Art Deco Centerpiece in Silver Metal by Krupp Milano, 1940s

Item description:
Silver-plated metal centerpiece signed on the back with the incised signature "Krupp Milano," attributable to Giò Ponti and made in full Art Deco style. Beautifully crafted with equidistant incised lines radiating outwards and a good patina covering the object. The centerpiece can be dated to around the mid-20th century. The silver plating is also in excellent condition and still completely covers the object.

Useful information for evaluating the object:
Our research shows that the highest prices achieved by Giò Ponti range from approximately €222,000 to approximately €310,000 in the furniture category and from approximately €90,000 to €246,000 in the objects category. As for Giò Ponti's silver-plated metal objects from Krupp Milano, auction results range from €200-400 for the smallest, simplest, and least elaborate pieces to over €18,000 for the most elaborate pieces, even if they are not particularly large. Items similar to ours are offered at prices ranging from €600 to €1,000-1,200.

Information about the artist and/or manufacturer:
Born in Milan in 1891, Giovanni (Giò) Ponti studied architecture at the Polytechnic University. After World War I, during which he served in the military, he worked as artistic director for the esteemed ceramics manufacturer Richard-Ginori. Between 1923 and 1927, he partnered with architects Mino Fiocchi and Emilio Lancia, opening his own studio in 1928 and founding the famous design magazine Domus. Through its pages (and those of Lo Stile, a magazine he founded and edited in the 1940s), Ponti influenced international taste in design for over fifty years. Around 1933, Ponti joined forces with engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini to create Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Soncini, which embraced modernist aesthetics and remained active until 1945. In 1950, Ponti won the commission for what, with its 32 floors, would become one of the iconic buildings of the 20th century, the Pirelli Tower in Milan (built in 1965). In 1952, Alberto Rosselli joined the firm (which became Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Rosselli), and even after his death in 1976, Ponti continued to work with his lifelong partner, Fornaroli. Throughout his career, Ponti juggled many different roles: architect, industrial designer, craftsman, professor, painter, editor, and journalist. In addition to his prolific work as an architect, his designs brought him further fame. Notable examples include the Pavoni coffee machine in 1949, the first of its kind in the world, as well as various lamps and furnishings designed for manufacturers such as Cassina, Artemide, and Venini.