01 Dec Designer Spotlight
Gio Ponti
By Andrew Rizza
Dream Design Creative Director
Throughout his long creative career, which spanned more than six decades, Gio Ponti created numerous furniture, decorative art and industrial product designs using artisanal and modern production techniques. In addition to this he also created important works of architecture in Italy and abroad.
Molteni&C dedicated its Gio Ponti collection to this great Milanese master. Twelve different objects, expressions of the creativity and versatility of Ponti’s work and personality. Some are public pieces, commissioned by major industries, some unique and private originally designed for his home or customers. Others are pure Gio Ponti’s intuitions, drawings and sketches found in his archives. Here I have selected my favourite pieces.
D.859.1 TABLE
Originally designed by Gio Ponti in 1959, stands out not only for its impressive size—over 3,60 meters long—but especially for its simple yet refined design. The legs are notable for their fine-membered modernity, creating a trapezoidal single-span bridge upon which the large tapered top conveys the idea of aerodynamics.
D.859.1 TABLE
Originally designed by Gio Ponti in 1959, stands out not only for its impressive size—over 3,60 meters long—but especially for its simple yet refined design. The legs are notable for their fine-membered modernity, creating a trapezoidal single-span bridge upon which the large tapered top conveys the idea of aerodynamics.
GIOVANNI “GIO” PONTI
Gio Ponti (born November 18, 1891, Milan, Italy–died September 16, 1979, Milan, Italy) was one of the most influential Italian architects, industrial designers, furniture designers, artists, and publishers of the 20th century. He is considered the father of modern Italian design and is associated with the development of modern architecture in Italy.
D.151.4 ARMCHAIR
Always passionate about nautical furnishings, Gio Ponti gained direct experience in four ocean liners and two cruise ships upgraded or built from scratch after the war, between 1949 and 1951: the Conte Grande, Africa, Oceania, Conte Biancamano, Andrea Doria and Giulio Cesare. Ponti designed this easy chair with slight variants for these ships.
D-357-1 BOOKCASE
Designed in 1956/57. The re-edition of this bookcase is based on the original drawings from the Gio Ponti Archives. Made from shaped multi-layered material with elm veneer, partly with natural finish, partly hand-painted in white.
D.552.2 LOW TABLE
Designed in the mid-1950s for the American market, this exquisite occasional table with a rounded triangular shape, is made of solid rosewood with satinised bronze legs and an ultralight transparent top.
D.153.1 ARMCHAIR
Designed in 1953, for Gio Ponti’s private house in via Dezza, Milan. The brass structure is covered in bi-colour white-blue leather or “Punteggiato” velvet fabric, designed by Ponti for Rubelli in 1934.Good design can have a big impact on our quality of life. Whether you are looking for help with a room layout or the complete interior architecture of your new home, contact us to discover why Dream Design is widely acknowledged as a leading innovator in the world of interiors.