FontanaArte Fontana Coffee Table

Milano, Italy 🇮🇹ETL (Intertek), pending

FontanaArte Fontana Coffee Table, designed by master glassmaker Pietro Chiesa, is made from a single double-curved piece of thick glass, 15 mm thick. It is available in three sizes, and it has a history that goes back to the 1930s.

“an extraordinary piece of essentiality and elegance”

The Design Story

Pietro Chiesa designed the Tavolo Curvo, which means Curved Table, as a console for the entrance halls of Milanese noble residences. It was the first table ever made from a single sheet of curved glass. Its first makers, Luigi Fontana & C., were among the few companies in Italy and abroad that could bend large sheets of glass at the time.

Production started with a small number of pieces. In the 1970s the table was reintroduced under the name Fontana. It became an icon of FontanaArte and was developed into the different sizes you see today.

Nearly a century later, the table keeps its formal relevance. The purity of the material, the simplicity of the structure, and the unbroken line of its curved surface make it a timeless piece. It fits into a contemporary room without losing the strength and originality of Chiesa's design.

About the Designer

Pietro Chiesa was a master glassmaker from a family of Ticino artists. He opened his own glass workshop in 1921, after an apprenticeship at the Giannotti glassworks. He exhibited at the Venice and Monza Biennales and at the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. His glass work also includes the windows of the Trieste Stock Exchange and the transatlantic liner Conte di Savoia.

Why You'll Love It

The glass is strong and heavy-duty for its structure, but the curves keep it modern and light. Because the top is see-through, the table looks lightweight in the room and makes the space feel larger and less crowded. Pietro Chiesa's design was already this forward-looking in 1932, which is why it still suits modern interiors. You are buying a table with timeless elegance, a history of its own, and a simple form that will last a lifetime.

About the Glass

The top is made from float glass. Float glass is produced by floating molten glass on a bath of molten tin, which gives it flat, even, smooth surfaces. The top is then curved and its edges are ground, which smooths them.

At 15 mm, the top is about as thick as eight or nine US quarters stacked together. That thickness is what makes the glass sturdy enough to hold its shape, while the transparent curves keep the look light.

Product Details

Sizes and SKUs

Documents

• Technical sheet (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions: FontanaArte Fontana Coffee Table by Pietro Chiesa

Who designed the FontanaArte Fontana coffee table?

The Fontana coffee table was designed by Pietro Chiesa, a master glassmaker from a family of Ticino artists. Chiesa conceived it in 1932 as the Tavolo Curvo, or Curved Table. He opened his own glass workshop in 1921, after an apprenticeship at the Giannotti glassworks, and his work was shown at the Venice and Monza Biennales and the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

What is the Fontana coffee table made of?

It is made from a single double-curved sheet of 15 mm thick float glass, with ground edges. Float glass is made by floating molten glass on a bath of molten tin, which leaves both surfaces flat and even before the top is curved. The result is a clear, sculptural glass coffee table with a single-piece top.

How thick is the glass top?

The glass top is 15 mm thick, roughly 0.6 in, about the height of eight or nine US quarters stacked together. That thickness gives the curved glass the structural strength to hold its shape.

What sizes does the FontanaArte Fontana coffee table come in?

It comes in Small, Medium and Large. Across the three sizes the top measures 23.6 to 55.1 in (60 to 140 cm) wide and 15.7 to 27.5 in (40 to 70 cm) deep, and the table stands 15.7 in (40 cm) high. Measure the sofa or armchairs it will sit beside, leave room to walk around it, and choose the size that fits your living room or lounge.

Is the Fontana coffee table transparent, and how does it look in a room?

Yes. The finish is transparent, so the floor, the rug and the light across them show through the top. The curved surface catches light, and the table looks lighter than its glass thickness suggests, which helps a room feel open.

What is the history of the Fontana coffee table?

Chiesa designed the table as a console for the entrance halls of Milanese noble residences. Its first makers, Luigi Fontana & C., were among the few companies in Italy and abroad that could bend large sheets of glass at the time. Production began in small numbers. In the 1970s the table was reintroduced as Fontana, became an icon of FontanaArte, and was developed into the three sizes sold today.

Does the Fontana coffee table suit a contemporary interior?

Yes. The table has no ornament, only one continuous curve of glass, so it sits comfortably in modern, minimalist and contemporary Italian interiors. Its clean silhouette and transparent glass make it a lasting design piece rather than a passing trend.

Where is the FontanaArte Fontana coffee table made?

It is made in Milan, Italy, by FontanaArte, the Milanese design house.

Shipping Info

Free shipping within the U.S. for orders over $100. Most items are final sale.