Skip to main content

Fornasetti More Art

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.

to
1
Overall Height
to
1
1
1
1
125
267
224
121
116
1
Artist: Fornasetti
Set of 8 porcelain egg cups by Fornasetti
Set of 8 porcelain egg cups by Fornasetti

Set of 8 porcelain egg cups by Fornasetti

By Fornasetti

Located in Milano, Lombardia

Italy, Milano 1950’s D 14,5 Eight porcelain egg cups decorated with medallions.

Category

1950s Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Related Items
Wall 24-1- White porcelain abstract geometric organic style mural sculpture

Wall 24-1- White porcelain abstract geometric organic style mural sculpture

Located in New York, NY

Artists Statement: My interest is in exploring ways of building structural forms in ceramics. Many ideas for the forms come from architecture while the inherent organic quality of th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Rare European 19C Judaica Havdalah Hebrew Plate
Rare European 19C Judaica Havdalah Hebrew Plate

Rare European 19C Judaica Havdalah Hebrew Plate

Located in Surfside, FL

Here is a rare late 19th Century-early 20th Century painted and stenciled Jewish plate with a Yiddish greeting. A rare piece of Jewish Porcelain from the Pre War era. In a bold black...

Category

Late 19th Century Folk Art Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Black Pamona, Contemporary Hand-Sculpted Black Porcelain Floral Wall Sculpture
Black Pamona, Contemporary Hand-Sculpted Black Porcelain Floral Wall Sculpture

Black Pamona, Contemporary Hand-Sculpted Black Porcelain Floral Wall Sculpture

By Element Clay Studio

Located in Savannah, GA

Black Pamona is a one-of-a-kind contemporary ceramic wall sculpture from Heather Knight’s Flora Collection, a body of work inspired by botanical forms, marine textures, and the intri...

Category

2010s Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Lark Sculptural Marbled Ceramic Vase, Porcelain and Stoneware
Lark Sculptural Marbled Ceramic Vase, Porcelain and Stoneware

Lark Sculptural Marbled Ceramic Vase, Porcelain and Stoneware

Located in Savannah, GA

“Lark” is a one-of-a-kind sculptural vessel from Heather Knight’s Coeur Collection, created in her Savannah-based Element Clay Studio . Elegant in proportion and quietly architectur...

Category

2010s Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware

Summit Sculptural Marbled Ceramic Bowl, Black and White Porcelain Stoneware
Summit Sculptural Marbled Ceramic Bowl, Black and White Porcelain Stoneware

Summit Sculptural Marbled Ceramic Bowl, Black and White Porcelain Stoneware

By Element Clay Studio

Located in Savannah, GA

“Summit” is a one-of-a-kind sculptural vessel from Heather Knight’s Coeur Collection, created in her Savannah-based Element Clay Studio (est. 2007). Inspired by mountain ridgelines ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware

Who Shall I Listen To IV, 2018 Porcelain and Alabaster Sculpture, Edmund De Waal
Who Shall I Listen To IV, 2018 Porcelain and Alabaster Sculpture, Edmund De Waal

Who Shall I Listen To IV, 2018 Porcelain and Alabaster Sculpture, Edmund De Waal

By Edmund de Waal

Located in London, GB

Edmund De Waal 1964 - Current Who shall I listen to IV, 2018 1 porcelain vessel, 1 porcelain shard, 1 alabaster fragment, 1 alabaster block and gold leaf in an aluminium and plexigla...

Category

2010s Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Alabaster, Gold Leaf

Outside Your Comfort Zone-original realism porcelain painting-contemporary Art
Outside Your Comfort Zone-original realism porcelain painting-contemporary Art

Outside Your Comfort Zone-original realism porcelain painting-contemporary Art

By Henk Jan Sanderman

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain, Canvas, Acrylic

Vintage Group of Five Wedgewood Porcelain Framed Clipper Ship Plaques
Vintage Group of Five Wedgewood Porcelain Framed Clipper Ship Plaques

Vintage Group of Five Wedgewood Porcelain Framed Clipper Ship Plaques

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Impressive group of porcelain Clipper ship plaques expertly hand painted and glazed, reproduced from the original paintings with permission from the Peabody Museum England. Presented...

Category

Mid-20th Century Victorian Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Meditate Tea Cups, 3"x3" Luster and Gold on Porcelain
Meditate Tea Cups, 3"x3" Luster and Gold on Porcelain

Meditate Tea Cups, 3"x3" Luster and Gold on Porcelain

By Carolyn Barlock

Located in Loveland, CO

"Meditate" by Carolyn Barlock One-of-a-kind Luster and Gold on Porcelain 3x3" each, demitasse teacups with pansy floral design hand-carved, gilt and glazed signed and numbered on th...

