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.
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 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
FORNASETTI Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate Motiv 24
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Rosenthal Fornasetti "Temi e Variazioni" porcelain plate motiv 24, with gold rim and black and white printed center depicting the face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalie...
Porcelain
FORNASETTI Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #81
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" porcelain plate depicting the smoking face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalieri, no.81 / made in Milano Italy circa 1960 Original ma...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Dome Plate, Cupola Galleria Di Milano Number 7 in Series
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti Dome Plate, Cupola Galleria di Milano Number 7 in Series, Dated 2018 Each plate in the series has a different dome of a named and numbered building on the reverse, seen from the inside and below. Dimensions: 9 1/4 inches x 1 inch high. (23.50cm diameter x 2.54cm) The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy's oldest active shopping gallery and a major landmark of Milan in Italy. Housed within a four-story double arcade in the centre of town, the Galleria is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. . These plates were originally designed and executed for building contractor Andrea Brenta, Milan, as Christmas presents...
Porcelain
$3,556 / set
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Eva Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Eva. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes or...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Porcelain Themes & Variation Plate, Number 186
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
"Sicilian Surrealism": Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" Trinacria Plate, (Face with Three Legs), 1990's A striking and surreal porcelain wall plate from the iconic "Themes & Variatio...
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
$5,689 / set
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White/Gold
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Adamo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes ...
Porcelain
$3,556 / set
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Adamo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes ...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Themes & Variations Plate, Pattern Number 52, Atelier Fornasetti, 19
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Surreal Distortion: Fornasetti "Themes & Variations" Plate #52 (Lina Cavalieri) Circa 1990s A striking and surreal porcelain wall plate from the iconic "Themes & Variations" (Tema e...
Porcelain
FORNASETTI Grande Antico Gold Cocktail Plate by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage gilt decorated GRANDE ANTICO porcelain plate by Piero Fornasetti / made in Milano Italy circa 1950s Original mark on the back Diameter 9.5 inches, height 1 inch 1 available i...
Porcelain
Two 1960s Mid-Century Modern Musical Instruments Plates by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Aci Castello, IT
These two 1960s Mid-Century Modern decorative plates by Piero Fornasetti typically exemplify his whimsical and artistic approach to design.The plates depict intricate surreal illustr...
Porcelain
FORNASETTI Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #281
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 on a nude female torso, no.281 / made in Milano Italy circa ...
Porcelain
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 ...
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
$850 / set
Modern Art Porcelain Plates, 4
By Jean Cocteau, Limoges, Fornasetti
Located in Astoria, NY
Group of Four Modern Art Porcelain Plates, comprising: set of three Jean Cocteau limoges portrait dishes, marked "Limoges / France" to the underside and Fornasetti "Zodiacus" circula...
Porcelain
$3,000 / set
Set of Six Iconic "Julia" Plates by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of six "Julia" displaying porcelain plates with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Variations”). These plates were m...
Porcelain
Under Construction: Fornasetti's Enigmatic Themes & Variations Plate, No. 200
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Under Construction: Fornasetti's Enigmatic Themes & Variations Plate, No. 200 Immerse yourself in the playful genius of Piero Fornasetti with this iconic porcelain plate, Number 20...
Porcelain
FORNASETTI Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #14
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 through a keyhole, no.14 / made in Milano Italy circa 1960 O...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti, Vintage Plate from the Series of Church Domes Cupole d'Italia
By Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Decorated porcelain Plate number 5 from the series Cupole d’Italia: Cupola di San Lorenzo a Torino. Each plate with a different dome of an Italian church seen from the inside named and numbered on the reverse. These plates were designed and executed for building contractor Andrea Brenta, Milan, as Christmas presents...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Surrealist Themes & Variations Plate, #18, Fornasetti, "Circles"
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti Porcelain Themes & Variation Plate, #18, Circles, Atelier Fornasetti The Fornasetti porcelain plate in the Themes & Variation pattern depicts a depiction of the ...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti “Il Minestrone” Plate, Specialità Milanesi, Italy Mid Century
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Iconic vintage porcelain plate designed by Piero Fornasetti as part of the celebrated "Specialità Milanesi" series. This plate features the whimsical and highly detailed black-and-wh...
