Starry Ceiling Light Fixtures
From Main Lounge
SS STELLA SOLARIS
Designed By Nino Zoncada
(Collaborator of Gio Ponti)

Items from SS STELLA SOLARIS (ex CAMBODGE, STELLA V)

Entire Fixture 8 Inches Long
Visible Portion 2.5 Inches Deep
Green Glass 6 Inch Diameter
Stainless Steel Framework
Limited Quantity
Price: $100 USD plus shipping

Top, a detail view of the green glass "face" of the fixture. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006. Bottom, a brochure image showing the fixtures in the STELLA SOLARIS' Lounge. Peter Knego collection.

Giovanni (Nino) Zoncada was born in Venice in 1898 and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts (Venice). In 1923, he began working in the interior and furnishing department of the Cantieri Navale Triestino of Monfalcone, becoming one of its directors by the end of the following decade. He joined forces with the Milanese architect Gio Ponti in the late 1940s and they worked together on their first project, the refurbishing of the CONTE BIANCAMANO, followed shortly thereafter by the CONTE GRANDE. Gio Ponti, of course, is possibly the most celebrated Italian designer of the 20th Century, which speaks highly for Zoncada, who is not as well known outside of ship history, but whose work may be the most important of the era. Zoncada designed or contributed to almost every major transatlantic Italian liner of the 1950s and 1960s, including: GIULIO CESARE, AUGUSTUS, ANDREA DORIA, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, LEONARDO DA VINCI, MICHELANGELO, and RAFFAELLO. In addition, he designed practically the entire Costa fleet from the ANNA C refit in 1948 (including the brilliant EUGENIO C of 1966) all the way through to the CARLA C (ex FLANDRE) in 1968. OCEANIC, AUSONIA, GRIPSHOLM, STELLA OCEANIS, and STELLA SOLARIS are but a few more outstanding ships to emerge from his studios. Zoncada died in 1988 and the STELLA SOLARIS was his final commission.

For more information on Zoncada, one cannot praise the efforts of Italian authors Maurizio Eliseo and Paolo Piccione enough for their brilliant book, TRANSATLANTICI, available on Tormena Press. Also, Paolo Piccione and Matteo Fochessatis CROCIERE NELL ARTE and ARTE IN VIAGGIO are two invaluable references.

More brochure images showing the lights. Peter Knego collection. 2005.

Zoncada designed everything on his ships, including the light fixtures. The multifaceted faces of these fixtures resemble stars, perhaps, in direct connection to STELLA SOLARIS' namesake. The thick, heavy glass is held in place by folded steel flaps. Mounted on a very attractive steel base and attached to a white metal cylinder (that is unseen once the fixture is recessed into the ceiling). These are extremely high quality and unique fixtures. There is wiring attached, but I do not know if it will work or if it meets current land requirements. Most likely, these will require rewiring, but are well worth the trouble.