While you’ll find everything from animals to historic Italian architecture printed on original Fornasetti dinner plates, serveware and other dinnerware, the illustrator and furniture maker’s signature motif is the face of a mysterious woman, one loosely modeled after opera singer Lina Cavalieri, who became his fantastical muse.
Piero Fornasetti was, in a word, a rebel. While his mid-century design contemporaries focused on streamlined, architectural forms, Fornasetti was all about decorative whimsy, enchantment and Surrealism, adorning his vintage dinner plates and other works with dozens of eclectic motifs that he drew himself.
Born in Milan, Fornasetti was a 20th-century Renaissance man, mastering drawing and painting, graphic design and product design. He trained at the prestigious Brera Academy of Fine Art in Milan for two years before being thrown out for his rebellious nature. But Fornasetti was a tour de force, exhibiting hand-painted silk scarves at the Triennale di Milano just a year later — works that would draw the eye of acclaimed designer Gio Ponti. Ponti and Fornasetti would collaborate on furnishings and interiors for decades, and it was for a Ponti-organized exhibition in 1947 that Fornasetti would design his first set of plates.
Having never worked with ceramics before, Fornasetti vigorously studied the medium by visiting studios and factories, working with experts to learn all aspects of design and production. His efforts resulted in a vast assortment of collectible plates, including 350 variations on the Lina Cavalieri motif that comprised the “Tema e Variazioni” (“Theme and Variation”) series. But his dinner plates feature many other quintessential Fornasetti-style illustrations, from characters from Italian plays to hot-air balloons to dissected fruits.
Today, the Fornasetti empire is managed by the designer’s son, Barnaba, who continues his father’s idiosyncratic legacy. The famous dinner plates are not only found on the tables of design tastemakers across the globe, but also in the collections of such institutions as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Brooklyn Museum in New York.
Find a collection of authentic Fornasetti dinner plates on 1stDibs.
Astronomici n.1 Decorative Plate by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
This hand-decorated porcelain plate is adorned with exquisite zodiac designs, making this a true collector's item. Any minor discrepancies are the result of craftsmanship and attest ...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Mesi and Soli Pair of Plates 12 Suns 12 Months, 1955
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti porcelain plates, 12 suns, 12 months, Pair of plates Mid to late 1950s. The rare Piero Fornasetti "12 Mesi 12 Soli" series plates show the sun as a woman's face and each one represents a different month- May and June. They are numbered five and six. Dimensions: 10 1/4 inches diameter x 1 inch high. Mark: Each with Piero Fornasetti printed...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Recipe Plate, Vero-Pig Piccadilly, Made for Fleming Joffe
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti recipe plate, Vero-Pig piccadilly, Made for Fleming Joffe, Silkscreen and transfer, Early 1960s. This rare Piero Forna...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Set of Six Strumenti Musicali Dinner Plates, 1950s-1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Harmonious Design: A Set of Piero Fornasetti 'Strumenti Musicali' Plates, 1950s–1960s This captivating set of six Piero Fornasetti plates from the 1950s–1960s exemplifies the artist...
Ceramic, Pottery
Set of 4 Vintage Piero Fornasetti Ceramic Dinner Plates 'Posateria', Italy 1950s
By Fornasetti, Gio Ponti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A set of 4 beautiful dinner plates with amazing hand-painted gold decor. From the series 'Posateria' (cutlery). All with different motifs. Designed and produced by Piero Fornasett...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Porcelain Surrealist Themes & Variation Plate, #260
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti porcelain Surrealist Themes & Variation plate #260, The Snail, Atelier Fornasetti The Fornasetti porcelain plate in the Themes & Variation pattern depicts a surreal depic...
Porcelain
Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Ceramic
Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti, mod. 187 "Theme and Variations" series plate, Fornasetti 1960
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Firenze, IT
Mod. 187 "Theme and Variations" series serigraphed porcelain plate Prod. Fornasetti, Milan, Italy, ca. 1960 Serigraphed porcelain. Diam: 25.5 cm Marked Conditions: Excellent, no...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Commedia Dell'arte Maschere Italiane Porcelain Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti set of four Porcelain Commedia Dell'arte Maschere Italiane Porcelain lates, Italian Masks, circa 1970s Each plate depicts a character from the Commedia Dell'ar...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Milano 'Fiori' Pattern Porcelain Plates, Set of Twelve, circa 1965
By Fornasetti
Located in Kinderhook, NY
An incredibly rare set of 12 large porcelain dinner plates in the 'Fiori' pattern designed by Piero Fornasetti and produced by Fornasetti - Milano, circa 1965. There are two plates o...
