Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Italian, 1913-1988
The Italian artist and designer Piero Fornasetti was one of the wittiest and most imaginative 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 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.
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 Fornasetti's 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 the artist's collaborator and patron. Beginning in the early 1950s, they created a striking 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.
Find vintage Piero Fornasetti dinner plates, chairs, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Piero Fornasetti
1970s Rare Porcelain Ashtray or Vide Poche by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Rare Porcelain Ashtray/Vide Poche by Piero Fornasetti for Winston accessories. Signed at the bottom.
The item is in very good condition.
Dimensions:
W 7,28 in. x D 7,28 in. x...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Red Strumenti Musicali Music Metal Bookends
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Red Strumenti Musicali music metal bookends,
Circa 1960.
The Piero Fornasetti L-shaped bookends are decorated with a red-ground...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Piero Fornasetti Vintage Ceramic Canister Storage Jars, Italy Flour, Tea, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Piero Fornasetti vintage ceramic storage jars, Italy, 1960s.
Flour, coffee, tea
There is a sugar one as well from the same collection bu...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Black Gold Measurement Insulator Paperweight Vintage
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Piero Fornasetti porcelain insulator paperweight is gold with a black background. Italian through and through. It is titled cleverly on the top" THERE IS MEASURE IN ALL ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold
Jewelry box by Fornasetti, mid-1900s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Stockholm, SE
Jewelry box with decor of jewels, by Fornasetti, mid-1900s. Label: Fornasetti Milan. Made in Italy.
Lacquered metal. Original brass key.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Lacquer
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...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
'Cammei Marbalia' Umbrella Stand by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1970s Italy, Signed
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This collectors item is the 'Cammei Marbalia' (Marbled Cameos in Italian) umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1970s, signed underneath. This hefty round umbrella bin...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
'Cesto di Dalie' Umbrella Stand by Piero Fornasetti, 1950s Italy, Signed
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare and highly sought-after collectors item is the 'Cesto di Dalie' umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1950s, signed underneath with a Fornasetti medallion label. This h...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Box Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Krefeld, DE
Box. Piero Fornasetti. Marked with a sticker: Fornasetti made in Italy.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
1960s Piero Fornasetti Roman Foot Italian Design Blue Pottery
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Brescia, IT
Blue pottery by Piero Fornasetti
Italy, 1960
Perfect condiction.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Earth Signs, Set of 3 Plates from Zodiac Plate Series by P. Fornasetti, 1965
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Earth signs- Zodiac Plate Series is a set of elegant porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Perugia in 1965.
Good conditions except for the plate depicting Taurus that ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Fornasetti Mid-Century Modern Card Box, 1950s, Metal and Wood, Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rome, IT
Italian Mid-Century modern card box by Fornasetti in metal wood, representing a carriage with coachmen pulled by two horses.
This typo of artistic boxes was created to stay over ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Porron Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Porron is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Excellent conditions: as good as new.
This is a b/w ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, representing the Spanish amphora called "porron",
realized to drink wine gracefully. With a very detailed golden caption and title on the front of the plate.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo:
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
1980s Plates, Set of 8 Vintage Plates by Piero Fornasetti, 1980s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
1980s Plate, Calendar series is a set of 8 silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti during the 1980s from the Calendario series, the Happy New Year dishes series.
Good conditions.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Moro Head Vase by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Magnificent enameled gold ceramic vase by Piero Fornasetti (Milan 1913-1988), considered among the most original and creative talents of the 21st century.
A rare piece depicting the ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Set of Two Plates "Grandi Maestri" by P. Fornasetti, 1967
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Set of two plates "Grandi Maestri" is an original decorative object realized by the Italian artist and designer Piero Fornasetti (Milan, 1909-1988) in 1967.
Made by Fornasetti, Mi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Oinochoe Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
This Oinochoe is an elegant silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
In excellent conditions: as good as new.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, superbly decorated with the bacchante motive take from a Greek "Oinochoe" jar.
Golden caption and the title on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo.