Ceramic, Porcelain
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
FORNASETTI Set of 6 Fornasetti Mural Plates by Louis Vuitton
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fornasetti Mural plate set, co-designed by Johnny Coca and the Italian atelier Fornasetti, each featuring a unique motif echoing the antiquity theme from the Louis Vuitton Women's Fa...
Porcelain
Set of three “Panoplie” series plates in porcelain with lithographed decoration
By Fornasetti
Located in Madrid, España
Set of three “Panoplie” series plates in porcelain with lithographed decoration on gold leaf - Piero Fornasetti - Milano - Italy - c. 1960
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
Porcelain
FORNASETTI Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #77
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" porcelain plate depicting the crying face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalieri, no.77 / made in Milano Italy circa 1960. Original ma...
Porcelain
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 .
Porcelain
Rare & Stunning Decorative Set Of Six Fornasetti Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in Portlaoise, IE
This extraordinary and highly collectible set of six porcelain plates is from the iconic Giornali (Newspapers) series by the legendary Italian design house, Fornasetti. Designed by P...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Milano "Musicalia" Gilt Coasters Set of 4, Italy for Bonwit Teller
By Fornasetti
Located in Miami, FL
Fornasetti Milano "Musicalia" Gilt Coasters Set of 4, Italy for Bonwit Teller Offered for sale is a set of four Mid-century Modern Fornasetti Milano "Musicalia" coasters made in Ita...
Porcelain
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Porcelain "Recipe" Plates Set of Three
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
These delightful hallmarked set of three vintage Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti recipe plates are amusing and unusual. One is for stuffed crown roast or frankfurters, th...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Tema e Variazioni Porcelain Black and White Large Dish Charger
By Fornasetti
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
The Italian artist and illustrator Piero Fornasetti was one of the wittiest, 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, an enigmatic woman’s face. Fornasetti used...
Porcelain
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
Fornasetti “N18 Piatto Calendario” Porcelain, 1985, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti “N 18 Piatto Calendario“ porcelain, 1985, Italy.
Porcelain
Fornasetti “Plate Calendar n 20” Porcelain, 1987, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti “Plate Calendar n 20” porcelain, 1987, Italy.
Porcelain
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Botanica Pratica" Porcelain Botanical Serving Bowl
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful substantial sized porcelain square vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Piero Fornasetti bowl or serving piece has all the elements of botanicals and flowers and is enti...
Porcelain
Fornasetti “ N.22 Piatto Calendario “ Happy 1989 Porcelain Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti “N 22 Piatto Calendario “ Happy 1989 Porcelain Italy.
Porcelain
Fornasetti “Plate n.16 Calendario “ Porcelain 1983 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti “Plate n.16 Calendario “ porcelain 1983 Italy.
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti "Nummus" Green Porcelain Plate Mid-Century Modern
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Fornasetti plate is numbered three and is from the collection of the Roman coin series. All hallmarked on the back. This is a ver...
Porcelain
Fornasetti “N.22 Piatto Calendario” Happy 1989 Porcelain, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti “N 22 Piatto Calendario” happy 1989 porcelain, Italy.
Porcelain
Tray with Mercury Gold Milan, Fornasetti Manufactory, circa 1950
By Fornasetti
Located in Madrid, ES
Tray with Mercury. Milan, Fornasetti Manufactory, circa 1950. Porcelain. Brand: graphic symbol with "Fornasetti Milano Made in Italy" and "T" in gold. Dimensions: height 1.7 cm; 13...
Porcelain
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2011 Porcelain n.44 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2011 Porcelain n.44 Italy
Porcelain