Italy’s Nemo Group Acquires Driade and Fontana Arte

by · WWD
A functional work of art designed by Fabio Novembre for DriadeCourtesy of Driade

MILAN – Nemo Group, owned by Milan-based lighting entrepreneur Federico Palazzari, added two crown jewels to its growing design hub of brands with the acquisition of lighting maker Fontana Arte and Driade, its first furniture property.

Both companies were previously controlled by Italian Creation Group, which is also home to kitchen maker Valcucine. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Milan-based company formerly known as Nemo Lighting became Nemo Group in March, following a series of acquisitions to fortify its business and open itself up to other sectors of design. Palazzari started with a custom lighting production workshop in Milan and founded Nemo Lighting in 2012.

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In 2020, it acquired ILTI Luce, a historical brand with a strong focus on technical lighting and outdoor solutions. In mid-2023, Nemo Lighting bought Reggiani, a leader in large-scale professional technical and architectural lighting, merging the expertise of the three brands. 

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Nemo’s U.S. chief executive officer Pietro Gennaro explained at the time that the new Nemo Group, which collaborates with world-renowned names such as designer Ron Gilad and boasts big names such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Lina Bo Bardi and Álvaro Siza in its collection, was well prepared to face the challenges of the market.

Ron Gilad’s “Swimmer” made in collaboration with Nemo lighting. Photo by Alberto Strada. Courtesy of Nemo.Alberto Strada

Driade was founded in Milan in 1968 by art director Enrico Astori, designer Antonia Astori and Adelaide Acerbi, who led the brand’s image and communication. Avant garde designers Enzo Mari and Nanda Vigo were crucial at its inception: Mari with the Sof Sof chair and Vigo with her furry Blocco seat.

Achille Castiglioni, Alessandro Mendini and Philippe Starck are also among its roster of collaborators. Fabio Novembre was appointed art director of Driade in 2019.

Fontana Arte traces its origins back to 1881 with Luigi Fontana, who started making float glass or sheets of glass for the construction industry in Milan. In 1931, his firm Luigi Fontana & C. appointed Gio Ponti as its art director.

The firm officially became Fontana Arte in 1932 and today mostly produces lighting, but also some glass furniture. Ponti is credited with Fontana Arte’s iconic models: 0024, Bilia, Pirellina and Pirellone lamps, as well as a coffee table called the Tavolino 1932.

With its five companies, Nemo Group now has a structured commercial presence in Italy, France, Denmark, the U.K., the U.S., China and the Middle East, with a distribution network in over 80 countries.

“The five groups will continue to operate as separate entities,” Nemo Group said in a statement, adding that the firms will benefit from the synergies and global positioning created by all five companies under the Nemo Group umbrella.

Nemo “Orbit” lampMichele Branca Piero Fasanotto