This Italian movement originated in the 1920s and was characterized by a modernizing, stripped-down Neoclassical style inspired by the geometric decorative tendencies in the work of the Wiener Werkstätte and certain aspects of Art Deco in France. The Novecento group was founded in 1926 and included Gio Ponti, Emilio Lancia, and Pietro Chiesa. With its stylistic and spiritual links with the architectural forms of Ancient Rome the Novecento style found favour in many buildings in Fascist Italy under its dictator Mussolini, the essentially ‘Italian’ characteristics of the style being more compatible with the ambitions of the regime than the more ‘international’ qualities inherent in the more progressive forms of Rationalist architecture and design. Through architect-designers such as Ponti Novecento's influence was also felt in the decorative arts and crafts including ceramics manufactured by Richard-Ginori.

A Dictionary of Modern Design. Copyright © 2004, 2005 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.