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 Fondale Marino Coffee Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original rectangular "Fondale Marino" (seabed) coffee table with transfer-printed wooden top / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: wid...
Wood
FORNASETTI Gold Keys on Malachite Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round cocktail side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting gold keys on malachite / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measu...
Wood
Atelier Fornasetti Methacrylate Side Table, Italy Circa 1990
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Atelier Fornasetti side table, an Italian design from the 1990s. It is crafted from methacrylate, a durable, high-quality plastic also known as acrylic. The table is decorated with ...
Acrylic
FORNASETTI Playing Cards Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting a set of imperial playing cards, it can be used as a side table or center table / made in Milan Italy by Forna...
Wood
FORNASETTI Butterfly Square Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original square table with transfer-printed wooden top in the design of butterflies, it can be used as a side table or center table / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s...
Wood
FORNASETTI "Fiori della notte" Round Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large vintage original round "fiori della notte" table with transfer-printed wooden top and fluted black base, can be used as a dining table or center table / made in Milan Italy by ...
Wood
$848 / item
Fornasetti Tray Holder Black
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti trays become elegant coffee tables by adding this black wood base. Is suits a 25 x 60 cm wood tray. The image shows the tray on its holder (the tray is not included in ...
Metal
Fornasetti tray, fantastical hot air balloons c1950
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Wonderful Piero Fornasetti original 1950s tray with fantastical hot air balloon motifs on red background. Hand painted, lithograph
Metal
$28,726Sale Price|20% Off
Fornasetti Desk and Chair "FIORI NELLA NOTTE" - Unique Pieces
By Fornasetti
Located in Rome, RM
The Fornasetti "Fiori nella Notte" desk and chair are unique pieces made in exclusive for Betony Vernon's private home in Paris in 2004. The desk has a drawer and the top opens to be...
Wood, Lacquer
Piero Fornasetti ‘Seeds of Playing Cards’ Tripod Side Table, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Piero Fornasetti ‘Seeds of Playing Cards’ side table or occasional table composed of lithographic printed, lacquered and hand-painted on wood tabletop with image of card suits, heart...
Metal
FORNASETTI Playing Cards Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round cocktail side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting a set of imperial playing cards / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label unders...
Wood
Piero Fornasetti Coffee/ Cocktail, Table, "Cocktail Recipes, Removable Top
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a late coffee table and the series has been licensed by Barnaba Fornasetti and consist of plastic top and coated metal wire legs. This is a design for the Piero Fornasetti in...
Plastic
$704 / item
Fornasetti Tray Holder for a Tray Black Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti trays become elegant coffee tables by adding this black wood base. Is suits a 60 cm diameter metal round tray. The second image shows the tray on its holder (the tray ...
Wood
Italian Modern Center Table By Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Center Table By Fornasetti. We offer this original Italian mid century modern center by Piero Fornasetti featuring an iron base, brass feet and a decorated lacquered w...
Brass, Iron
Fornasetti Tray Holder Tray Black Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti trays become elegant coffee tables by adding this black wood base. Is suits a 40 cm diameter metal round tray.
Wood
Spanish Pine Side Table
Located in Marbella, ES
Spanish Pine side table.
Pine
Delight Coffee Table
By Scarlet Splendour
Located in Kolkata, IN
Delight Coffee Table in Brass by Scarlet Splendour is a round coffee table, gorgeous in any interior space. The Fools' Gold Collection of amorphous forms, cast in brass, is a tribute to the heritage of Indian metal craftsmanship. India, in fact, is one of the largest brass makers in the world. The art of brass handicraft...
Brass
Pins Medium Side Table
By Marioni
Located in Milan, IT
Colorful and sophisticated, this side table will make an elegant statement in a contemporary living room, where it can be displayed alone or combined with others in the same Pins col...
Brass
$3,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.25 in Dm 19.5 in
'Butterflies' Drinks Table / Side Table by Piero Fornasetti, Signed
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptional and highly collectible ‘Farfalle’ (Italian for “butterflies”) occasional table by Piero Fornasetti is a striking example of the designer’s poetic and surreal approac...
Brass
Atelier APS, Verde Alpi Side Table
Located in New York, NY
Convergence of crystal systems and species. Color and form. The cubic nature of pyrite and the depth of green dioptase are exemplified via the Verdi Alpi Side Table...