Porcelain
Set di sei piatti, design Piero FORNASETTI serie Strumenti Musicali. Anni 50
By Fornasetti
Located in Torino, IT
Set di sei piatti, design Piero FORNASETTI serie Strumenti Musicali. ORIGINE Milano PERIODO Anni 50 DESIGNER Piero FORNASETTI MARCA Fornasetti - Milano MODELLO Piatti della seri...
Porcelain
Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "2, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" to the underside.
Ceramic
Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped 11, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Rare Vintage Matador & Bull Porcelain Dinner Plates Set of Six
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
These wonderful hard to find and hard to come by complete set of RARE wonderful bullfight black and white vintage Mid-Century Modern porcelain dinner plates are the genius work and i...
Porcelain
20thC Set Of Four "Recipe" Plates By Fornasetti, Commissioned By Fiat c.1950
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti, Fiat
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A charming and rare set of four porcelain plates, created by Piero Fornasetti in the 1950s, specially commissioned by Fiat to celebrate the culinary and cultural traditions of Turin....
Porcelain
Piatto serie "Astrolabio", Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti Milano, 1971
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Piatto serie "Astrolabio" Fornasetti Milano , Natale 1971
Porcelain
Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti Porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "1, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Ceramic
Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Fornasetti, Rosenthal
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Ceramic
Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti Porcelain Plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "6, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Ceramic
Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "4, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Plate, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Plate, Italy
Ceramic
Barnaba Fornasetti Calendar Plate for 2013 with Piero Fornasetti Self Portrait
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Barnaba Fornasetti Calendar Plate for 2013, with Piero Fornasetti Self Portrait, #518 of 700 The plate depicts an image of Piero Fornase...
Porcelain
Piatto da collezione, design FORNASETTI con poesia di Raffaele CARRIERI
By Fornasetti
Located in Torino, IT
Piatto da collezione, design FORNASETTI Tranquillo io sono un altro di Raffaele CARRIERI. ORIGINE Italia PERIODO Anni 60 AUTORE La poesia è di Raffaele Carrieri, poeta, scrittore,...
Porcelain
Piatto da collezione, design FORNASETTI Scherzo sulle Preferenze di R. CARRIERI
By Fornasetti
Located in Torino, IT
Piatto da collezione, design FORNASETTI Scherzo sulle Preferenze di Raffaele CARRIERI. ORIGINE Italia PERIODO Anni 60 AUTORE Il testo è di Raffaele Carrieri, poeta, scrittore, cri...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Astrological Zodiac Plate, Cancer, Gli Zodiaci Farmacope
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Astrological Zodiac Porcelain Plate-for the Zodiac sign Cancer, Gli Zodiaci Farmacopei, No 8, Especially made for Crinos By...
Porcelain
Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Plate, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Plate, Italy
Ceramic
Coalport Six-Piece Set of Gold Dinner Plates
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in San Francisco, CA
Revive the glory of the Gilded Age (minus the backstabbing, corsets vs rib removal, and arsenic for skin whitening) at your dinner table. If your dining area is all gloomy gray with...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Eva or Eve Porcelain Plate # 8, Signed, Unused
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Kansas City, MO
Piero Fornasetti Eva or Eve porcelain plate number 8. Signed. Appears to be unused.
Porcelain
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Astrolabe Plate
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti astrolabe plate, Numbered #7 in Series 1960s-mid 1970s. The Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate depicts an astrolabe in a ...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Theme & Variations Porcelain Plate No. 218 with Original Box
By Fornasetti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine designer porcelain plate. By Fornasetti. From the Theme & Variations series (Tema e Variazioni) Model no. 218. With a depiction of Lina Cavalliere's face behind fruit (inc...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Astrolabe Plate, Number 5
By Fornasetti
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
The Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate depicts an astrolabe, it is number five of twelve in series. This is a very rare edition with the special mark on the back side "La Production I...
Ceramic
Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Fornasetti, Rosenthal
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Ceramic
A Sea of Imagination: Piero Fornasetti’s Iconic Pesci Plates
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
A Sea of Imagination: Fornasetti’s Iconic Pesci Plates Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913–1988) A Set of Six Porcelain Plates, “Pesci” Pattern Milan, Late 1950s Porcelain, transfer-pri...
