Italian Glass + Brass Table Lamp by Pietro Chiesa For Fontana Arte, 1940s

Designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte in the 1940s, an Italian glass and brass table lamp, composed as a small framework around a suspended glass shade.

A broad brass band rises from the base and curves continuously around the light source, creating an open, almost handle-like silhouette. Rather than filling this structure, the frosted glass shade hangs freely within it, attached at the top through a small ring fitting. The separation between glass and brass is an important part of the design, the shade appears suspended inside the frame, allowing light and open space to become part of the composition.

The glass itself is softly rounded, with a bell-like profile and matte surface that diffuses the bulb into a warm, atmospheric glow. Below, the lamp rests on a substantial piece of thick glass with a distinctly green cast and rounded, polished edges. Its transparency gives the base unexpected visual weight without making the lamp feel heavy, while the green tint becomes especially pronounced along the thicker perimeter.

Chiesa’s work for Fontana Arte was defined by an unusually sophisticated understanding of glass and its relationship to metal. Here, that sensibility can be seen in the contrast between the translucent shade, transparent base, and rigid brass surround. Each material performs a different role, yet none is treated as secondary or concealed.

A rectangular brass element at the top introduces a particularly graphic finishing detail, while the frame itself retains an expressive aged surface with oxidation, darkened areas, and wear throughout. Against the softness of the frosted glass, this patina gives the lamp much of its character and makes the distinction between the materials even more pronounced.