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The Italian luxury lighting brand FontanaArte was founded in 1932
by glass craftsman Luigi Fontana and renowned architect Gio Ponti.
The design company's works were first distinguished
by its realization of artistic stained glass windows, many of
which are today still functional elements and ornamental in churches
and cathedrals. Amongst them the Duomo of Milan and the
Cathedral of Brasilia in Brazil designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
By using glass, Gio Ponti realized what an enormous potential this material could offer in the in the making of furnishing complements for interiors, and he started to design and produce furniture, lamps and objects with glass as the main distinguishing feature. Soon a new collection was ready to be marketed, and his new design concept was being used as a complement to the interior decoration of many houses that he personally designed. Over the years, FontanaArte has had many contributors to its designs, including Pietro Chiesa, Gae Aulenti, Pierluigi Cerri, Piero Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti, Vittorio Gregotti, Ettore Sottsass, Umberto Riva, Alvaro Siza and Renzo Piano.
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