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.
Handmade Decorative Centrepiece Rosone Black White Gold
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The art of the table is manifested in this hand-decorated porcelain centrepiece with gold accents: Fornasetti's unmistakable decorative style makes it a true collector's item. Any...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Gilded Plate Falstaff by Guiseppe Verdi, Italy, 1970s
By Fornasetti
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful gilded porcelain plate "Falstaff by Guiseppe Verdi" by Piero Fornasetti, Milano from the 1970s. Diameter 10", stamped on its backside. In very good condition with light w...
Porcelain
$3,800 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver Plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Marcel Eduoard Sandoz, Christofle, Gallia
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. All 12 animals are different. Original case. Aver...
Silver Plate
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
1970s Set of Vintage Porcelain Plates, by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
1970s plate, Calendar series is a set of 9 silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti during the 1970s from the Calendario series, the Happy New Year dishes series. It includes all the years except 1977. Good conditions. Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate...
Porcelain
$3,200 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Marcel Eduoard Sandoz, Christofle
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. Six different animals are rep...
Silver Plate, Metal
$1,195 / set
H 18 in W 14.75 in D 3.75 in
Mid-Century Modern 91 Piece Rosewood & Bronze Flatware Set by Jean Claude w Case
By Jean Claude Aujame
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and never used rosewood & bronze 91 pcs, service for eight with serving pcs. Great teak storage box with brass & rosewood handle. Truly a qua...
Brass, Bronze
$1,243 / set
H 1.38 in W 4.34 in D 1.58 in
Art Nouveau set of 6 Knife Rests Poppy Flowers Gallia Christofle Silver Plated
By Gallia
Located in Paris, FR
This set of 6 knife-rests with blooming poppy flowers is a very good and typical Art Nouveau design. They are silver-plated, made by Gallia famous french silversmith part of Christofle world well-known. Each one is stamped and signed in the crossbar: "GALLIA METAL...
Silver Plate
Set of six Fornasetti 'Specialita Romane' recipe plates c1950
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Wonderful set of six original Fornasetti Roman recipe plates. Italy c1950 Each plate with a typical Roman cuisine recipe along with a depiction of an historical Roman building.
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Grandi Maestri Gold Gilt Portrait Italian Porcelain Plate Verdi
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic vintage mid 20th century Piero Fornasetti decorative porcelain art plate from the "Grandi Maestri" or "Great Masters" series featuring a portrait of opera composer Giusepp...
Porcelain
$2,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1 in Dm 10.5 in
12 Limoges Raised Gilt Enameled Napoleonic Plates, circa 1900
By Charles Ahrenfeldt
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
12 Limoges raised gilt enameled Napoleonic plates, circa 1900, each one decorated with gilt laurel surround, filled with golden bees, the center with Napoleonic crest of laurel wreath and monogrammed 'N'. The porcelain is made by Charles Ahrenfeldt Limoges...
Porcelain
$230Sale Price|23% Off
H 4.75 in W 7 in D 0.5 in
Modernist Brass and Cane Wire Cheese Slicer Knife by Penchoen Originals, 1960s
By Penchoen Originals
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant, modernist wire cheese knife in solid brass with cane-wrapped handle designed by Penchoen Originals of Sturgis, Michigan. Often misattributed to either Tommi Parzinger or Car...
Brass, Wire
$76Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 3.15 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
Vintage Midcentury Salt and Pepper Shakers by Ehrenreich of Denmark in Teak
By Hans Gustav Ehrenreich
Located in Søborg, DK
Vintage midcentury salt and pepper shakers by Ehrenreich of Denmark in teak. It was the late 1950s, and in Ehrenreich’s small workshop, there was no shortage of imagination. No two things were ever alike. Small silver fish were inlaid in hand-turned bowls...
Teak
$828
H 0.6 in Dm 3.94 in
Set of 5 Small Plate or Coasters in Porcelain by Piero Fornasetti, Italy 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury a set of five beautiful black and white small plates or coasters in porcelain displaying drawn animals with money (snail, dog, hen, turtl...
Porcelain
14 Fornasetti for Rosenthal Palladiana Pattern Chargers / Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in Litchfield, CT
By Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, Germany, circa 1970. Excellent condition. These rare Palladiana pattern chargers are fabulous examples of Piero Fo...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Milano Ice Bucket
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Ferndale, MI
Well loved Fornasetti ice bucket. Some dings in the anodized aluminum interior and lid. Liquor bottle graphics are bright and vivid. Marked Fornasetti Milano...
Aluminum
Decorative Zodiac Oval Plate Astronomici Black White Gold
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The porcelain is a material that offers Fornasetti the greatest freedom of expression and is best suited to accommodate the Atelier's endless variety of decorations. Here the zodiaca...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Midcentury Yellow Umbrella Stand with Figures, 1950
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Charming Fornasetti midcentury yellow umbrella stand with figures, 1950. Painted iron and brass.
Iron
Sold
H 1 in W 13 in D 9.25 in
Italian Piero Fornasetti Rare Porcelain Tea or Coffee Set Titled "Architettura"
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This Italian Fornasetti rare and very special architectural black and white small porcelain tea or coffee set with original tray belonged to the son of Fornasetti and was purchased f...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Metal Serving Tray Barware Mid-Century Modern
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This great and rare serigraphed Italian Mid-Century Modern metal serving tray is the work of Italian artist, dreamer and genius Piero Fornasetti. This is great for barware. This part...
Metal
Piero Fornasetti Black and Gold Charm Bracelet Small Ceramic Dish
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
The small dish depicts a gold charm bracelet on a black ground. The charms include a rabbit's foot, a fish, a key amongst others.
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Calendar Plate, Year 1973
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
The plate depicts a sitting happy elephant carrying a crate on its back containing the months of the year 1973. According to the Fornasetti website, "The calendar plate...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Calendar Plate for 1971
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti calendar plate for 1971, 4th in series. The design of the 1971 Fornasetti calendar plate depicts a gilt crescent moon face on the ...
Piero Fornasetti Tema e Variazione Tray
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
An early original Fornasetti Large round tray with a Classic design. Label to underside.
Metal
Sold
H 1 in W 19.25 in D 6 in
Piero Fornasetti Serving Tray with Profili Romani Pattern Appetizer Bowls
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
The gold anodized aluminum original tray holds four rectangular appetizer or serving bowls with the Profili Romani design of named ancient Roman busts with a gold rim. This is one of...
Unique Ice Bucket by Piero Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is a wonderful period ice bucket in a striking combination of black, red and anodized gold lid. The bucket features various Greek or Roman masks. Ther...
Metal