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Alambicco Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Alambicco per la distillazione dell'alcool is an elegant silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Original title: Alambicco per la...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Trozzella Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Trozzella Leccese - for Martini & Rossi is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Excellent conditions: as good as new.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, finely decorated with the illustration of the Apulian Leccese "Trozzella" vase, with the golden explicative text and the title on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti's logo.
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Il Primo Tino Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Il Primo Tino, for Martini & Rossi is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Excellent conditions: as good as new.
This is a black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, representing the first Martini, Sola & C.gnia Pessio's vat for the vermouth production, described with a golden caption and titled on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo:
Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Kantaros Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Kantaros - for Martini & Rossi is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Excellent conditions: As good as new.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, finely decorated with the illustration of the Apulian "Kantharos" vase. Golden explicative text and the title on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti's logo.
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Grande Mortaio Bronzeo Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Grande Mortaio Bronzeo, for Martini & Rossi (Large Bronze Mortar - for Martini & Rossi)
is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Rhyton Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Rhyton is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Excellent conditions: as good as new.
This is a black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, representing the oldest drinking vessel ever found, the Apulian rhyton. With a very detailed golden caption and title on the front of the plate.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo:
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Carro Vinario Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Carro Vinario is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
In excellent conditions: as good as new.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, representing wine-carriage, an ancient means of transportation, a real cart preserved in the Pessione Museum. With a golden caption and title on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo.
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Servizio Per Porto Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Servizio per Porto in Argento is a silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
Original title: Servizio per Porto in Argento (Silver Set)
In excellent conditions: as good as new.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, representing a silver set, held in the Pessione Museum, with a golden caption and the title on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo.
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and Rossi...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Skyphos Plate for Martini & Rossi, by P. Fornasetti, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Skyphos is an elegant silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti for Martini & Rossi in 1960s.
In excellent conditions: as good as new.
Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate, finely decorated with the representation of the greek model "Skyphos" vase. Golden explicative text and the title on the front.
Marked on the back with the description of the series, the title of the plate, and the Fornasetti logo:
"Serie di piatti creata da Piero Fornasetti per la Martini and...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Truck Decorated Piero Fornasetti White Glass Jars and Covers Made for Fiat
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Trucks!
Piero Fornasetti opaque white glass jars and covers with trucks or lorry motif made for Fiat, Six Jars,
circa 1960.
The truck-motif glass jars with lids were ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Rare Umbrella Stand “Bighe” designed by Piero Fornasetti, Italy circa 1960
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Stockholm, SE
Piero Fornasetti umbrella stand “Bighe”. Lithographically printed metal and brass. Italy, circa 1960.
Marked: FORNASETTI MILANO, MADE IN ITALY. Gold label: MADE EXPRESSLY FOR OHLSSO...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Complete Set of Eight 'Soli e Lune' Drinks Coasters by Fornasetti, Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
A complete set of 1960s ceramic drinks coasters designed by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1960. This design, titled 'Soli e Lune' or Sun and Moon is one of Piero's most popular and ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Fornasetti Hand Painted Ceramic Paperweight Stone Knick-Knacks
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
If there is such thing as a museum quality Knick-knack, the Fornasetti stone shaped paperweight is it.
We are pleased to offer a set of eight, two from the Zodiac series, two from th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Serving Tray with Birds by Piero Fornasetti, 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Serving Tray with Birds is a vintage decorative object realized by Piero Fornasetti in 1950s.
Metal varnished and decorated with Silkscreen....
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Piero Fornasetti 1950s Black and Gold Stencilled Key Design Paper Waste Basket
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Rare and original 1950s black key design pattern Piero Fornasetti gold stencilled paper waste basket. signed.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Piero Fornasetti decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Piero Fornasetti decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of pottery and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Piero Fornasetti decorative objects, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects by Piero Fornasetti were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 1960s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Tommaso Barbi, Salviati, and Marcello Fantoni. Prices for Piero Fornasetti decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $195 and can go as high as $10,228, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $963.
Creators Similar to Piero Fornasetti
Questions About Piero Fornasetti Decorative Objects
- Who is Piero Fornasetti?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Piero 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether 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.
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