Inaugurated in 2013, the 20th-Century Decorative Arts and Design Department at Il Ponte Auction House is a reference point for collectors, designers, and enthusiasts of furniture and design objects from the 20th century.
In 2025, the department recorded a turnover exceeding €2.6 million. The ability to capture public interest thanks to its artistic-decorative matrix was clearly reflected in excellent results, foremost among them the extraordinary console by Lucio Fontana and Osvaldo Borsani, sold for €435,200. Along the same lines are the rare vases by Gio Ponti, such as “Le Passioni Prigioniere” (€30,720) and “Mappamondo” (€28,160), as well as, in the lighting sector, the monumental floral chandelier by Pietro Chiesa (€44,800).
Among the most notable successes were: the rare panel “The Annunciation” by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (€176,400); the group of furnishings by Carlo Mollino for Casa M. in Turin and Casa del Sole in Cervinia (€347,500); “Connubio in ferro e vetro” by Umberto Bellotto (€175,000); the sculptural lamp “Moloch” by Gaetano Pesce (€106,250); the “Brick” model screen attributed to Eileen Gray (€93,750); the “Scozzese” vase by Fulvio Bianconi (€112,500); and the baluster vase by Ercole Barovier (€43,750).
Other highlights include vases by Yoichi Ohira, the island sofa by Archizoom (€35,000), the luminous furniture piece “Cronotopo” (€18,750), and works signed by Ettore Sottsass, Gio Ponti, Franco Albini, Ignazio Gardella, Ico Parisi, BBPR, and Max Ingrand, consistently among the most sought-after.
The selection of lots, which includes lighting, seating, unique pieces, and limited editions, is based on a thorough study of the works and the analysis of historical-archival documentation, the cornerstones of the departmental strategy and professional valuation of 20th-century design objects.