Marble
Large Chrome Coffee Table
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This large coffee table is made of chrome with two glass shelves. The top glass is beveled all arround the glass. This is a French work. Circa 1970
Chrome
Logical Round Table
Located in Paris, FR
Table logical round in solid mahogany wood in tobacco finish. With solid mahogany carved feet and with veneered mahogany top with center top insert in solid brass in vintage finish. ...
Brass
$19,700 / set
H 15 in Dm 14.25 in
Pair Italian Midcentury Lacquer & Screenprint Side Tables by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Important Pair of Italian midcentury Side or End Tables by Piero Fornasetti. The pieces are beautiful compositions of form and design in the Modern Neoclassical aesthetic....
Brass, Iron
Piero Fornasetti ‘Seeds of Playing Cards’ Tripod Side Table, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Piero Fornasetti ‘Seeds of Playing Cards’ side table or occasional table composed of lithographic printed, lacquered and hand-painted on wood tabletop with image of card suits, heart...
Metal
Pins Large Side Table
By Marioni
Located in Milan, IT
The brass structure of this side table supports a round crystal top finished in black, while the base is covered with red-colored ceramic with an enamel finish, for a contrasting eff...
Crystal, Brass
Unusual Dunbar Coffee Table
By Roger Sprunger
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare and custom order 1970's Dunbar coffee table, most likely designed by Roger Sprunger.
Wood
Piero Fornasetti Architettura coffee table 1960
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Paris, IDF
Superb coffee table signed by Piero Fornasetti, dating from the 1960s, from the renowned Architettura series created in collaboration with Gio Ponti. Its structured form and graphic ...
Wood
Piero Fornasetti 1970s Side Table, Black Lacquered Wood, Sun King
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Table by Piero Fornasetti Depicting "Sun King" 'Louis XIV', Made in Italy This striking side table by the iconic Italian designer Piero Fornasetti dates to the 1970s and featur...
Metal
FORNASETTI Bar Cart
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original bar cart made in brass and wood with two removable trays / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1950s Original label underside, stamped D.B.G.M. SW on the cart wheel M...
Brass
Fornassetti Folding Tray Table
By Fornasetti
Located in Toronto, CA
A classic, reimagined in technicolour. This vintage folding tray table features one of Fornasetti’s most iconic faces—peek-a-boo style—set beneath vivid rainbow stripes. The chrome X...
Metal
"Architettura" Table by Piero Fornasetti for Fornasetti Milano
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Adjustable "Architettura" Table by Piero Fornasetti for Fornasetti Milano. Made in Italy circa 1955. Signed with decal manufacturer's label to underside: [Fornasetti Milano Made in I...
Brass, Iron
Piero Fornasetti Large Chinoiserie Tray c1950
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Large Fornasetti tray . c1950 Printed label Fornasetti Milano,
Metal
Tray-Top Table By Piero Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in London, London
Tray table By Fornasetti Milano Lithographically decorated Enamelled steel Flower and bow images Folding black stand Tray and stand with Fornasetti labels Italy ...
Metal
Fornasetti Coffe Table / Movable Tray Brass Metal, 1950, Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti coffe table with movable tray.
Brass
Fornasetti Tray
By Fornasetti
Located in Catania, IT
Enamelled metal tray depicting oranges, the work of the Italian artist Piero Fornasetti, made in the 60s, has some scratches documented in the photos, still bears the factory label t...
Metal
Sold
H 21.26 in W 30.32 in D 22.45 in
Piero Fornasetti Coffee Table "Le Farfalle", Original Label, 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Iconic coffee table by Piero Fornasetti and produced by Atelier Fornasetti in 1950. The coffee table has original label under its top. The table top is made of a silkscreened aluminum tray with a yellow background. Its iconic screen printing dictated by his famous "Butterflies" give eccentricity and joy to the piece of furniture. The Le Farfalle...
Aluminum, Steel
Piero Fornasetti Italian Black Side Table, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Delft, NL
Piero Fornasetti Italian black side table, 1960s Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) An Italian brass tripod wood and metal enamel with Roman ca...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Piero Fornasetti Italian Green Side Table, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Delft, NL
Piero Fornasetti Italian Green Side Table, 1960s Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) An Italian brass tripod wood and metal enamel with Roman cameo coin in a circle design side table...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Coffee Table by Piero Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Brilliant yellow coffee table attributed to Fornasetti. Yellow and multicolor top tray with the iconic dirigible and hot-air balloons theme. The below structure is a dark wood decora...
Wood