Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

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.

Creator: Fornasetti

Fornasetti Desk and Chair "FIORI NELLA NOTTE" - Unique Pieces

$28,054Sale 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...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Sergio Rodrigues Brazilian Rosewood Desk and Chair

$3,850 / set

H 29.5 in W 47.5 in D 23.75 in

Sergio Rodrigues Brazilian Rosewood Desk and Chair

By Sergio Rodrigues

Located in Atlanta, GA

Mid Century Clean Lined Rosewood Desk and Chair, designed by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil, circa 1960s. The chair is currently being reupholstered and can be completed in your fabric. S...

Category

1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Waterfall Style Vintage Desk with Unique Drawer Design

$4,025

H 30 in W 49.25 in D 24 in

Waterfall Style Vintage Desk with Unique Drawer Design

Located in Yonkers, NY

A vintage Chinese waterfall desk with five drawers, opium mat top and rustic character. Emanating a blend of exotic allure and sophisticated craftsmanship, this vintage Chinese opium...

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk

$2,895

H 29 in W 46 in D 23 in

Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"

Category

1940s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

McGuire Whitewash Oak Writing Desk and Chair

$6,000 / set

H 29.25 in W 48 in D 24 in

McGuire Whitewash Oak Writing Desk and Chair

By McGuire, John and Elinor McGuire

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Beautiful 1970’s McGuire writing desk and chair design by Elinor McGuire. The desk is solid whitewashed oak, leather top with brass bamboo pull...

Category

1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Six Dots Design Unique desk

$19,777

H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 29.53 in

Six Dots Design Unique desk

Located in London, GB

Joseph Ellwood is a British artist and designer working under the studio name: Six Dots Design. Joseph has been named one of 10 'Future Icons' in design by Wallpaper* magazine, colla...

Category

2010s British Futurist Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Unique Mini Desk/Lady's Desk, England 1890

$1,630

H 33.47 in W 21.26 in D 22.45 in

Unique Mini Desk/Lady's Desk, England 1890

Located in Berlin, DE

Unique mini desk/lady's desk, England 1890 Curious ladies desk, England. Folding writing surface made of solid wood. With various drawers and compartment...

Category

20th Century Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Unique Italian Duo Desk in Walnut with Marquetry

$12,700

H 30.52 in W 71.86 in D 51.38 in

Unique Italian Duo Desk in Walnut with Marquetry

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Double desk, walnut, Italy, 1950s This custom-made desk, designed for two people, combines functionality with elegant craftsmanship. The L-shaped tabletop allows simultaneous use by...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Warren McArthur Art Deco Desk and Chair

$5,750 / set

H 30.75 in W 53 in D 26 in

Warren McArthur Art Deco Desk and Chair

By Warren McArthur

Located in Atlanta, GA

Art Deco aluminum desk and chair designed by Warren McArthur, American, circa 1930s. The chair measures 31"H x 15.75"W x 17"D x 18" seat height.

Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Unique Double-Trunk Table Desk

$92,400

H 29.25 in W 86.25 in D 36.25 in

Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Unique Double-Trunk Table Desk

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Chicago, IL

Arthur Espenet Carpenter, unique double-trunk table desk. This extraordinary table is unique to Espenet's work as it deviates from the traditional rectilinear form with its well-f...

Category

1980s American American Craftsman Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany

Unique Red Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Dining Table or Desk, 1970s

$24,608

H 32.29 in W 98.43 in D 45.28 in

Unique Red Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Dining Table or Desk, 1970s

By Maison Jansen

Located in Paris, IDF

A rare piece from Maison Jansen, this large dining table was a commission by a private client. With its impeccable design, perfect proportions, and high-end materials like mother of ...

Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Leon Jallot Sculpted Walnut Desk and Chair

$24,500

H 38 in W 37.5 in D 25 in

Leon Jallot Sculpted Walnut Desk and Chair

By Léon Jallot

Located in Philadelphia, PA

French transitional (from Art Nouveau to early Art Deco) desk and en suite chair by Leon Jallot in sculpted walnut and walnut burl, circa 1910. This desk ...

Category

1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles

$13,616 / item

H 29.14 in W 31.5 in D 94.49 in

Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles

Located in Geneve, CH

Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles Dimensions: W 80 x D 240 x H 74 cm Materials: Solid oak. Ernest Desk serves many functions, a writing desk, a headboard, or a table plac...

Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Previously Available Items

'Pistole et Chiavi' "Pistols and Keys" Desk by Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti

Sold

H 33 in W 36 in D 19 in

'Pistole et Chiavi' "Pistols and Keys" Desk by Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti

By Fornasetti

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

'Chiavi et Pistole' desk designed by Gio Ponti (1891-1979) and Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988). A stunning black lacquer four-drawer desk on brass sabots. Printed with pistol and key mo...

