Italian Masterworks 
13 December 2012
Italian Masterworks 
125

Fontana Arte

Rare Tortone ceiling fixture

Italy, 1941
carved and lacquered wood, frosted glass, brass 9 h × 29 dia in (23 × 74 cm)
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $11,250
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provenance: Collection of Loris Manna, Milan
Gio Ponti and his vision served as the inspiration for the important collection of Loris Manna, author of Gio Ponti, The Majolica. For an introduction to the collection, read One Collection, One History by Loris Manna.

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The Tortone

An Early Ceiling Fixture

This early ceiling fixture is called the Tortone for its resemblance to a large cake. Manufactured at the beginning to the war (1941) when metal was scarce and costs were prohibitive, this is one of very few original models produced by Fontana Arte during this time. A direct response to the unavailability of metals, the Tortune is made of carved and lacquered wood (uncommon for Fontana Arte) with inlays of high quality glass elements. For these reasons, this historic lamp is truly rare.
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