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Gio Ponti seated in a light gray jacket against an abstract architectural backdrop.

Gio Ponti

Gio Ponti’s work moved between architecture, ceramics, furniture and publishing. From his Richard-Ginori ceramics and the founding of Domus to the Cassina Superleggera and buildings in Milan and Caracas, he joined a broad design practice to close attention to form.

Milan and architectural training

Gio Ponti was born in Milan in 1891 and graduated in architecture there in 1921. His practice would move between buildings, interiors, furniture, ceramics and publishing, but architecture remained a central framework for his work.1,2,3

Ceramics for Richard-Ginori

Appointed artistic director of Richard-Ginori in 1923, Ponti designed ceramics that connected decorative art with the maker’s production. The Ginori manufactory and Ponti received a Grand Prix at the 1925 Paris exposition.1,4

A magazine as a design platform

Ponti founded Domus in 1928 and directed it until 1941. After editing Stile from 1941 to 1947, he returned to Domus in 1948 and remained its director until 1979. The magazines gave him a place to circulate ideas about architecture, furniture and the decorative arts alongside his studio work.5,6

Sources and citations (8)
  1. Gio Ponti: Biography
  2. Gio Ponti: Biografia
  3. Gio Ponti
  4. Manifattura Ginori: Our History
  5. 1940: Anni quaranta, scrivere, dipingere, progettare
  6. Ponti Giovanni
  7. 699 Superleggera: Product History and Technical Sheet
  8. The 1950s: Project Archive

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