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.
$1,049Sale Price|30% Off
FORNASETTI Butterfly Box
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative rectangular lacquered walnut wood box with butterfly motif / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Original mark at the felt base Length: 9.5 in...
Wood
$839Sale Price|30% Off
FORNASETTI City of Cards Playing Cards Box
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage poker playing cards box in walnut wood and "City of Cards" enameled metal case cover, it holds two packs of cards / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s L...
Metal
$839Sale Price|30% Off
FORNASETTI Playing Cards Box
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage poker playing cards box in walnut wood and metal case, it holds two packs of cards / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Length: 5.5 inches / Width: 4 in...
Metal
$1,259Sale Price|30% Off
FORNASETTI Malachite Box
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative rectangular lacquered walnut wood box with motif golden guns on green malachite / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Original mark at the fel...
Wood
Piero Fornasetti Signed Box, Wood and Metal, Made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
2000s (2019) Astonishing wood and metal box designed by Piero Fornasetti produced by Fornasetti, in excellent condition. Made in Italy. The box is signed and is the n.1 of the year 2...
Metal
$1,259Sale Price|30% Off
FORNASETTI Butterfly Box
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative rectangular lacquered walnut wood box with butterfly motif / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Original mark at the felt base Length: 12 inc...
Wood
$1,259Sale Price|30% Off
Fornasetti Enamel Metal Butterflies Box
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative matches box with enamel metal portraying a butterflies on red background, and mahogany wood insert / made by Fornasetti in Milan Italy in the 1960s Length: 8 inche...
Metal
Fornasetti Enameled Box, Italy, 1960s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Enameled box by Piero Fornasetti. Decorated green metal shell with inner wood element.
Metal
Piero Fornasetti, mandolins cigars Box, Milan Italy, ca. 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Firenze, IT
Piero Fornasetti, mandolins cigars Box Milan Italy, ca. 1960s Wood and hand refined lacquered aluminium H 4 cm x 8 × 20 cm Label not present Conditions: good consistent with age...
Metal
Piero Fornasetti Cigarette Case Decorated with the "Pipe" Motif, Italy, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Naples, IT
A refined and elegant collector's item designed by Piero Fornasetti. This rare rectangular box made of lacquered metal and wood embodies the ironic, cultured, and eclectic spirit of ...
Metal, Enamel
20th Century Large Metal Matchbox By Piero Fornasetti, Italy, c.1960
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A delightful matchbox, with an interior comprised of a metal sliding tray, the exterior decorated with five profiles, with highlighted red lips, four of whom smoking, with black cros...
Metal
20th Century Trinket Box By Piero Fornasetti, Italy, c.1960/70's
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A delightful glove box or trinket box by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1960s / 1970s, with sliding cedar interior, bearing the label 'Trofeo, Selvaggina' to the side of the box. The exteri...
Pine
1960s Mid-Century Modern Cigarette Box Le Porte Di Milano by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A beautiful and rare mid-century modern cigarette box designed by the renowned Italian artist, Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988), in the 1960s. This piece is part of the iconic "Le Porte ...
Metal, Brass
PIERO FORNASETTI Milano 1960 Enameled Sliding Box With Racing Car & Horse
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Miami, FL
An enameled sliding box designed by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988). This is a very rare rectangular sliding box created in Milano Italy by Piero Fornasetti. The box is from the mid-century period, crafted in the 1960's in steel and wood. The outer steel is embellished with applications of multicolor enamel depicting a double wheel racing car with a horse . The box is very decorative and in very good preserved condition. These kinds of boxes are highly collectable and desirable among the mid-century and Italian design collectors. Piero Fornasetti He was an Italian artist and designer that born in Milan into a middle-class family, Fornasetti creative pursuits encompassed design, decoration, painting, curating, and printing. His oeuvre, spanning over 13,000 works, displayed a wide range of objects and furniture with a unique emphasis on decorative diversity. Collaborating with figures like Gio Ponti, Fornasetti's atelier became synonymous with bringing art into everyday lives through practical yet artistically adorned objects. Fornasetti's artistic philosophy emphasized the production of series over one-of-a-kind pieces, reflecting his commitment to democratizing art. A central motif in his work was the "variations," notably exemplified in the iconic "Tema e Variazioni" series featuring over 400 renditions of opera singer Lina Cavalieri's face. His creative genius extended across different mediums, from furniture to paintings, demonstrating a coherent stylistic code. Although Fornasetti faced...
