Max Ingrand FontanaArte 1853 Table Lamp

Materials: Round white painted metal base with a row of round holes. Frosted clear and white opal glass globe. Frosted clear and white opal glass lampshade. Both made in 3 layers: 2 frosted clear, 1 opal in the middle. White painted metal rods & parts. White painted Bakelite sockets.

Height: 78 cm / 30.70”

Width: ∅ 47 cm / 18.50”

Electricity:  5 bulbs E27, 5 x 60 watt maximum, 2 bulbs E14, 2 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred. But for this type of lamps, frosted or white light bulbs are the best. 

Period: 1950s – Until now.

Designer: Max Ingrand in 1954.

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

Other versions: This Max Ingrand FontanaArte 1853 table lamp exists in 3 sizes, as you can see in the catalogue pictures.

Over the years different metal bases were used. Today (2020) every model has a different base. The name is changed into Fontana Grande for this big version.  It is often used as a floor lamp.

This lamp has 3 switches, for the globe base, the lampshade and the top of the lampshade. This one is probably made in the 70s, 80s, to see on the sockets made by VLM Components (Italy).

Max Ingrand

Maurice Max-Ingrand was born 20 December 1908 in Bressuire, some 100 km from Nantes in the south-west of France. Ingrand studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (National School of Fine Arts), and the École Nationale Supérieure des arts Décoratifs (National School of Decorative Arts), both in Paris. 

He married Paulette Rouquié in 1931. Together they worked in glass etching.  Max Ingrand began to work in stained glass windows and church windows. He divorced in 1946 and married Marie-Alberte Madre-Rey.

In 1954 Max Ingrand became artistic director of  FontanaArte. In the same year he designed this table lamp, together with many other famous lamps. He left the company in 1967 and founded the company Verre Lumière in 1968. It was one of the first producers of halogen lamps. Max Ingrand passed away unexpectedly from the flu in Paris in 1969.

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.