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.
Vintage Fornasetti Oggetti Con Nastro Wastebasket / Trash Can
By Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful example of this form. This example was deaccessioned from the Fornasetti Archives. Original surface is very nice.
Metal
$556Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.5 in Dm 10.5 in
1950s Atomic Wire Mesh Trash Can Wastebasket Vintage Mid-Century Architect Era
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Finely expanded metal sheet rolled wastebasket with reinforced lip and bottom tray. This type of metal deformation was invented in England in 1884 by John French Golding. This ty...
Metal
1950 Post Office Wastebasket Iron Seymour Robins Sondra Kay Trash Can
By Seymour Robins
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Brown burlap bag with black atomic frame, cabin modern rustic vibe.
Iron
$1,588Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.82 in Dm 14 in
1900s Clerks Industrial Wire Tin Map Architectural Drawings Bin Basket Trash Can
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare very tall wire form basket, impressed with manufacturers markings and patent dates, 1904-1914 on bottom copper pan. Top Dia: 14 in. Bottom Dia 10 in. Height 23 13/16 in.
Copper, Wire
$951
H 2.05 in Dm 3.12 in
Full Set of 6 Vintage Piero Fornasetti Ceramic Gilded Small Bowls, Italy 1950s.
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A complete set of 6 beautiful bowls / barware appetizer bowls with amazing decor and hand-painted gold details. Designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in Milano, Italy. Early prod...
Porcelain
Wood and Cane Wastebasket or Trash Can, 20th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
This elegant square wastebasket features sturdy wood frame, adding a touch of sophistication to any room. Each of the four sides is adorned with inset cane panels, offering a stylish...
Cane
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Mid-Century Ceramic Bowl / Ashtray, Italy 1960s.
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful bowl / ashtray / trinket dish / jewelry holder with amazing decor. Designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in Milano, Italy. Early production, 1960s. Great original c...
Porcelain
$995Sale Price|20% Off
H 10 in W 13 in D 7.75 in
Austrian Bronze & Iron Neoclassical Trash Can / Wastepaper Basket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Austrian bronze & iron neoclassical trash can / wastepaper basket Austria, circa early 20th century Of oval form with a continuous trellis, garland and flowerhead motif. Beautiful...
Bronze, Iron
Bamboo Wastebasket Trash Can
Located in New York, NY
An oval split bamboo wastebasket trash can, circa mid-20th century. Dimensions: 6.75" Depth x 10.63" Width x 10.63" Height.
Bamboo, Wicker
Raveneare Mid Century Hairpin Waste Basket Trash Can
By Ravenware, Richard Galef
Located in San Diego, CA
Richard Galef for Ravenware Mid Century waste basket. Brass colored frame with removable metal basket. 1950s USA
Metal
Italian MCM Leather Wood Book Library Wastebasket Trash Can
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Italian Leather and Wood Wastebasket. Perfect to be used formally or informally in a bathroom, powder room, vanity space or home office. Truly a vintage elegant Ralph Lauren ...
Leather, Wood
Wastebasket Trash Can
Located in New York, NY
A rectangular neutral colored (beige) grasscloth covered wastebasket or trash can with removable insert (shown in last image.) A great piece for a bathroom, powder room, home office,...
Metal
$520Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 13.25 in W 13.5 in D 10.75 in
1960's, Beni Mobler Danish Modern Rosewood Waste Basket Trash Can Denmark
By Bent Silberg Mobler
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful rosewood waste basket/trash can made by Beni Mobler and dates from the 1960's. Made in Denmark and is marked on the bottom. Wonderful form and de...
Rosewood
Decorative basket by Fornasetti depicting Sicilian puppets from the 70s.
By Fornasetti
Located in Catania, IT
For sale is a rare and fascinating vintage basket by Fornasetti, an authentic masterpiece of twentieth-century Italian design. The object, immediately recognizable by its very lively...
Aluminum
Vintage Fornasetti Cameo Cammei waste paper bin basket Italy mid century
By Fornasetti
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Classic Fornasetti imagery at its best... cameos on a black ground that fits into traditional modern transitional rooms. Approx 7.5 inches diameter x 8.5 inches high.
Brass
20th Century Piero Fornasetti Ice Basket Realized for Fiat, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Turin, Turin
The company's origins start from the art print shop Piero Fornasetti opened in the 1930s in Milan. The "Stamperia d'Arte Fornasetti" enjoyed some success in Milan's cultural milieu; Raffaele Carrieri in 1978 wrote in Epoca, "He was the first to print lithographs of De Chirico in Milan in a rather remote time." A key moment in the founding of the company was the meeting between Piero Fornasetti and Gio Ponti in the 1940s, which led to the opening of Atelier Fornasetti. Here we have an ice basket realized by Fornasetti in 1960s for Fiat, the main car factory...
Metal
Sold
H 11.23 in Dm 10.24 in
Piero Fornasetti Bandiere Wastepaper Basket Silkscreened Metal Brass, 1960
By Fornasetti
Located in Catania, IT
"Bandiere" wastepaper basket produced by Fornasetti Milano in Italy, 1960s. Silk- screened metal wastepaper is decorated with sixtyeight old flags like that of "Malta", "Brabant", "...
Brass, Sheet Metal
Sold
H 11.03 in Dm 10.24 in
Piero Fornasetti Strumenti Red Wastepaper Basket Brass Frame Masonite Italy 1955
By Fornasetti
Located in Catania, IT
"Strumenti" wastepaper basket produced by Fornasetti Milano in Italy, 1955. The structure is in masonite and has brass frame. Superficial wastepaper is decorated with six different...
Brass
Sold
H 10.24 in W 10.24 in L 10.24 in
'Palloni' 'Hot Air Balloons' Waste Paper Basket by Fornasetti, Contemporary
By Fornasetti
Located in London, England
Charming hand-coloured transfer printed design of ornate hot air balloons on metal with brass rim. Measures: H 28 / Ø 26 cm.
Metal
Fornasetti Waste Paper Can
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Libri" waste can for papers by Italian Company Fornasetti known for its transfer distinguished and often whimsical print designs onto many surfaces. The metal can features a cat and...
Metal
Fornasetti Paper Basket Mani Hands Black and White Metal Brass
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the paper basket is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This piece is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lac...
Brass, Metal
Sold
H 11.03 in Dm 10.24 in
Fornasetti Paper Basket Peccato Orginale Original Sin Hand Colored Metal Brass
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the paper basket is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This piece is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lac...
Brass, Metal
Midcentury Tracio di vite Piero Fornasetti Ice Bucket
By Fornasetti
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Ice bucket model “Tracio di vite” by Piero Fornasetti, marked under the base. Atelier Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1960.
Brass, Steel
Piero Fornasetti "Libri" Cat and Mouse Trash Can, Italy 1955
By Fornasetti
Located in Den Haag, NL
Piero Fornasetti "Libri" cat and mouse trash can, Italy 1955 About Piero Fornasetti (Artist) The Italian artist and illustrator 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...
Metal
Fornasetti "Farfalle" Waste Basket/Trash Can
By Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The most sought after Waste Can design from Piero Fornasetti. A vintage 1950s version in a diminutive size. This size was never reissued.
Metal