Enamel, Bronze
Vintage Enameled Metal / Wood Drawer Piero Fornasetti Box
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Doraville, GA
A vintage enameled metal box with a slide out wooden drawer. The box was designed by Piero Fornasetti in the 1950's / 1960's and is listed in th...
Metal
Piero Fornasetti, Ashtrays, prod. Fornasetti Milan 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rare tall screen-printed metal ashtray designed by Piero Fornasetti and produced by Fornasetti Milano in the 1960s Excellent condition Fornasetti was born in the fibrillating post-W...
Metal, Brass
Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood Ruby Lustre Butterfly Box
By Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre, Wedgwood, Daisy Makeig-Jones
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A ruby lustre box with mother-of-pearl lustre interior and decorated with polychrome butterflies in gold, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones circa 1920. This ...
Ceramic, Luster, Porcelain
Decorative Malachite Box with Brass Hinge, 4"
Located in New York, NY
Malachite Box with Brass Hinge A handsome decorative box crafted from richly figured malachite sourced from the Congo, a region renowned for producing exceptional examples of the mi...
Malachite
French Burgundy Stitched Leather & Brass Cards Box, 1970s
By Hermès
Located in Chicago, IL
1970s French Hermès-style burgundy leather playing cards box with brass accents. Interior compartments hold two (2) decks of standard playing cards.
Brass
Fornasetti Enamel Metal Mahogany Box
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative matches box with enamel metal portraying a hot air balloon and mahogany wood insert / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1960s Length: 4.5 inches /...
Metal
$5,000
H 1.88 in W 7.75 in D 3.5 in L 1.88 in
Tiffany Midcentury Modern Box with Enameled Flowers & Butterflies
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover flat and hinged with slight overhang; top decorated with engraved and...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
C 20th Empire Style Malachite Box
By Empire Furniture
Located in London, GB
A Very Fine Empire Style ormolu Mounted Box Lovely Quality and very fine Ormolu mounted This Box Stands at 40cm in Height and is truly Magnificent
Malachite
Fornasetti Rectangular Box with Smoking Motif
By Fornasetti
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Fornasetti long, rectangular, box with a charming illustration of three pipes. Hand colored Lithography on metal. Exterior metal box slides over a metal interior box, powder coated...
Tin
$1,622
H 1.38 in W 11.82 in D 3.94 in
Fornasetti Wooden and Metal Box Champagne Black/White Hand Painted
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the boxes turn an everyday action into an aesthetic experience. The Fornasetti boxes are a whimsical place to keep your most precious items. This ...
Metal
$2,376
H 1.78 in W 6.11 in D 3.94 in
Decorative Amethyst Box - Signed “Made in Italy” for Christian Dior
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Decorative Amethyst Box – Christian Dior Decorative box. Pink and black amethyst box with white marble interior, and a black decorative stone. Signed “Made in Italy” for Christian Di...
Stone, Amethyst
1950s Rare Piero Fornasetti Smocking Box
By Fornasetti
Located in Water Mill, NY
Midcentury rare size P.Fornasetti smocking box.
Metal
Fornasetti Enamel Metal Butterflies Box
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative matches box with enamel metal portraying a butterflies on red background, and mahogany wood insert / made by Fornasetti in Milan Italy in the 1960s Length: 8 inche...
Metal
Music Play Box, Around 1960s, Made in Switzerland
Located in Wien, Au
Music play box, around 1960s, made in Switzerland. Wood inlays. Plays " Love story " Music Hight when open: 19cm.
Wood
Malachite Trinket Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful open box hand crafted of Russian Malachite. The box is simple and can be as decorative as it is useful. A compliment to any desk or work station, bedside to store every...
Malachite
$188
H 11.23 in W 3.35 in D 2.37 in
Chinese Style Lacquered Brush or Pencil Box Painted Butterfly, circa 1940
Located in Labrit, Landes
Lacquered paintbrush or pensil box, made in the chinese style. In this painting features a butterfly and flowers. The key is not the original but it does correspond to the lock. Good...
Wood
Malachite Box
Located in Savannah, GA
A small malachite box. 3 ¼ by 3 ⅜ by 1 ½ inches tall
Malachite
FORNASETTI Butterfly Jewelry Box
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage rectangular lacquered walnut wood jewelry box with butterfly motif / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Original sticker at the base Length: 12 inches /...
Wood
Sold
H 1.58 in W 11.82 in D 4.93 in
Piero Fornasetti , 1950s, Italian, Painted and Enamelled metal box
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Oxford, GB
A vintage enameled metal box with a slide out wooden drawer. The box was designed by Piero Fornasetti in the 1950's . The box is composed of what appears to be a mahogany dovetailed ...
