Designer:  Gio Ponti (1891 – 1979)

Item:  Il Fumatore Stanco or L’architetto Tile in Original Brass Frame

Manufactured by:  Richard Ginori Milano

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: Circa 1930

Materials: Glazed ceramic with original brass mount

Dimensions: Tile measures 5 ½” square, but with original brass mount it is 6 ¾” x 5 ¾”

Condition: Excellent

Description:  Here is a rare art deco tile designed by Gio Ponti for Richard Ginori Milano circa 1930.  Ponti is considered by most scholars to be the most important and influential Italian architect and designer of the 20th century.  From 1923 to 1930 Ponti served as the artistic director for Richard Ginori Milano, a ceramics firm in business since 1735.  Ponti designed a number of very fine and highly collectable porcelain and ceramic items for Ginori, including vessels, vases, urns, coffee services and tiles.  The designs were often influenced by images from Italian antiquity. 

This example is in its original brass mount frame for hanging.  We did not try to open the back to remove the tile to see it if it is signed beneath the mount, because the brass tabs might break if we try to bend them.  Therefore, we are selling it as unsigned, but we have seen tiles from this series both signed and unsigned, including this particular design.  It may very well be signed in the margin.  It does have the raised markings in the fired ceramic on the back “RGM” for Richard Ginori Milano, and a “K” in each corner, which signifies this as an authentic Ponti tile.  This is an outstanding art deco design.  From the research we have done the tiles appear to be a scarce form of ceramic design by Ponti for Ginori.  Examples in their original brass frames are also scarce.    

References: Matteoni, Dario, Petrarois, Pietro, di Gualdana, Giacinta Cavagna; Gio Ponti: Fascination for Ceramics; Silvana Editoriale (2012); Paola Franceschini, Valerio Terraroli; Italian Art Ceramics: 1900-1950; Skira Editore (2007)