminous crystal sculpture
Main Materials: Solid crystal, hand-cut and polished from a single block
Distinctive Design: Rigorous square composition with a geometrically carved concave center; flat surfaces and beveled edges that create intense refractions and an architectural effect of great formal purity.
Dimensions: Length 15 cm Width 15 cm Height 3 cm
Typical Use: Decorative ashtray or sculptural table object; ideal for consoles, desks, coffee tables, or design interiors.
Design/One: An emblematic example of Pietro Chiesa's language, a pioneer of artistic glass and founder of Fontana Arte; a testament to his ability to combine constructive rigor and luminous poetry.
Versatility: Perfect for modern, Art Deco, minimalist, or contemporary interiors; the aquamarine hue harmonizes well with cool or neutral palettes.
Current Condition: Good vintage condition, with small signs of age and slight oxidation that appear over time, without compromising aesthetic quality.
Additional Notes: Please note that this object is in excellent vintage condition. Minor signs of age may be present, which do not affect its functionality. We kindly invite you to consider these characteristics before purchasing.
Fontana Arte is one of the most iconic Italian design companies of the 20th century, founded in Milan in 1932 by Gio Ponti and Luigi Fontana as an avant-garde laboratory dedicated to experimentation with glass and light. The company immediately distinguished itself with an innovative approach that combined architecture, applied arts, and industrial production. With the arrival of Pietro Chiesa, master of glass and metal, the company's language took shape through objects in solid crystal, pure forms, and very complex artisanal techniques. In the 1950s, the artistic direction passed to Max Ingrand, who transformed Fontana Arte into a poetic laboratory of light, creating lamps and objects that have since become absolute icons. Over the decades, the company has maintained a reputation for excellence thanks to its mastery of glass processing, the sculptural quality of its materials, and a continuous aesthetic research that has redefined the relationship between functionality and art. Today, Fontana Arte remains an international benchmark for luminous design and for the Milanese tradition of artistic glass.
Additional details:
- Style: Italian Modernism
- Colour: aquamarine
- Period: 1940s
- length: 15.0 cm
Specifications
CategoryTable accessoriesConditionGoodMaterialCrystalBrand / designerChiesaBrandArteHeight3 cmWidth15 cmSeller locationConversano, ItalyDelivery optionsDelivery or pickup
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About this seller
ProfessionalConversano, ItalyOn Whoppah since October 2024 • 0 sales