Metal, Enamel
Piero Fornasetti Box with Butterflies, Italy 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Naples, IT
Original and decorative box from the 1960s designed by Piero Fornasetti, a celebrated Italian artist and designer known for his dreamlike and surreal approach to design. The box is r...
Metal, Enamel
Sold
H 1.5 in W 11.75 in D 4.05 in
PIERO FORNASETTI Milano 1960 Red Enameled Sliding Box Music Instruments
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Miami, FL
An enameled sliding box designed by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988). This is a very rare rectangular sliding box created in Milano Italy by Piero Fornasetti. The box is from the mid-century period, crafted in the 1960's in steel and wood. The outer steel is embellished with applications of red and black enamel depicting a composition of antique musical instruments. The box is very decorative and in very good preserved condition. These kinds of boxes are highly collectable and desirable among the mid-century and Italian design collectors. Piero Fornasetti He was an Italian artist and designer that born in Milan into a middle-class family, Fornasetti creative pursuits encompassed design, decoration, painting, curating, and printing. His oeuvre, spanning over 13,000 works, displayed a wide range of objects and furniture with a unique emphasis on decorative diversity. Collaborating with figures like Gio Ponti, Fornasetti's atelier became synonymous with bringing art into everyday lives through practical yet artistically adorned objects. Fornasetti's artistic philosophy emphasized the production of series over one-of-a-kind pieces, reflecting his commitment to democratizing art. A central motif in his work was the "variations," notably exemplified in the iconic "Tema e Variazioni" series featuring over 400 renditions of opera singer Lina Cavalieri's face. His creative genius extended across different mediums, from furniture to paintings, demonstrating a coherent stylistic code. Although Fornasetti faced...
Enamel, Brass
1990s Astonishing Red Fornasetti Wood Box by Fornasetti.
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1990s Astonishing rare wood box by Piero Fornasetti, in excellent condition Made in Italy. Dimension: 10.23W × 3.14D × 1.57 H 25 cm x 8 cm x 4 cm
Walnut
FORNASETTI Cigar Humidor
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wooden cigar humidor box with cammei design on faux marble / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, in the 1980s Original metal label inside Measures: width 10 inches, de...
Wood
FORNASETTI Cigar Humidor
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wooden cigar humidor box with cammei design on faux marble / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, in the 1980s Original labels inside and on the base Measures: width 12...
Wood
Piero Fornasetti Decorative Painted Box
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Oakland, CA
Lacquered metal box with a wooden sliding drawer held into place with spring tension. The wooden box is finely crafted with finger joinery and the bottom still retains the green Forn...
Metal
Sold
H 1.5 in W 11.75 in D 4.5 in
Lacquered Wood 'Instruments' Box Transfer Lithograph by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Montreal, QC
Lacquered Wood 'Instruments' Box Transfer Lithograph by Piero Fornasetti resting on felt base with golden Fornasetti Stamp.
Wood
1970s Original Gorgeous Box by Piero Fornasetti. Made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Original gorgeous box by Piero Fornasetti in walnut wood. It's in excellent condition. The box is signed on the bottom. Dimension: 10,26 x 8,26 x 1,96 inches cm 26 x cm 21 x c...
Wood, Walnut
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain "Cotton" Jar, Vintage
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Stockholm, SE
Porcelain jar from the bathroom series by Piero Fornasetti, 20th Century With decor of flowers and "Cotton". Signed Fornasetti. In good condition, smaller signs of age and wear.
Porcelain
1970s Original Gorgeous Box by Piero Fornasetti. Made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Original gorgeous box by Piero Fornasetti in walnut wood. It's in excellent condition. The box is signed on the bottom. Dimension: 7,87 x 5,51 x 1,96 inches cm 20 x cm 14 x cm 5 H
Wood, Walnut
Piero Fornasetti, Set di due scatole da fumo
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Firenze, IT
Piero Fornasetti, Set di due scatole da fumo Scatole in metallo smaltato e legno disegnate da Piero Fornasetti Anni 50 Il set è composto da una scatola porta sigari e una scatola ...
Metal
Piero Fornasetti ceramic Owl Box, Italy 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Piero Fornasetti ceramic Owl Box, Italy 1950s Signed Fornasetti Rare undecorated owl box.
Ceramic
1970s Original Gorgeous Box by Piero Fornasetti. Made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Original gorgeous box by Piero Fornasetti in walnut wood. It's in excellent condition. The box is signed on the bottom. Dimension: 10,62" x 5,90" x 1,96 inches cm 27 x cm 15 x...
Wood, Walnut