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 Rare Ceramic Snail Table Lamp
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original white ceramic giant snail lamp / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: length 13.8 inches, width 9.8 inches, height 19.3 inches...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Bighe Red & Black MidCentury Table Lamp, Italy, 1950s
By Fornasetti
Located in Vienna, AT
A red and black cylindrical table or side lamp from the 1950s, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Atelier Fornasetti, Milan, Italy. Crafted from metal and brass, the lamp features lith...
Metal
$5,500 / set
FORNASETTI Pair of Vintage Table Lamps
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian "Jerusalem by night" table lamp with painted metal (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original label on the base 1 lig...
Metal
FORNASETTI Vintage Table Lamp
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal in malachite design (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original label on the base 1 ligh...
Metal
Lampada da Tavolo Squadrata Serie "Architettura" di Fornasetti Anni 90
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, MI
Lampada da tavolo squadrata, collezione 'Architettura', realizzata da Fornaaetti negli anni '90 Ø cm 10 h cm 45 La base per lampada è realizzata in metallo serigrafato a mano, cara...
Metal, Brass
$5,500 / set
FORNASETTI Pair of Vintage Table Lamps
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal decorated with cameos on red background (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original labe...
Metal
$5,500 / set
FORNASETTI Pair of Vintage Table Lamps
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal decorated with violet flowers (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original label on the b...
Metal
Cylindrical Metal Lamp Base Viso Black/White, Iconical Fornasetti Face Decor
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The cylindrical shape allows Fornasetti's imagination to create surprising decorative effects in which the shapes follow one another endlessly. The metafisical face design makes this hand-silkscreened metal lamp base...
Metal
FORNASETTI Vintage Table Lamp
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal decorated in various musical instruments (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original lab...
Metal
$5,500 / set
FORNASETTI Pair of Vintage Table Lamps
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal decorated with book motif and butterfly (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original labe...
Metal
FORNASETTI Pair of L'Immaginario Table Lamps by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage "L'Immaginario" table lamp composed of a flat plexiglass sheet photostatic printed with newspaper motif, assembled by folding the sheet into a cylindrical form / designed by ...
Plexiglass
FORNASETTI Architecture Table Lamp by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage "Architecture" hand-silk-screened table lamp in brass and metal / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1980s Original label at underside Height: 16.5 inches / D...
Metal
$570 / item
Cylindrical Handmade White Silk Lampshade
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This cylindrical lampshade in silk with a metal frame is the ideal complement to create, together with the base, a lamp that becomes an art object. Any minor discrepancies between...
Wood
Vintage 20th Century Italian Table Lamp By Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A beautiful large table lamp by Piero Fornasetti. This particular model retailed by Antonangeli in the 1990s, now discontinued and appreciating in value. More importantly it gives ...
Plexiglass
Cylindrical Handmade Black Pleated Silk Lampshade
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This cylindrical lampshade in silk with a metal frame is the ideal complement to create, together with the base, a lamp that becomes an art object. Any minor discrepancies between...
Wood
$7,104 / set
Pair of Table Lamps Model Julia by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of table lamps model Julia by Fornasetti, sticker on the base, circa 1970.
Metal
$5,500 / set
FORNASETTI Pair of Vintage Table Lamps
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal decorated with harlequins on red background (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, in the ...
Metal
FORNASETTI La Commedia Dell'Arte Table Lamp by Fornasetti, 3 Available
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage "La Commedia Dell'Arte" table lamp composed of a flat plexiglass sheet photostatic printed with theatrical design, assembled by folding the sheet into a cylindrical form / de...
Plexiglass
FORNASETTI Vintage Table Lamp
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Oggi Maria Pia newspaper table lamp with painted metal (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 198...
Metal
"Architecture" Table Lamp by Piero Fornasetti (Original), Italy 1980s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Argelato, BO
"Architecture" table lamp in brass and metal by Piero Fornasetti (Original), Italy, 1980s Work of the great Italian graphic genius Piero Fornasetti, the "Architettura" lamp represen...
Metal, Brass
$716Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 22 in W 11.5 in D 2.75 in
Vintage Space Age Pair of Aluminum Table Lamps, 1970s
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of vintage Space Age cast aluminum table lamps, circa 1970s. A sleek and minimal cast aluminum form with a convex body terminating in a weighted spherical base. Paired with a po...
Aluminum
Piero Fornasetti Farfalle Butterfly Table Lamp
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Miami, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern off-white lamp by the Italian master of playful and surreal self-expression, Piero Fornasetti. The brass lamp features screen-printed green, blue, pink a...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Midcentury Industrial Table Lamp, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of lacquered metal - Re-polished - Fully functional - Good, original condition.
Metal
Fornasetti "Fondale Marino" Table Lamp Produced by Antonangeli
By Piero Fornasetti, Antonangeli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Barnaba Fornasetti, son of Piero Fornasetti, "Fondale Marino" (Seabed) table lamp from the La Follia series for Antonangeli (ca 1990s, Italy). Composed of a flat plastic sheet photos...
