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Antonio Fornaroli and Gio Ponti: An Exceptional Shared Intent
By Salvatore Licitra, Gio Ponti’s grandson and founder of the Gio Ponti Archives, Milan
I am pleased to have the opportunity to write about Antonio Fornaroli, as it is also a chance to illustrate Gio Ponti’s work. Or rather, to discuss the output of the inextricable Milanese duo: Ponti – Fornaroli, from an interesting and unprecedented perspective.
Gio Ponti and Antonio Fornaroli in front of the Monastero del Carmelo al Bonmoschetto, Sanremo, circa 1958.
© Gio Ponti Archives.In the selection offered at auction, I am reminded of the objects that brought to life the beautiful Fornaroli apartment on the upper floors of a house in central Milan. I knew it well, and last visited it several years ago, savouring its elegant, effortlessly experimental and unconventional atmosphere. The array of works convey the spirit that fuelled and kept the Ponti - Fornaroli duo together since 1933, initially with Eugenio Soncini, and that lasted throughout both of their long careers.
In Antonio Fornaroli, Ponti had not only found a partner who was able to understand and execute his architectural projects, but also an ally in the exciting campaign for a cultural and lifestyle renewal that was emerging in those years. This encompassed audaciously experimental technological or formal innovations such as marble slab cladding on the monumental Montecatini building (1936), made possible thanks to a studied coupling of slabs with a reinforced concrete support, as well as studies for the tapering structure of the Pirelli Tower (1956 -1960), or the unstructured plan of the original design of the Savoia Assicurazioni building (1971). Experimentation was also manifest through the intent to ‘contaminate’ interiors with works by young artists, designers, and architects of the time or samples of applied arts and crafts gathered during Ponti’s extensive cultural travels throughout Italy.
Housed in Casa Fornaroli, alongside Ponti designs and furnishings from various decades (furniture decorated by Adriano Spilimbergo in the 1930s or by Piero Zuffi in the 1950s and pieces with clear references to Villa Planchart), were a variety of objects such as Fausto Melotti ceramics and sculptures as well as Paolo Buffa chairs – all in dialogue with each other. There were also vases and objects in enamelled copper by De Poli, glass for Venini by Wirkkala, Ponti, Bianconi, Buzzi, Tobia and Carlo Scarpa. In this fantastic selection, we also see works by Lucio Fontana, Carlo De Carli with his beautiful chairs, silver prototypes by Ponti for Christofle, ceramics by Picasso, designs by Pietro Chiesa and Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte and finally Ponti’s striking bar cabinet with an integrated oil painting.
Portrait of Antonio Fornaroli by Adriano Spilimbergo. This complementarity of applied art, furnishings, paintings and drawings showed how art could also easily become interior decoration. The fact that Fausto Melotti not only made sculptures, but also flooring and bowls, necklaces and earrings; and that Paolo De Poli also made coasters or handles beside his vases, was the soul of the undeniably successful cultural and stylistic offering presented in those years, by Gio Ponti and Antonio Fornaroli, each in their own role.
This offering was certainly aimed at the Milanese and Italian middle-class, who were eager to break from nineteenth-century traditions, but which has also been greatly appreciated throughout the world as an expression of the ‘Italian genius’.
Provenance
Antonio Fornaroli, Milan
Thence by descentArtist Biography
Gio Ponti
Italian • 1891 - 1979
Among the most prolific talents to grace twentieth-century design, Gio Ponti defied categorization. Though trained as an architect, he made major contributions to the decorative arts, designing in such disparate materials as ceramics, glass, wood and metal. A gale force of interdisciplinary creativity, Ponti embraced new materials like plastic and aluminum but employed traditional materials such as marble and wood in original, unconventional ways.
In the industrial realm, he designed buildings, cars, machinery and appliances — notably, the La Cornuta espresso machine for La Pavoni — and founded the ADI (Industrial Designer Association). Among the most special works by Gio Ponti are those that he made in collaboration with master craftsmen such as the cabinetmaker Giordano Chiesa, the illustrator Piero Fornasetti and the enamellist Paolo de Poli.
201
Scenography sketch
1919
Watercolour and ink on paper.
25 x 25.1 cm (9 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.)
Signed GIO PONTI/1919 bottom right. Together with a certificate of expertise from the Gio Ponti Archives.
