Metafora was born in the flourishing creative climate of the early ‘80s, when Gae Aulenti took on the role of artistic director for FontanaArte and decided to bring glass back to the forefront of the company’s production. On Aulenti’s invitation, Umberto Riva designed a precious table lamp consisting of a conical shade in layered opal glass supported by a transparent glass base that hides the metal frame, all interlocking. A highly decorative object, produced with traditional techniques like glass blowing and other examples of artisanal know-how, reproposed today to a clientele ever more attentive to originality of design and its timeless expressions.