Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
The Italian artist, illustrator and furniture maker Piero Fornasetti was one of the wittiest and most imaginative design talents of the 20th century. He crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal vocabulary of images that included birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and — most frequently, and in some 500 variations — an enigmatic woman’s face based on that of the 19th-century opera singer Lina Cavalieri. Fornasetti used transfer prints of these images, rendered in the style of engravings, to decorate an endless variety of furnishings and housewares that ranged from chairs, tables and desks to dinner plates, lamps and umbrella stands. His work is archly clever, often surreal and always fun.
Fornasetti was born in Milan, the son of an accountant, and he lived his entire life in the city. He showed artistic talent as a child and enrolled at Milan’s Brera Academy of Fine Art in 1930, but was expelled after two years for consistently failing to follow his professors’ orders. A group of his hand-painted silk scarves, displayed in the 1933 Triennale di Milano, caught the eye of the architect and designer Gio Ponti, who, in the 1940s, became Fornasetti’s collaborator and patron. Beginning in the early 1950s, they created a striking a series of desks, bureaus and secretaries that pair Ponti’s signature angular forms with Fornasetti’s decorative motifs — lighthearted arrangements of flowers and birds on some pieces, austere architectural imagery on others. The two worked together on numerous commissions for interiors, though their greatest project has been lost: the first-class lounges and restaurants of the luxury ocean liner Andrea Doria, which sank in 1956.
Fornasetti furnishings occupy an unusual and compelling niche in the decorative arts: they are odd yet pack a serious punch. They act, essentially, as functional sculpture. A large Fornasetti piece such as a cabinet or a desk can change the character of an entire room; his smaller works have the aesthetic power of a vase of flowers, providing a bright and alluring decorative note. The chimerical, fish-nor-fowl nature of Fornasetti’s work may be its greatest strength. It stands on its own. Bringing the Fornasetti look into the future is Barnaba Fornasetti, who took the reins of the company after his father's death.
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Creator: Fornasetti
Fornasetti Silk Cushion Mano Hand
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
The decoration plays with the anatomic theme in a surreal an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Silk
Fornasetti Cushion Silenzio from the Series Tema e Variazioni Cotton
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
The decoration features t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cotton
Fornasetti Silk Cushion Peccato Originale Original Sin
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
The decoration features a snake holding the forbidden fruit in its jaws, and surrounded by hand painted leaves. It is inspired by the biblical original sin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Silk
Fornasetti Silk Cushion Sardine Fishes on Red
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
Cushion cover material: S...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Silk
Pietro Fornasetti, Rare metal Bookend Janus Two-Faced 1950s (First edition)
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Argelato, BO
Pietro Fornasetti, Rare metal bookend from the 1950s (First edition)
In the extraordinary creative imagination of Pietro Fornasetti every household object is transformed and embelli...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Italian mid-century modern Umbrella stand with dog by Fornasetti, 1950s
By Fornasetti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Umbrella stand with dog by Fornasetti, 1950s
Metal umbrella stand. On the front there is a shaped and painted metal sheet: the subject is a dog sitting on ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Piero Fornasetti, Mid Century Modern, Magazine Rack, Lacquer, Metal, Italy 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Stamford, CT
Piero Fornasetti, Mid Century Modern, Magazine Rack, Lacquer, Metal, Italy 1960s
A rare Piero Fornasetti labeled and numbered no. 1 of 98 having a lacquered metal and brass form. Th...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal, Brass
Fornasetti Don Giovanni Curved Screen, Wood, Handpainted in Italy 21st Century
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Screens have been a significant part of the Fornasetti artstic production since the founding of the Atelier in the 1950s. Since then, Fornasetti uses screens to redesign spaces throu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wood
Fornasetti Bookends Strumenti Musicali Gold on Red Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
There can be wit and unpredictability in the order: this was Fornasetti idea when he designed his first bookends. The mix of images with their functional design make these accessorie...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti Set of 2 Silk Cushions Grande Pesce Fish
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
It is a set of two cushion...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Silk
Fornasetti waste basket
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Fornasetti waste bin.
Baroque pattern lithographic transfer, and lacquered metal. Green on black ground. With brass trim and brass feet.
Stamp...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal, Brass
Piero Fornasetti Boxer Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Piero Fornasetti Boxer Umbrella Stand
A whimsical example.
Late 1970s/80s example
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti Bookends Gift Tema E Variazioni N. 171 Black/White/Red Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
There can be wit and unpredictability in the order: this was Fornasetti idea when he designed his first bookends. The mix of images with their functional design make these accessorie...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti Silk Cushion High Fidelity Cat
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
Cushion cover material: S...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Silk
Fornasetti Neoclassical Trompe l'oeil Teste Antiche Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Divine Piero Fornasetti umbrella stand crafted from hand silk screened and lacquered metal. Trompe l'oeil Teste Antiche or antique heads in a Greco-Roman theme. Excellent joinery and...
Category
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Iron
Fornasetti Silk Cushion Sardine Fishes on Blue
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
Cushion cover material: S...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Silk
Fornasetti Cushion Chiave Key from the Series Tema e Variazioni Cotton
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
The decoration features t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cotton
20th Century Piero Fornasetti Umbrella Stand Theme Bottles Wine in Printed Metal
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Turin, Turin
Umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti themed with bottles on a typical italian wine barrel, in silkscreened sheet metal from the 1950s. Good condition...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Sheet Metal, Brass
Fornasetti Cushion Abbaglio from the Series Tema e Variazioni Cotton
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
The decoration features t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cotton
Fornasetti Cushion Mano Hand from the Series Tema e Variazioni Cotton
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs.