Ceramic, Pottery
Piero Fornasetti Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #78
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" porcelain plate depicting the face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalieri, no.78 / made in Milano Italy circa 1960. Original mark on t...
Porcelain
Set of 5 1950s Piero Fornasetti Grandi Maestri Gold Ceramic Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Set of 5 Fornasetti ceramic /gold plates “Grandi Maestri” series. Ceramic plate by Piero Fornasetti of the series ” Grandi Maestri ” Music Great Masters. Ceramic, silk screen prin...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Astronomici Plate, #4 in Series
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Astronomici means Astronomics. This is a rare pattern in black and white with gold highlights. Mark: A moon and sun within a circle with smiling faces with scattered stars and th...
Porcelain
$2,368 / set
H 2.37 in Dm 4.34 in
Set of 'Soli e Luni' Sun and Moon Cups and Saucers by Piero Fornasetti, c.1955
By Richard Ginori, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
A rare and early set of four espresso cup and saucers designed by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1955. Produced by the historic Italian ceramics company, Richard Ginori, these beauti...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Commedia Dell'arte Maschere Italiane Porcelain Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti set of four Porcelain Commedia Dell'arte Maschere Italiane Porcelain lates, Italian Masks, circa 1970s Each plate depicts a character from the Commedia Dell'ar...
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.99 in Dm 10.16 in
Piero Fornasetti Vintage Gilded Ceramic Dinner Plate 'Posateria', Italy 1950s.
By Gio Ponti, Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful large plate with amazing hand-painted gold decor. Number 2 in the series 'Posateria' (cutlery). Designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in Milano, Italy. Early prod...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti, Six saucers "Musical Instruments" series, c1970s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Six saucers from the InstrumentI Music series and malachite details
Ceramic
Set of six plates, design Piero FORNASETTI Clematites series. Milan, 1950s
By Fornasetti
Located in Torino, IT
Set of six plates, design Piero FORNASETTI clematites series. ORIGIN Milan PERIOD 1950s DESIGNER Piero FORNASETTI MARK Fornasetti - Milan MODEL Series dishes Clematites MATERIA...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Themes and Variations Plate, Number 2
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Fornasetti Themes and Variations Porcelain Plate, Number 2, Broken Plate Pattern Fornasetti Atalier. A Fornasetti porcelain plate inone of the Themes and Variation pattern...
Porcelain
Fornasetti, "Cammei" porcelain plate, mid 20th century
By Fornasetti, Piero 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...
Porcelain
Sold
H 1.19 in Dm 10.24 in
Fornasetti hand painted decorative plate, "Tema e Variazioni" 78, made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Have you ever wondered who's the woman that appears on the iconic Fornasetti plates? You might believe she's just an imaginary muse, dreamed by Piero Fornasetti. Turns out, she's way...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Fornasetti Milano dish from the 70s
By Fornasetti
Located in Catania, IT
Fornasetti Milano dish from the 70s
Porcelain
Fornasetti Themes & Variations Porcelain Plate, Number 9, Maori Tatoos
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti Themes & Variations porcelain plate, Pattern Number 9, Atelier Fornasetti, 1990s The Fornasetti porcelain plate in the Themes & Variation pattern depicts the face o...
Porcelain
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H 1 in Dm 10.25 in
Fornasetti Themes & Variations Gold Plate, Tema E Variazioni, Pattern Number 96
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti Themes & Variations gold plate, butterfly, Tema E Variazioni, Pattern number 96, Atelier Fornasetti. A variation of Fornasetti's Tema E...
Porcelain
Sold
H 1 in Dm 10.25 in
Fornasetti Themes & Variations Gold Plate, Tema E Variazioni, Pattern Number 34
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti Themes & Variations Gold Plate, Tema E Variazioni, Pattern Number 34, Atelier Fornasetti. A variation of Fornasetti's Tema E Variazion...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Astrolabe Porcelain Plate 1968
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A porcelain plate designed by Piero Fornasetti as no.4 of the twelves-piece set of the Astrolabe series between 1965-1976. The series each depicts an Astrolabio, an elaborate inclino...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Astrolabe Porcelain Plate, 1967
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A porcelain plate designed by Piero Fornasetti as no,3 of the twelves-piece set of the Astrolabe series between 1965-1976. The series each depicts an Astrolabio, an elaborate inclino...
Porcelain