Category

2010s Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Gold, Gold Leaf

Contemporary Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, Glazed, 23 x 20 x 18 in, Sunkoo Yuh
Contemporary Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, Glazed, 23 x 20 x 18 in, Sunkoo Yuh

Contemporary Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, Glazed, 23 x 20 x 18 in, Sunkoo Yuh

By SunKoo Yuh

Located in St. Louis, MO

Contemporary Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, Glazed, 23 x 20 x 18 in, Sunkoo Yuh The ceramic sculptures of SunKoo Yuh are composed of tight groupings of various forms including plants...

Category

2010s Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain, Glaze

Tony De Lap - An Evening With the Spirits - rare porcelain plate with gilt edge
Tony De Lap - An Evening With the Spirits - rare porcelain plate with gilt edge

Tony De Lap - An Evening With the Spirits - rare porcelain plate with gilt edge

By Tony Delap

Located in New York, NY

Artist signature fired onto the underside of the plate An Evening with the Spirits. 1984. Porcelain plate with gilt edge. Given to attendees of “An Evening with the Spirits”, a fundr...

Category

1980s Abstract Geometric Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Previously Available Items
Italian Ceramic 'Testa di Moro' Vase or Jardiniere by Piero Fornasetti, Milan
Italian Ceramic 'Testa di Moro' Vase or Jardiniere by Piero Fornasetti, Milan

Italian Ceramic 'Testa di Moro' Vase or Jardiniere by Piero Fornasetti, Milan

By Fornasetti

Located in Bournemouth, Dorset

VASE/JARDINIERE - Italian Ceramic 'Testa di Moro' Vase by Piero Fornasetti, Milan, circa 1960, with black glaze, worn red velvet on base, marked 'Fornasetti, Milan, Made in Italy. G...

Category

1950s Modern Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic

THE CAT - Fornasetti glazed tile Milan , Italy 1980s
THE CAT - Fornasetti glazed tile Milan , Italy 1980s

THE CAT - Fornasetti glazed tile Milan , Italy 1980s

By Fornasetti

Located in Napoli, IT

Underglaze glazed ceramic tile in white, black and red depicting a cat.. years 1980/90 - Fornasetti Milan

Category

1980s Modern Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Glaze

Piero Fornasetti, set of six porcelain plates from the Tema E Variazioni series
Piero Fornasetti, set of six porcelain plates from the Tema E Variazioni series

Piero Fornasetti, set of six porcelain plates from the Tema E Variazioni series

By Fornasetti

Located in San Rafael, CA

A wonderful set of six Piero Fornasetti porcelain plates from the Tema E Variazioni series. Marked Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy on the reverse. Fornasetti frequently utilized thi...

Category

20th Century Contemporary Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Eyes
Eyes

FornasettiEyes, ca. 1950s

Sold

H 12 in Dm 12 in

Eyes

By Fornasetti

Located in Missouri, MO

PIERO FORNASETTI (1913-1988) DINNER PLATE, 1950s lithographically-decorated porcelain 12" Diameter Marked FORNASETTI MILANO MADE IN ITALY, and nunbered 168

Category

1950s Surrealist Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Milano Posateria 5 Gold Coasters Pin Dishes
Fornasetti Milano Posateria 5 Gold Coasters Pin Dishes

Fornasetti Milano Posateria 5 Gold Coasters Pin Dishes

By Fornasetti

Located in Austin, TX

Artist: Fornasetti Item: 5 Posateria pin dishes/coasters. Circa - 1950's , Made for Roos Bros. , San Francisco Manufacture - Fornasetti , Milano , Italy With printed retailer’s labe...

Category

Mid-20th Century Fornasetti More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti more art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Fornasetti more art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Fornasetti in ceramic, glaze, porcelain and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Fornasetti more art, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jogen Chowdhury , Jean Cocteau, and Gordon Chandler. Fornasetti more art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $329 and tops out at $7,208, while the average work can sell for $3,769.

Questions About Fornasetti More Art

  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Fornasetti 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Piero 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    The 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    You 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 ExpertApril 5, 2022
    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 ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    How 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 ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To 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, 2022
    To 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 ExpertMay 14, 2024
    Piero Fornasetti is famous for his work as a designer. The Italian artist was one of the wittiest and most imaginative talents of the 20th century. Fornasetti 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 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 decorative objects to dinner plates, table lamps and umbrella stands. His work is archly clever, often Surrealist and always fun. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti pieces.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Fornasetti 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    The 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 ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, 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, 2022
    Whether 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    No, 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.