This coffee set was designed by Giò Ponti during the period when
he was artistic director at Richard Ginori, from 1923 to 1938. Giò Ponti, who
was both architect and designer, in the latter role was a key figure in the
renewal of Italian decorative arts in the twentieth century, managing to
combine mass production with the individuality of craft work. Richard Ginori,
active from the end of the 19th century, was formed by merging
factories owned by Marquis Carlo Ginori from Tuscany with those belonging to
Milan industrialist Giulio Richard. The entry of the latter marked, in the history of the company,
not only an increase in production but also technical progress dictated by the
introduction of many mechanical innovations.