Design: Cambi and Phillips, two auction houses united under the sign of Gio Ponti

The sale of the "Fantasy house” can be considered a milestone of the work of Gio Ponti, its design concept and the significance of its collaboration of the architect with other artists and craftsmen, including Piero Fornasetti, Edina Altara, Giordano Chiesa.

Domenico Raimondo of Phillips and Head of Design, Europe, said: “We are delighted to partner with Cambi Auction House on this exciting sale. The lots offered by this important interior represent and celebrate Ponti's unique approach to design through his collaboration with artists, craftsmen and designers. Edina Altara, Piero Fornasetti, Fausto Melotti, Giordano Chiesa (to name a few) collaborated and worked under Ponti's guidance to create this extraordinary metaphysical scenario, which incorporates some of the architect's most iconic and sought-after projects. This widely published interior is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the market to give a taste of what post-war Italian design has achieved at its highest expression through the integration of different crafts.”

Gio Ponti, architect and designer is one of the greatest design talents of the twentieth century, defying categorization. He made significant contributions to the decorative arts, designing by combining different materials such as ceramics, glass, wood and metal. With an interdisciplinary creativity, Ponti also used new materials such as plastic and aluminum, but also traditional materials such as marble and wood in a completely original way.

In the industrial field he designed buildings, machines and household appliances – the La Cornuta coffee machine for La Pavoni – and founded the ADI (Industrial Designer Association).

Among the lots in the catalog designed for Casa Lucano are glazed terracotta ceramics, including large statuettes of a king and queen (estimate: £15.000-20.000), two gun-shaped sculptures (estimate: £4.000-6.000) and a wall lamp with niche and hand with flower figurine (estimate: £10.000-15.000). Furnishing elements include a chest of drawers designed by Gio Ponti with mirror painted glass by Edina Altara, circa 1951 (estimate: £45.000-65.000) and a low table in walnut briar, designed by Gio Ponti, circa 1951 (estimate: £15.000-20.000).

Cover image :

Two pistol-shaped sculptures, circa 1951. Glazed terracotta. Produced by Gabbianelli, Milan, Italy. Estimate £4.000 – 6.000