FontanaArte Drum Table Lamp

Materials: Rectangular polished stainless steel base and parts. Round borosilicate glass rod. Round white opal acid-etched hand blown glass lampshade. Porcelain E14 sockets.

Height: 37 cm / 14.56”

Width: ∅ 23 cm / 9.05”

Electricity: 3 bulbs G9, 3 x 25 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of halogen bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 2000s.

Designer: Franco Raggi in 2005.

Manufacturer: Candle – FontanaArte S.p.A., Alzaia Trieste, 49, 20094 Corsico, near Milan, Italy.

Other versions: This FontanaArte Drum table lamp exists in 3 sizes, as you can see in the catalogue picture. Also a floor lamp and a pendant lamp exists.

Franco Raggi

Franco Raggi was born in 1945 in Milan, Italy. He graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic in 1969. For FontanaArte he designed the Velo lamps (1988-89), The Flûte (1999) and this Drum table lamp in 2005.

FontanaArte

FontanaArte was founded in Milan in 1932 by Luigi Fontana and Giò Ponti (1891 – 1979). The company is known for the processing of curved glass and for the production of lighting equipment, becoming over the years a prominent name for Italian design.

Giò Ponti invites Pietro Chiesa (1892 – 1942) to join him in the art direction. Chiesa is a distinguished glass master who enlists the craftsmen from his own workshop to join him to the company. Gio Ponti designed the 0024 pendant lamp and the Bilia table lamp in 1931.

Pietro Chiesa’s most famous lamp at that time is the Luminator, designed in 1933, in 1937 the 006.

In 1954, Max Ingrand, a French glass master and decorator, renowned for his stunning stained-glass church windows, becomes the art director. He designed the Fontana table lamp.

Gio Ponti becomes again art director in 1967 and he designs a new collection of lamps, the Pirellina and Pirellone table lamps.

Gae Aulenti becomes the art director in 1979. Her first move is to makeover the collection. She is flanked by Piero Castiglioni, Pierluigi Cerri, Daniela Puppa and Franco Raggi. The Parola table lamp is born in 1980.

In 1993 FontanaArte acquires Candle, another Italian lighting brand.

The list of designers that worked for the company is infinite. You can find the majority over here on the FontanaArte website.