Plastic
1970s Gorgeous Unique Piero Fornasetti Table Lamp. Made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Gorgeous unique Piero Fornasetti Table Lamp. Made in Italy. This lamp is unique and is in excellent condition, signed at the bottom and it works perfectly. The black silk lamp ...
Metal
Pair of Cylindrical Alabaster Table Lamps
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of table lamps made of a single cylindrical piece of alabaster with notch decors all over.
Alabaster
Fornasetti Pair architectural lamps
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Pair of iconic lamps designed by [ier Fornasetti
Brass
Rare Table Lamp in Brass, 1950's
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare Table Lamp in Brass, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Brass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Boréns in Sweden Dimensions (W x D x H): 34 x 34 x 40.5 cm Cond...
Brass
Vintage 20th Century Italian Table Lamp By Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A beautiful large table lamp by Piero Fornasetti. This particular model retailed by Antonangeli in the 1990s, now discontinued and appreciating in value. More importantly it gives ...
Plexiglass
$4,858 / set
H 27.56 in Dm 11.82 in
Mid-Century Modern Rare and Large Ceramic Table Lamps, Sweden, 1960s
By Armatur Hantverk Tibro
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This set of rare and large table lamps was produced in Sweden during the late 1960 early 1970s. Made in ceramic with a wonderful green / red glaze combined with a brass base bottom...
Brass
$975Sale Price|22% Off
H 28.5 in Dm 8 in
Table Lamp, White Ceramic, Midcentury, Tall White Ceramic Lamp, C 1960, Ceramic
Located in New York, NY
Decorative white ceramic lamp base is 15.5" high, circa 1960. Round, tall base. The shade is not included.
Ceramic
Large Vintage Italian Brass and Steel Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
An extremely impressive large vintage Italian brass and steel table lamp. This was recently imported from Italy, it dates from the 1970’s. The quality is outstanding, this is very h...
Brass, Steel
Vintage 20th Century Pair Of Italian Table Lamps By Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A beautiful pair of table lamps by Piero Fornasetti. These particular models retailed by Antonangeli in the 1990s, now discontinued and appreciating in value. More importantly they g...
Plexiglass
FORNASETTI Pair of Vintage Table Lamps
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table lamp with painted metal of the face of Lina Cavalieri (lithographical and transfer-printed) and brass / made in Milan Italy in the 1980s Original label on the b...
Metal
"Sun" Table Lamp by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage "Sun" table lamp composed of a flat plexiglass sheet photostatic printed with illustration of sun, assembled by folding the sheet into a cylindrical form / designed by Piero ...
Plexiglass
"Roma" Table Lamp by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage "Roma" table lamp composed of a flat plexiglass sheet photostatic printed with illustration of Rome, assembled by folding the sheet into a cylindrical form / designed by Pier...
Plexiglass
Sun 2000 Table Lamp by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage table lamp composed of a flat plexiglass sheet photostatic printed with "sun 2000" motif, assembled by folding the sheet into a cylindrical form / designed by Piero Fornasett...
Plexiglass
Pair of Piero Fornasetti Cammei Table Lamps
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Miami, FL
A vintage pair of Mid-Century Modern Cameo off-white lamps designed in the 1960s by the Italian master of playful and surreal self-expression, Piero Forna...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Cylindrical Lamp Base Comme Des Fornà, Black White Red
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The cylindrical shape allows Fornasetti's imagination to create surprising decorative effects in which the shapes follow one another endlessly. The architectural design makes this hand-silkscreened metal lamp base...
Metal
Cylindrical Handmade White Pleated Silk Lampshade
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This cylindrical lampshade in silk with a metal frame is the ideal complement to create, together with the base, a lamp that becomes an art object. Any minor discrepancies between...
Wood
Piero Fornasetti Table Lamp Cameo Red And Black, circa 1960
By Fornasetti
Located in Vienna, AT
Graphical desk lamp painted by Piero Fornasetti Beautiful Piero Fornasetti table lamp (Cameo), circa 1960, Italy, comprised of painted metal decorated with emperors (lithographica...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 31 in W 5 in D 5 in
Pair of Fornasetti Style Silver Leaf Reverse Painted Églomisé Lamps with Bronze
By Fornasetti
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a rare pair of beautiful Fornasetti style silver leaf gilded paint decorated lamps. The detail of the bases in the bronze casting is extraordinary. The condition of the églom...
Blown Glass
Fornasetti Table Lamp
By Fornasetti
Located in Kent, Dover
A limited edition signed Fornasetti lamp marked 16/35. Measurement is without the shade.
Brass
20th Century Italian Table Lamp by Fornasetti, circa 1980
By Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A stylish enameled table lamp by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) in white with color transfer printed lithographic scenes of hot air balloons with brass detailing. Signed with early lab...
Brass