A painted mirror-glass chest of drawers
A painted mirror-glass chest of drawers

DESIGNED BY GIO PONTI, 1951, THE PAINTED PANELS BY EDINA ALTARA, MADE FOR THE APARTMENT OF GIO PONTI

Details
A painted mirror-glass chest of drawers
Designed by Gio Ponti, 1951, the painted panels by Edina Altara, made for the apartment of Gio Ponti
Three long drawers with recessed circular brass handles, the top and front richly decorated with painted figures, set on tapering feet with tall brass sabots
40in. (101.5cm.) high; 39in. (100cm.) wide; 18in. (47cm.) deep
Painted signature on the top E. ALTARA
Provenance
Gio Ponti, thence by descent to his daughter, Anna Patrassi.
Exhibited
IX Triennale Exhibition, Milan, 1951.
Sale room notice
Please note the provenance of this lot should read 'Gio Ponti, thence by descent to his daughter, Lisa Licitra Ponti', and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Lisa Licitra Ponti.

Lot Essay

The present chest of drawers formed part of the interior of Gio Ponti's last home at Via Dezza 49, Milan (see Domus No. 334, 1957), where he resided from 1957 until his death in 1979. Ponti considered the chest of drawers to be a '..small precious jewel', and placed it accordingly as a focal point at one end of a long hallway in the room of his daughter.
The paintings on the front and top of the chest of drawers by Edina Altara are based on the theme of Homer's Odyssey, depicting Ulysses, husband of Penelope, the Greek hero of the Trojan war and his long wanderings homewards. Edina Altara was a Sardinian artist who collaborated with Ponti on several occasions, working together with him on private commissions in Milan during the 1950s.

This lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the daughter of Gio Ponti, Anna Patrassi, dated 24. February, 1998.

Cf: Domus, No. 334, September 1957, pp. 21-27
Irene de Guttry and Maria Paola Maino, Il Mobile Italiano degli Anni '40 e '50, Milan, p. 237, pl. 21
Ugo La Pietra, Gio Ponti, L'Arte si innamora Dell'Industria, Coliseum, p. 252 & 253, pl. 528

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