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Lacquer

Fornasetti desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Fornasetti desks and writing tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of lacquer and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Fornasetti desks and writing tables, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks and writing tables by Fornasetti were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 1980s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks and writing tables by Gio Ponti, Le Corbusier, and Pace Collection. Prices for Fornasetti desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $26,500 and can go as high as $26,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $26,500.

Questions About Fornasetti Desks and Writing Tables

What is Fornasetti?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Fornasetti is an art design company that produces furniture and home accessories decorated by hand. Piero Fornasetti established the company in Milan, Italy, during the 1950s as his atelier. As of December 2021, his son, Barnaba Fornasetti, heads the company. You'll find a selection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
Where can I buy Fornasetti?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
You can buy Fornasetti directly from the brand's online store. In addition, numerous brick-and-mortar retailers around the world carry Fornasetti pieces. You can also shop for the brand's furniture and home décor on multiple online platforms. You'll find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
Who is Piero Fornasetti?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Piero Fornasetti was an Italian artist and designer born in Milan, Italy, in 1913. In 1950, he founded an atelier in the city, creating furniture and home decorations. Fornasetti died on October 9, 1988. His company, Fornasetti, continues to produce hand-decorated decor under the guidance of his son Barnaba Fornasetti. Find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
What style is Fornasetti?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
The style of Fornasetti is mid-century modern. The Italian artist and designer crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal library of images rendered in transfer print engravings, including birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and an enigmatic woman's face, to decorate an endless variety of furnishings and housewares that range from chairs, tables and decorative objects to dinner plates, table lamps and umbrella stands. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti art, furniture and decorative objects.
How can I hang Fornasetti plates?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To hang Fornasetti plates, thread a length of string through the two small holes found on the tops of their backs. Tie the string in a secure knot and then hang from a nail, screw or hook. Avoid using plate hanger hardware, as it could crack or damage the plates. You'll find a collection of Fornasetti plates on 1stDibs.
What is Piero Fornasetti famous for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024
Piero Fornasetti is famous for his work as a designer. The Italian artist was one of the wittiest and most imaginative talents of the 20th century. Fornasetti 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 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 decorative objects to dinner plates, table lamps and umbrella stands. His work is archly clever, often Surrealist and always fun. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti pieces.
Where are Fornasetti plates made?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Fornasetti plates are hand-made in Italy. They continue a tradition of excellent craftsmanship that goes back to founder Piero Fornasetti, who established the atelier during the 1950s. Shop antique and modern Fornasetti plates from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
What style of art is Fornasetti?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
The style of art by Fornasetti varied. His use of whimsical motifs has often led his artwork to be associated with Surrealism, while his use of repetitive imagery, like in his many prints featuring opera singer Lina Cavalieri, skewed toward Pop art. As a designer, his works reflected mid-century modern sensibilities with a playful twist. Explore a collection of Piero Fornasetti art and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Is Fornasetti hand painted?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Yes, each and every Fornasetti design is hand made and hand painted. The colors are expertly applied by painters, ensuring no two items are alike. You’ll find a variety of Fornasetti designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
Who is the woman on the Fornasetti plates?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Opera singer Natalina ‘Lina’ Cavalieri is the face that inspired Piero Fornasetti throughout his artistic career, from his plates to wallpaper and more. Lina Cavalieri was known as the most beautiful woman in the world during her lifetime from 1874-1944. It was eight years after Cavalieri’s death that Fornasetti came across her image in a magazine and was thereby inspired to replicate it repetitively. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Fornasetti plates from some of the world’s top sellers.
How do I display Fornasetti plates?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
How you display Fornasetti plates is largely a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to rest them flat on a low table or shelf, while others position them upright on plate stands. You can also thread string or twine through the two holes found on the back of every piece and display it as wall art. Find a collection of Fornasetti plates on 1stDibs.
How do I burn a Fornasetti candle?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To burn a Fornasetti candle, first trim the wick to remove any soot. Then, light the candle and allow it to burn for up to three hours. Use a snuffer to extinguish the candle, as blowing out the flame can disturb the wax. Find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
Are Piero Fornasetti images public domain?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Whether or not Piero Fornasetti images are in the public domain depends on the image. The artist produced more than 11,000 works during his lifetime. Only some no longer carry a copyright and are in the public domain. Shop a range of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
Can a Fornasetti porcelain figurine be factory-made?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
No, every Fornasetti porcelain figurine is handmade. In fact, the brand produces all of their home decorative items by hand at their workshop in Milan, Italy. If you see indications that a figurine came from a factory, it is likely not an authentic Fornasetti. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Fornasetti on 1stDibs.