Rare Etched Glass and Shaped Brass Wall Mirror by Luigi Fontana Fontana Arte

Luigi Fontana for Fontana Arte rare shaped wall mirror in etched glass and brass by Luigi Fontana, Italy, 1940s. Manufacturer's stamp to the reverse.

The elegant rectangular form is gently tapered with softly rounded corners and a subtly concave upper edge, framed by a slender brass surround with a beautifully aged patina. The original mirror plate is distinguished by delicate etched and cut foliate decoration arranged across the upper portion and extending vertically along both sides. Graceful trailing branches, stylized leaves and circular accents create an elegant garland-like composition that follows the contours of the mirror while leaving the central reflective surface visually open and restrained.

This exquisite mirror belongs to the important transitional period between Italian Art Deco and the emerging language of postwar modern design. Luigi Fontana, the historic Milanese glassworks from which FontanaArte emerged in the early 1930s, played a significant role in the development of modern Italian decorative glass. Under the artistic direction of figures including Gio Ponti and Pietro Chiesa, the company became associated with an exceptional synthesis of sophisticated design, innovative glassworking and highly refined artisanal craftsmanship. The shaped mirror plate, delicate etched and cut foliate decoration and finely finished brass surround exemplify this tradition, combining the elegance and ornament of late Italian Art Deco with the increasingly streamlined aesthetic that would come to define.

The mirror retains its original partial wood backing and bears the manufacturer's stamp on the reverse, “Soc. Anonima Luigi Fontana & C., Lissone.”