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Fornasetti Furniture

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 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 Furniture

Materials

Silk

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 Furniture

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 Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Fornasetti Round Metal Tray Farfalle Butterflies Hand Painted on Red
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, it is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti Tray Holder Tray Black Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti trays become elegant coffee tables by adding this black wood base. Is suits a 40 cm diameter metal round tray.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

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 Furniture

Materials

Silk

Piero Fornasetti Italian Cocktail Drinks Coasters or Wall Art, Set of 6
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
A set of six (6) Italian Piero Fornasetti cocktail drinks coasters 'Cavalieri', Classical Roman style, circa mid-20th century, 1960s, Italy. A set of six in black and white edged in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Tema e Variazioni n.288 Round Ashtray
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Fornasetti's reinterpretations of opera singer Lina Cavalieri's face are the basis of the iconic Tema e Variazioni series and make this hand-decorated porcelain ashtray a must-have f...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

'Sole' (Sun) Chair by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Contemporary production of Piero Fornasetti's design from the Fornasetti Studio. Transfer printed and hand-colored decoration on wood, in tones of cheerful yellow mottled with ochre,...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

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 Furniture

Materials

Silk

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 Furniture

Materials

Silk

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 Furniture

Materials

Metal

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 Furniture

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 Furniture

Materials

Sheet Metal, Brass

Set of 6 Decorative Plates "Specialità Torinesi" by P. Fornasetti for Fiat
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Rare set of six decorated and gilded ceramic plates designed by Piero Fornasetti. This collection was specially created by the Fornasetti Atelier...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate

Fornasetti Wooden and Metal Box Serratura Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the boxes turn an everyday action into an aesthetic experience. The Fornasetti boxes are a whimsical place to keep your most precious items. This ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti Frame with Convex Mirror Farfalle Butterflies Color on White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the mirrors turn an everyday action into an aesthetic experience. Measures: Ø28 cm. This mirror frame is handcrafted using original artisan techni...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Midcentury Ceramic Centerpiece by Piero Fornasetti, italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, Italy
A ceramic centerpiece designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in circa 1950. With original label. Biography Piero Fornasetti was an Italian engraver, interior decorator, and arti...
Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Illuminated Mirrors by Benedetto Fornasetti, Circa 1970.
By Fornasetti
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of illuminated mirrors by Benedetto Fornasetti, Circa 1970. Pair of mirrors by designer Benedetto Fornasetti, illuminated mirrors in ...
Category

20th Century European Modern Fornasetti Furniture

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 Furniture

Materials

Metal

Decorative Ceramic Cat Bitossi Fiorato, Gold Flowers on Turquoise
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
A coveted collector’s item as early as the 1950s, Fornasetti cats surprise with the sophisticated decorations that colour their surroundings with sheer ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Coromandel Silver Leaf on Carmine Red
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. Me...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Sole Teapot
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The motif of the sun covers this hand-decorated porcelain teapot with gold accents, transferring Fornasetti's imagery to an object for daily use and thereby transforming it into a co...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Braccio Con Pistola on Black Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. Mea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Ceramic Ashtray Model 268 by Fornasetti for Winston Brand, 1970s
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Unobtainable piece from the collectible ceramics series realized by Fornasetti for Winston brand in the 70s. This piece is enriched by the drawing of the opera star Lina Cavalieri (1...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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 Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti Calender Plate 2009 Porcelain n. 42 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2009 . Porcelain n.42 ,Made in Italy .
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti Calender Plate 2011 Porcelain n.44 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2011 Porcelain n.44 Italy
Category

2010s Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti Calender Plate 2010 porcelain n.43 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2010 Porcelain n.43 . Made in Italy
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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 Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Piero Fornsasetti box, Fornasetti Milan. 1960s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Small and rare box signed Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti Milan, 1960s Classic screen-printed decoration. Useful as a pocket emptier
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Cylindrical Metal Lamp Base Viso Black/White, Iconical Fornasetti Face Decor
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The cylindrical shape allows Fornasetti's imagination to create surprising decorative effects in which the shapes follow one another endlessly. The metafisical face design makes this hand-silkscreened metal lamp base...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti “Plate Calendar n24” Porcelain, 1991, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti “Plate Calendar n24” porcelain, 1991, Italy.
Category

