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Gio Ponti's Richard Ginori Collection Catalogued in Revised Edition

publication · 2026-04-27

A new edition of the book "Gio Ponti. La collezione del Museo Richard-Ginori" has been published by Maretti Editore, cataloguing some 450 works from Ponti's artistic direction at the Richard Ginori manufactory between 1925 and 1935. The volume is the result of twelve years of research by the Associazione Amici di Doccia, with extensive photographic documentation and inventory work by Maria Teresa Giovannini for her thesis at the University of Florence. It fills a gap left by the museum's period of neglect, covering Ponti's role in modernizing the conservative Florentine ceramics tradition, his involvement in communication and pricing, and his correspondence with the manufactory. Ponti, then a young Milanese architect fresh from the Regio Istituto Tecnico Superiore (future Politecnico), took over artistic direction in 1923 when Augusto Richard offered him the position. The synergy anticipated Italian design development.

Key facts

  • Book: 'Gio Ponti. La collezione del Museo Richard-Ginori' published by Maretti Editore in 2015, new revised edition released.
  • Catalogues about 450 works from Ponti's artistic direction at Richard Ginori (1925-1935).
  • Research by Associazione Amici di Doccia over twelve years; photographic work by Maria Teresa Giovannini for her thesis at University of Florence.
  • Ponti became artistic director in 1923, aged 32, at the Richard Ginori manufactory in Doccia, Sesto Fiorentino.
  • Ponti modernized the conservative Florentine ceramics, drawing on travels, archaeology, and contemporary art.
  • He was involved in communication (acting as press office) and pricing, e.g., contesting the price of 'Calamaio con architetture colorate' (1925).
  • The manufactory had nearly two centuries of history, founded by Marquis Carlo Ginori, later merged with Richard group.
  • Giovannini describes Ponti as 'one of the protagonists of the rebirth of decorative arts in Italy, first unwitting example of an Italian industrial designer.'

Entities

Artists

  • Gio Ponti
  • Maria Teresa Giovannini

Institutions

  • Maretti Editore
  • Associazione Amici di Doccia
  • University of Florence
  • Richard Ginori
  • Museo della Manifattura di Doccia
  • Regio Istituto Tecnico Superiore
  • Politecnico di Milano

Locations

  • Doccia
  • Sesto Fiorentino
  • Florence
  • Milan
  • Italy

Sources