Fontana Arte: blown glass lamps and Italian design in Barcelona

At Insmat Caldes we are distributors of Fontana Arte, one of the most influential names in the history of Italian design. Founded in Milan in 1932 from the Luigi Fontana & C. glassworks (1881), the brand was born under the artistic direction of Gio Ponti —co-founder of ADI and longtime editor of Domus magazine— with a founding principle that still holds today: making blown glass the defining material of light.

Throughout its history, Fontana Arte has been shaped by a remarkable succession of artistic directors: Pietro Chiesa, who in 1933 designed the Luminator —the first indirect-light floor lamp, still in production today—; Max Ingrand, master of treated and acid-etched glass; Gae Aulenti, who in 1980 created the Parola with Piero Castiglioni; and more recently Paola Navone with the Pinecone (2016) and David Chipperfield with the Chandelier. The brand won the Compasso d'Oro in 1998 and in 2024 joined the Nemo Group.

Our catalogue includes timeless icons such as the 0024 by Gio Ponti (11 tempered glass discs, 1930s design), the Bilia, the Fontana, the Flûte and the Bianca, alongside the latest collections. Our team in Caldes de Montbui advises private clients, interior designers and architects throughout Spain. Contact us for personalised advice.