The decoration features t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cotton
Fornasetti Mani Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Atelier Fornasetti Mani Umbrella Stand,
Signed & Dated 2007
The Fornasetti cylindrical umbrella stand is decorated with the Mani pattern which is an extended arm on a black backg...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
20th Century Piero Fornasetti Umbrella Stand Theme Balloons in Metal and Brass
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Turin, Turin
Umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti themed Balloons in silkscreened sheet metal and brass from the 1950s. Good condition, patina of time, original in all its parts.
Presence of brand “Fornasetti Milano Made in Italy” on the bottom (request additional photo to see markbrand).
Published in: Barnaba Fornasetti, “Fornasetti La Bottega...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Sheet Metal, Brass
Plaid Cats on Books by Piero Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Plaid cats on books by Piero Fornasetti.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Textile
Rare Vintage Mid-20th Century Limited edition Fornasetti Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
This highly decorative piece is in excellent condition and a rare subject depicting bags & light luggage from the mid-20th century.
There is also an image showing the limited edition...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti Umbrella Stand with Music Theme, Milano, circa 1980
By Fornasetti
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Piero Fornasetti painted metal umbrella stand of a musical theme with painted sheet music and musical instruments. Original label on the reverse.
Italy, circa 1980s.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Other Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Piero Fornasetti Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988), Italian designer known for his whimsical trompe l'oeil works on metal. This is an early example, circa 1950s-1960s.
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Fornasetti ‘Alsatian Dog’ Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
A wonderfully fun umbrella stand by the creative designer, Piero Fornasetti. One of many dogs that Piero featured on his umbrella stands, this example portrays an Alsatian dog...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Strumenti Musical or Libri Screen
By Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An iconic mid-size screen depicting a library shelf on one side and musical instruments on the verso.
A period example, circa 1954. Measures: 53 1/2" high.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wood
Fornasetti Rectangular Box with Smoking Motif
By Fornasetti
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Fornasetti long, rectangular, box with a charming illustration of three pipes. Hand colored Lithography on metal. Exterior metal box slides over a metal interior box, powder coated...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Tin
Fornasetti Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in Westport, CT
Piero Fornasetti Enameled metal wine and alcohol themed Umbrella stand
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti more furniture and collectibles for sale on 1stDibs.
Fornasetti more furniture and collectibles are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Fornasetti more furniture and collectibles, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 15 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 12 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original more furniture and collectibles by Fornasetti were created in the modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider more furniture and collectibles by Danese Milano, Fontana Arte, and Midsummer Milano. Prices for Fornasetti more furniture and collectibles can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $285 and can go as high as $18,890, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,250.
Creators Similar to Fornasetti
Questions About Fornasetti More Furniture and Collectibles
- What is Fornasetti?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Fornasetti is an art design company that produces furniture and home accessories decorated by hand. Piero Fornasetti established the company in Milan, Italy, during the 1950s as his atelier. As of December 2021, his son, Barnaba Fornasetti, heads the company. You'll find a selection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
- Who is Piero Fornasetti?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Piero Fornasetti was an Italian artist and designer born in Milan, Italy, in 1913. In 1950, he founded an atelier in the city, creating furniture and home decorations. Fornasetti died on October 9, 1988. His company, Fornasetti, continues to produce hand-decorated decor under the guidance of his son Barnaba Fornasetti. Find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
- What style is Fornasetti?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024The style of Fornasetti is mid-century modern. The Italian artist and designer crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal library of images rendered in transfer print engravings, including birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and an enigmatic woman's face, to decorate an endless variety of furnishings and housewares that range from chairs, tables and decorative objects to dinner plates, table lamps and umbrella stands. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti art, furniture and decorative objects.
- Where can I buy Fornasetti?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can buy Fornasetti directly from the brand's online store. In addition, numerous brick-and-mortar retailers around the world carry Fornasetti pieces. You can also shop for the brand's furniture and home décor on multiple online platforms. You'll find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To burn a Fornasetti candle, first trim the wick to remove any soot. Then, light the candle and allow it to burn for up to three hours. Use a snuffer to extinguish the candle, as blowing out the flame can disturb the wax. Find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022How you display Fornasetti plates is largely a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to rest them flat on a low table or shelf, while others position them upright on plate stands. You can also thread string or twine through the two holes found on the back of every piece and display it as wall art. Find a collection of Fornasetti plates on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Opera 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.
- Is Fornasetti hand painted?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, each and every Fornasetti design is hand made and hand painted. The colors are expertly applied by painters, ensuring no two items are alike. You’ll find a variety of Fornasetti designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To hang Fornasetti plates, thread a length of string through the two small holes found on the tops of their backs. Tie the string in a secure knot and then hang from a nail, screw or hook. Avoid using plate hanger hardware, as it could crack or damage the plates. You'll find a collection of Fornasetti plates on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Fornasetti plates are hand-made in Italy. They continue a tradition of excellent craftsmanship that goes back to founder Piero Fornasetti, who established the atelier during the 1950s. Shop antique and modern Fornasetti plates from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What style of art is Fornasetti?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024The style of art by Fornasetti varied. His use of whimsical motifs has often led his artwork to be associated with Surrealism, while his use of repetitive imagery, like in his many prints featuring opera singer Lina Cavalieri, skewed toward Pop art. As a designer, his works reflected mid-century modern sensibilities with a playful twist. Explore a collection of Piero Fornasetti art and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, every Fornasetti porcelain figurine is handmade. In fact, the brand produces all of their home decorative items by hand at their workshop in Milan, Italy. If you see indications that a figurine came from a factory, it is likely not an authentic Fornasetti. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether or not Piero Fornasetti images are in the public domain depends on the image. The artist produced more than 11,000 works during his lifetime. Only some no longer carry a copyright and are in the public domain. Shop a range of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
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