Some remember him for the Pirelli skyscraper in Milan, others for the iconic Superleggera chair, rightfully entering the ranks of 20th-century design icons. Yet others recognize him as the founder (and director for a remarkable fifty years) of Domus, a magazine still at the forefront of contemporary architectural discourse.
The merits of Giò Ponti are so diverse and have touched so many sectors that it’s impossible to fully summarize them in a single article. What remains undeniable is that he was much more than a skilled architect or a proficient editor, and his contributions to the field of design continue to resonate today, especially on the anniversary of his birth (November 18, 1891 – September 16, 1979).
Two years ago, at the Salone del Mobile, Richard Ginori – a historic porcelain manufacturing brand – unveiled a new collection of table lamps whose decorations are inspired by a pattern created by Giò Ponti for the company in 1926. Ponti worked for Richard Ginori from 1923 to 1930, and as the artistic director, he played a leading role in revitalizing the brand’s decorative style, aligning it with the tastes of the time and thereby enhancing its international reputation.
The precision of patterns like Labirinto or Catene – available in various color variations – represents a perfect synthesis of neoclassicism and art deco. On the one hand, they echo the historicist flavor of classical porcelain, and on the other, they interpret it with the rigor and simplicity typical of modern taste. Ninety years later, they still form the beating heart of Richard Ginori design, continually reintroduced in new, elegant variations, both in the form of lamps and in tableware assortments, including plates, trays, and tea and coffee accessories.
The Richard Ginori Museum of the Doccia Manufacture in Sesto Fiorentino – unfortunately closed since 2014 but eagerly awaiting a reopening, which we hope will come soon – boasts hundreds of pieces created by Giò Ponti during his collaboration with the company. Even though not all of them are still in production, their charm has captivated the public in last year’s traveling exhibition, a retrospective featuring a selection of the best porcelain designed by the Milanese designer. Titled “The Elegance of Modernity,” it captures the essence of Ponti’s creations for Richard Ginori: a modern, avant-garde spirit that doesn’t forsake the refinement of tradition but rather reinterprets it according to new standards.
