Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Who is the woman on the Fornasetti plates?
1 Answer
Opera singer Natalina ‘Lina’ Cavalieri is the face that inspired Piero Fornasetti throughout his artistic career, from his plates to wallpaper and more. Lina Cavalieri was known as the most beautiful woman in the world during her lifetime from 1874-1944. It was eight years after Cavalieri’s death that Fornasetti came across her image in a magazine and was thereby inspired to replicate it repetitively. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Fornasetti plates from some of the world’s top sellers.
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
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Shop for Piero Fornasetti Furniture on 1stDibs
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Display Plate, Barney's New York Collection
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Classic midcentury Italian Designed plate featuring an iconic image from Piero Fornasetti’s work, his muse the opera singer, Lina Cavalieri. Crisp black and white timeless design i...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Sole Brass Tripod Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Munich, DE
Piero Fornasetti Sole Brass tripod side table
This gorgeous collectors item is a ’Sole' side table by Piero Fornasetti, signed underneath with its ori...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Brass
Piero Fornasetti Series 8 Coasters Commissioned by Banca Unione Milan
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Complete set of eight porcelain coasters produced in 1970 by Piero Fornasetti; they were expressly commissioned by the Banca Unione of Milan; the graphics with the decoration "Le Monete" represents eight variations on the theme of coins made in black and pure gold with the third firing; the term "third firing" means, in ceramics, the third firing that is applied to an object to add decorations, especially those in pure gold, a technique that requires great skill and precision; the saucers represent in numerical order 1)Boat, 2)Home, 3)idea, 4)Everything, 5)Holidays, 6)Christmas, 7)Student, 8)Car; they are contained in a golden cardboard case. These are Fine collectibles in excellent condition; the saucers were created in 1970 to be given as gifts by Banca Unione of Milan to its customers; they were made by Piero Fornasetti (1931-1988) a versatile and eclectic founder of the design and decorative arts atelier that bears his name. The Banca Unione was established in 1919 by Carlo Feltrinelli, father of Giangiacomo, a publisher very close to the left; among the minority shareholders were Bastogi (the largest Italian financial); since 1968 the bank became the property of the financier and fixer Michele Sindona (1920-1986) who secured the absolute majority along with the Vatican; the Bank dedicated itself to the Italian market by launching an unprecedented commercial policy, in an attempt to reconcile the interests of the institution with socially advanced actions. According to Sindona, in Italy, banks were only interested in the wealthy, snubbing the categories of workers with modest incomes. Sindona overturned this logic and, ahead of his time, sent Banca Unione promoters into the factories. Sindona was a member of the P2 lodge (card no. 0501) and had clear associations with Cosa Nostra and the Gambino family in the United States. Involved in the Calvi affair, he was behind the murder of Giorgio Ambrosoli. He died poisoned...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Gusset Mirror, Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Gusset mirror - Piero Fornasetti
Mirror and brass
Measure: Diameter 49 cm
Price: 1650 Euros.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Floor Mirrors and Full-Length Mirrors
Materials
Brass
Fornasetti, "Cammei" porcelain plate, mid 20th century
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Uppsala, SE
Plate from the "Cammei" series by Pierro Fornasetti for his own company Fornasetti. Made in the late 20th century. Stamped Fornasetti on the bottom. Good vintage condition with norma...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
1970s Original Gorgeous Playing Cards Box by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Original astonishing playing cards box by Piero Fornasetti in walnut wood . It's in excellent condition and includes two packs of vintage Dal Negro cards, 7 dices, and chips. T...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Games
Materials
Wood, Walnut