1990s Italian Other Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Large Chinoiserie Tray c1950
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Large Fornasetti tray . c1950 Printed label Fornasetti Milano,
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti Frame with Convex Mirror Farfalle Butterflies Color on Black
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the mirrors turn an everyday action into an aesthetic experience. This mirror frame is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. It is silk-...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Fornasetti Round Tray Città di Carte Hand-Colored on Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. Mea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Tema e Variazioni n.393 Round Ashtray
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri, reinterpreted by Piero Fornasetti, embellishes this hand-decorated porcelain ashtray, part of the iconic Tema e Variazioni series: an everyda...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti waste basket
By Piero Fornasetti, 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 Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Astronomici Decorative Plate
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The Fornasetti motif of the zodiac characterises this elegant hand-decorated porcelain plate with gold accents: a true collector's item, which you can use as an ornament for table ar...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Tema e Variazioni n.396 Round Ashtray
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri, reinterpreted by Piero Fornasetti, embellishes this hand-decorated porcelain ashtray, part of the iconic Tema e Variazioni series: an everyda...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Set of 6 Astronomici Tea Cups
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
This set of hand-decorated porcelain tea cups with gold accents is adorned with exquisite zodiac designs, making this ensemble a true collector's item. Any minor discrepancies betwee...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Set of 6 Sole Tea Cups
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The sun occupies a privileged place in Fornasetti's imagination and is one of the main decorative themes of the Atelier: here it is the protagonist of this set of hand-decorated porc...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Tema e Variazioni n.399 Round Ashtray
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The essential features of Lina Cavalieri's face stand out on this hand-decorated porcelain ashtray with gold accents from the famous Tema e Variazioni series: an everyday object thus...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Geometric and Moon Sconces, 2 Available
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wall lights or flush mounts with reverse serigraphy on glass in geometric and moon, mounted on white metal frames / Made in Italy by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1980s Ori...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Square Tray by Piero Fornasetti Milano Gun Pattern Metal w. Silkscreen Print
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
The vintage silkscreen printed metal tray designed by Piero Fornasetti in the 1960s features fine detailed depictions of guns spanning several centuries. The silkscreen printing tech...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Sole Sugar bowl
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
The sun decoration graces this hand-decorated porcelain sugar bowl with gold accents, transferring Fornasetti's imagery to an object for daily use and thereby transforming it into a ...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Astronomici Sugar bowl
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Precious zodiac decorations grace this hand-decorated porcelain sugar bowl with gold accents, transferring Fornasetti's imagery to an object for daily use and thereby transforming it...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Tema e Variazioni n.6 Round Ashtray
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Fornasetti's reinterpretations of opera singer Lina Cavalieri's face are the basis of the iconic Tema e Variazioni series and make this hand-decorated porcelain ashtray a must-have f...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Astronomici Teapot
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Refined zodiac motifs cover this elegant hand-decorated porcelain teapot with gold accents, turning an everyday object into a true collector's item. Any minor discrepancies between s...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti ‘Opera’ decorative dishes, vintage pair (ashtrays, wall decorations)
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Piero Fornasetti, Italy (designer) 'Melodramma' (Opera) series decorative dishes, (dishes, ashtrays, wall decorations) No.2: Pollione (Norma by Vincenzo Bellini) No.21: Otello (Ote...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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 Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti Leopardo Panel, Handpainted, Italy 21st Century
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Fornasetti panels are among the best expressions of the mix of functional design and aesthetic exploration that the Atelier is famous for. A single panel will turn a room upside down...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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 Furniture

Materials

Wood

Piero Fornasetti, Mid-Century Modern, Exhibition Poster, Paper, Light Wood Frame
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Exhibition Poster, Deocrative Art, Framed PIERO FORNASETTI (1913-1988) 'Fornasetti's Decorative Objects' poster Italy, 1989 Provenance: Christie...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Piero Fornasetti Studio, Pistol Barware Metal Serving Tray, 1960s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a great studio Fornasetti pistol tray from the 1960s. The design is attributed to Piero Fornasetti, Italy. The stylishly decorative enamel square metal tray features a quirky and cool print of...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Fornasetti "Gerusalemme Tray" in White/ Black, 100% Wood, Italy 21st Century
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
The tray, the closest thing to a sheet of paper in terms of shape and surface, has always offered Fornasetti great expressive possibilities. This hand-silkscreened model catches the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Fornasetti Don Giovanni Tamburo Table, Beechwood, Handmade in Italy 21st Century
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
The Fornasetti Tamburo is a wooden storage piece of furniture. its versatile shape turns it into a table. the wood is silkscreened and laquered by hand following the Atelier's tradit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Beech

Fornasetti "Cube with Drawer Ortensia" Multicolor, Wood, Handcrafted Italy 2010s
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
This cube with a drawer is a versatile wooden storage piece of furniture silkscreened, painted and laquered by hand following the Atelier's traditional method. Silkscreened, painted,...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Paint

Fornasetti furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Fornasetti furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Fornasetti furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 143 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 53 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Fornasetti were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Richard Ginori, Alfredo Barbini, and La Murrina. Prices for Fornasetti furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $274 and can go as high as $32,216, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,614.
Questions About Fornasetti Furniture
  • 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
    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 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 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
    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 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 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
    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 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
    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.

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