Estimate
£3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
Antonia King
Head of Sale, Design
+44 20 7901 7944
Antonia.King@phillips.com
Casa Fornaroli
London Auction 27 April 2023
201
Gio Ponti
Scenography sketch
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
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202
Gio Ponti
Unique inset drinks cabinet with integrated 'Le bariste' painting and shelf
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £22,860
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203
Gio Ponti
Group of nine glasses
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡
Sold for £6,096
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204
Gio Ponti
Prototype armchair
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £6,350
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205
Pablo Picasso
'Madoura'
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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206
Thomas Stearns
Vase, model no. 8632, from the 'Cilindri' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £16,510
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207
Gio Ponti
'I fantini' toy furniture
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡
Sold for £1,651
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208
Tapio Wirkkala
Rare bowl, model no. 506.0
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £1,524
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209
Carlo de Carli
Set of eight dining chairs, model no. 671
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡
Sold for £10,160
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210
Gio Ponti
Two costume sketches, for the 'Festa Romantica' ballet
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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211
Gio Ponti
'Morandiana' bottle with stopper
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡
Sold for £1,905
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212
Pablo Picasso
'Visage de face'
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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213
Gio Ponti
Unique large wardrobe with integrated door
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £25,400
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214
Fausto Melotti
Untitled
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
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215
Paolo De Poli
Group of thirteen coasters and two stars
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £10,795
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216
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £5,080
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217
Pablo Picasso
'Femme au chapeau fleuri'
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £21,590
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218
Pablo Picasso
'Vallauris'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £16,510
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219
Pablo Picasso
'Visage aux mains'
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £9,525
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220
Fausto Melotti
Important vase
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £15,240
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221
Gio Ponti
Rare extendable dining table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £35,560
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222
Venini
'Poliedri' ceiling light
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £9,525
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223
Fulvio Bianconi
Two bottles with stoppers, model nos. 4581 and 4582
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £3,556
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224
Gio Ponti
Two custom bookcases with integrated cabinets
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £76,200
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225
Pietro Chiesa
Flower holder, model no. 2069
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £4,826
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226
Gio Ponti
'Balletto della Scala' jacket
Estimate £600 - 800
Sold for £699
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227
Pablo Picasso
'Joueur de diaule'
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £12,700
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228
Pablo Picasso
'Trois personnages sur tremplin'
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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229
Fausto Melotti
Bowl
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
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230
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £4,445
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231
Fausto Melotti
Earrings
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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232
Gio Ponti
Writing desk
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £5,715
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233
Max Ingrand
Table lamp, model no. 2206
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £9,525
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234
Fausto Melotti
'L'abbraccio'
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
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235No Reserve
Fausto Melotti
'Orchestra d'angeli'
Estimate £400 - 600 •‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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236
Carlo Scarpa
Plate
Estimate £800 - 1,200 ‡
Sold for £1,905
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237
Gio Ponti
Custom wall-mounted console
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000 ‡
Sold for £10,795
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238
Gio Ponti
Two prototype 'Tubi' flower holders
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 ‡
Sold for £3,048
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239
Gio Ponti
Sketch with notes for a 'Venere degli stracci' figure
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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240
Paolo Buffa
Set of four chairs
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500 ‡
Sold for £8,890
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241
Fulvio Bianconi
Carafe and set of twenty-four glasses
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £8,890
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242
Gio Ponti and Adriano Spilimbergo
Unique illuminated wardrobe with twelve integrated paintings
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £63,500
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243
Venini
Pair of 'Poliedri' ceiling lights
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £13,970
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244
Gio Ponti and Paolo De Poli
Rare vase
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £6,985
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245
Tomaso Buzzi
Bowl, model no. 3617
Estimate £400 - 600 ‡
Sold for £572
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246No Reserve
Fausto Melotti
Untitled
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 •‡♠
Sold for £191
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247
Gio Ponti
Rare wall-mounted chest of drawers
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £43,180
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248
Tobia Scarpa
Two bowls
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £2,794
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249No Reserve
Tobia Scarpa
Large vase, model no. 8507
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 •‡
Sold for £1,778
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250
Pablo Picasso
'Footballeur'
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £139,700
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251
Paolo De Poli
Vase and dish
Estimate £800 - 1,200 ‡
Sold for £1,016
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252
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £4,826
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253
Gio Ponti and Piero Zuffi
Unique bookcase with cabinets and integrated lithograph
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡
Sold for £53,340
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254
Paolo De Poli
Large 'Accordi su fondo rosso' dish
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500 ‡
Sold for £5,334
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255
Fulvio Bianconi
Set of twelve glasses
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £7,620
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256
Gio Ponti
Sketch for a fresco on the Scala del Sapere in Palazzo Bo, Padua
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £4,064
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257
Lucio Fontana
'Concetto spaziale'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £53,340
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258
Carlo Scarpa
Two small vessels, model nos. 3552 and 3635
Estimate £300 - 500 ‡
Sold for £1,397
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259
Carlo Scarpa
Frame
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 ‡
Sold for £2,413
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260
Fausto Melotti
Two bowls
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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261
Gio Ponti
Prototype side table
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £27,940
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