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.
$1,450 / set
Fornasetti Porcelain Musical Tableware, 5 Pcs.
By Fornasetti
Located in Astoria, NY
Collection of Five Fornasetti Porcelain Musical Instrument Tableware Pieces, comprising: (2) two "Instrumenti Musicali", plate and small dish, marked "Fornasetti Milano / Made in Ita...
Porcelain
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
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
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
$1,300 / set
Fornasetti Porcelain Tableware, 2 Pcs.
By Fornasetti
Located in Astoria, NY
Two Fornasetti Porcelain Tableware Pieces, comprising: lighter in medallion pattern and jar with gin liquor label and newspaper pattern, each marked "Fornasetti Milano / Made in Ital...
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
$2,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1 in Dm 9.57 in
Piero Fornasetti's Epicurean Grand Tour: The "Specialita Vicentine" Plates
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti's Epicurean Grand Tour: The "Specialita Vicentine" Plates This complete set of six numbered porcelain plates, titled "Assiettes Specialita Vicentine" (Plates of Vic...
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
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service, Denmark 1961
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Delft, NL
Royal Copenhagen porcelain tableware dinner service, Denmark 1961 A Royal Copenhagen porcelain dinner service with pattern number 595, the floral golden basket Flowers in the ce...
Porcelain
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
$2,500 / set
H 0.7 in Dm 10 in
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
Piero Fornasetti Set of Coasters of Opera Characters-Melodrama!
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
"Operatic Gold": Boxed Set of 8 Piero Fornasetti "Melodramma" Coasters, 1960s A spectacular complete set of eight Piero Fornasetti ceramic coasters from the "Melodramma" (Melodrama)...
Ceramic
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
Wedgwood Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service For 12 People
By Wedgwood
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful Wedgwood porcelain tableware dinner service for twelve people with coffee serving set with hand painted design details. The service is in great condition. Maker's mark undersigned. Include 87 pieces all-together. 12 dinner plate 10 3/4" D. 12 Salad plate...
Gold
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Gold Adam Porcelain Plates, Set of Twelve
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Gold Adam Porcelain Plates, 1970s. A complete set of twelve vintage painted gold ground transfer-printed porcelain plates in black and white...
Porcelain
$2,400 / set
H 1.25 in W 8 in D 5.25 in
8 pcs. of 1950's Piero Fornasetti Gilt "Grande Antico" Crescent Plates
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a 33 piece set of Piero Fornasetti Gilt dinner ware. The set is made of porcelain and was made in the 1950's. This ad is for the 8 salad anders. The set includes: 5 Dinner ...
Porcelain
$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
Six Coffee Cups Piero Fornasetti Milan Italy 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Six porcelain coffee cups with saucer, silkscreen printed with the six gates of Milan. Under the bases manufacture's mark.
Porcelain
Vintage Tray with Fruit Motif by Fornasetti, 1970s
By Fornasetti
Located in Uppsala, SE
Fornasetti tray in black and white depicting fruits. Most likely made in the 1970s. Good vintage condition.
Sheet Metal
Piero Fornasetti Malachite Ceramic Plate Stoviglie No. 5, Milano, Italy, 1955
By Fornasetti
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A ceramic or porcelain dish with an emerald green faux malachite ground and painted in gold by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, manufactured in midcentury in 1950s. This hand-colored decor...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Malachite Green Plate Stoviglie No. 4, Milano, Italy, 1955
By Fornasetti
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A ceramic or porcelain dish with an emerald green faux malachite ground and painted in gold by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, manufactured in midcentury in 1950s. This hand-colored decora...
Ceramic
Fornasetti Recipe Plates, Set of Eight
By Fornasetti
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a superb set of eight Fornasetti Recipe plates (English Version). The plates depict various Italian cities and monuments and each carr...
Porcelain
Rare Piero Fornasetti Fish Appetizer Tray, Pisces
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
The rare and beautiful serving tray consists of an image of a fish displayed on four separate dishes placed in their original gold-toned metal tray. Di...
Italian Fornasetti Rare Set of Eight Dinner Plates "Posateria" /SALE
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
Fornasetti's fascination with everyday pleasures of life in a dream world is depicted in these gilded porcelain rare set of eight dinner plates from 1956; as hallmarked on the back o...
Porcelain
Playful Set of Piero Fornasetti 5 Plates and a Lamp
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Playful Set of Piero Fornasetti 5 Plates and a Lamp 5 plates, 1 table lamp Each plate has a different serial #'s, one of them is serial # 1. Each plate comes fitted to be hung on ...
Brass
A Rare Set of Seven Piero Fornasetti Pesci Pattern Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
The plates each show a set of schools of fish. 2 x Pattern No. 1 2 x Pattern No. 2 3 x Pattern No. 6
Elegant Entertaining - Group of Modern Tableware
By Tommi Parzinger, Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Group of Modern Tableware by various designers, circa 1950's. The group of tableware is priced at $. They are also priced individually, see below. From top to bottom, they are: 1) An elegant brass centerpiece or compote, designed by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn. It is $750. It measures 5.5" height x 11" diameter. The compote currently retains it's warm original patina. We can polish and lacquer it if you prefer for the same price. 2) Set of six abalone shell bowls, they are SOLD. Each is approximately 1.5" height x 5.5" length. 3) Set of Six Coasters, designed by Piero Fornasetti, rare "Double Face" pattern. They are $550 for the six. Each coaster measure 4 1/8" in diameter. Minor wear, see photo. 4) Set of twelve faux malachite plates, designed for Neiman Marcus. They are $300 for the set of twelve plates. Each plate measures 6.5" diameter. The Italian faux malachite...
Abalone, Porcelain, Ceramic
A rare Pesach "Seder" plate by Piero Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
A rare Jewish Passover "Seder" plate by Piero Fornasetti. Fully signed, included explanatory Pesach booklet and original box.
Porcelain
A Rare Piero Fornasetti Vegetalia Face Plate
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
#12 in Series, The plate depicts a woman's face created by the positioning of different vegetables to create a side profile. Piero Fornasetti was obviously strongly influenced ...
Porcelain