Pietro Chiesa Table Lamp for Fontana Arte, 1956
Description
Pietro Chiesa Table Lamp for Fontana Arte, brass, Italy, 1956
A compelling expression of Pietro Chiesa’s sculptural approach to lighting, this 1956 table lamp for Fontana Arte distills brass into a form that is both architectural and intimate. Its composition—defined by vertical rigor and soft radial expansion—reflects the designer’s ongoing dialogue between industrial precision and artisanal craftsmanship.
The lamp’s silhouette is defined by a flared circular shade and a cylindrical stem, both rendered in patinated brass. The sculptural simplicity of the piece reflects Fontana Arte’s postwar evolution under Chiesa’s influence, where lighting became not just a source of illumination, but an integral part of spatial composition. The discreet rotary switch placed at the base underscores the lamp’s harmony between function and formal elegance.
Pietro Chiesa—originally trained as a glass artist—brought a radical sensitivity to Fontana Arte when he joined the company in the 1930s under the artistic direction of Gio Ponti. His work often pushed the boundaries of modern Italian lighting, merging classical proportions with technical innovation. This table lamp, produced in the later phase of his career, is a refined synthesis of his vision: elemental, enduring, and formally exact.
Dimensions
Height: 16.14 in (41 cm)
Width: 12.40 in (31.5 cm)
Depth: 12.40 in (31.5 cm)
Design
1956
Manufacture
1950-1959
Material
Brass
Condition
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