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 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
$855 / 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 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
$711 / 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
$480Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.25 in W 23.25 in D 13 in
Bohemian Handwoven Reed Caning Bamboo Breakfast Bed Tray Table Cup Book Holder
By Ficks Reed
Located in Miami, FL
Add some Boho Chic vintage charm to your breakfast in bed with this amazing Tiger bamboo, caning and rattan bed tray table. Handwoven and hand-crafted ...
Bamboo, Cane, Reed
$480Sale Price|20% Off
H 11 in Dm 16 in
Red Lacquered Pedestal Tray/Table from Thailand, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A small pedestal tray table, hand-crafted in Thailand, circa 1920. Teak and bamboo finished in black and red lacquer, with mirror and colored stone insets. Turned base. 16 inches...
Glass, Wood
Shagreen Tray with Dark Wood Handles by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Wood, Shagreen Stingray
Le Tray/Walnut, Oakwood Tray
By Marie Burgos Design
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Le tray" tray is at the origin of our Heritage collection. Crafted by hand, it is directly inspired from our Caribbean ancestors. Thought and built for a perfect adaptation to y...
Brass, Bronze, Nickel
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.5 in W 36 in D 24 in
Stylish Black & Gold Chinoiserie Style Tray Coffee Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Attractive black and gold chinoiserie style tray top coffee table having elegant splayed legs. The craquelure finish adds an elegance to the piece.
Wood
Moroccan Folding Tray Table in Brass and wood
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Traditional Moroccan Folding Tray Table, Brass, Wood, Morocco, 1940s-1950s. This moorish brass tray table features a round brass tray...
Brass
Vintage Small Wooden Florentine Gilt Tray, Italy 1950s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing Smal Italian Florentine tray. Manufactured in Florence, Italy. Hand-painted in gold and brown shades. Wooden tray is in a good condit...
Wood
French Rattan Elephant Tray Table or Drinks Table, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching woven rattan end table or drinks table with removable tray top. France, 1940s-1950s. This elephant shaped end table stand was beautifully constructed in hand braided rat...
Wicker, Cane, Rattan, Wood
$1,024
H 2.37 in W 19.69 in D 11.82 in
Maison Baguès Attr. Cast Brass Faux Bamboo Handled Serving Drinks Tray 1950s
By Maison Jansen, Maison Baguès
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Maison Baguès attributed cast brass serving tray, perfect for entertaining with and carrying or displaying your favourite cocktails and drinks - perfect for the Hollywood Regency sty...
Brass
$295Sale Price|34% Off
H 31 in W 32 in D 17.25 in
Circa 1950s-60s Salton "Hot Tray" Serving Trolley, American
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1950s-60s Salton "Hot Tray" serving trolley, American. The epitome of mid century modern America home entertaining conveniences. Walnut & brass with wor...
Wood
$950 / set
H 30 in W 21 in D 10 in
Set of Four Neoclassical Fornasetti Style Snack Tables in Black & White
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful set of four snack tables with stand. Each table depicts an Italian Architectural scene in black & white by Piranesi. Each table when opened measures 20.75" by 15" by 25...
Wood, Laminate
FORNASETTI Two Tier Tray Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian table with two removable trays in lacquered wood and faux bamboo patinated brass base / made in Milan Italy in the 1950s Original Fornasetti labels on the base of tra...
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
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 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
Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Sardine Silver Leaf on Black
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti's trays are one of the best ways to enjoy the artist's unique designs and whimsical illustrations. The tray is the object with more variations than any other produced by ...
Wood
Fornasetti Round Tray Fior di Lina Hand-Color Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. ...
Metal
Sold
H 21.66 in W 27.17 in D 21.26 in
Piero Fornasetti Hand-Decorated and Printed Aluminium Tray, Italy, circa 1950
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Fornasetti's production is truly vast, during the 20th century, the objects that came out of Fornasetti's design hands have spanned every field of design. This hand-decorated and scr...
Aluminum, Brass
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
Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Braccio Con Pistola on Black Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. Mea...
Wood
Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Scimmie Monkeys Hand Colored Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. Mea...
Wood
Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Coromandel Silver Leaf on Blue Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This round tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacqu...
Wood
Fornasetti Rectangular Tray Serpente Snake Carmine Red Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. This tray is silk-screened by hand, painted by hand and covered with a smooth lacquer. The green background is sponged. Measures: 25 x 60cm. The tray is the object with more variations than any other produced by Fornasetti, it consists of over 400 different variations of shape and decoration. The decoration features Fornasetti’s snake...
Wood