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.
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
$1,200
FORNASETTI Butterfly Box
By Piero Fornasetti, 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
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
$1,800
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
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 ...
Metal
Vintage Enamel Metal & Mahogany Box by Piero Fornasetti - Horse & Buggy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
Serigraphy of a period horse and buggy on enameled metal and mahogany interior box by Piero Fornasetti, 1950's.
Metal, Enamel
Scatola Tonda Tema e Variazioni n. 137 di Fornasetti Anni 70
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, MI
Scatola tonda, n. 137, collezione Tema e Variazioni, realizzata da Fornasetti negli anni '70 Ø cm 10.5 h cm 4 La scatola fa parte dell'iconica serie "Tema e Variazioni", che presen...
Ceramic
$960Sale Price|43% Off
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
$1,480Sale Price / set|20% Off
PIERO FORNASETTI Milano 1960 Enameled Sliding Box With Racing Car & Horse
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 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
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
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
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 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
$496Sale Price|39% Off
Vintage Lidded Wooden Box with Brass Hinges by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Doraville, GA
A vintage box with a brass hinged lid. The box was designed by Piero Fornasetti in the 1950s / 1960s. The box is composed of what appears to be a mahogany dovetailed wooden box, bras...
Metal, Brass
Rare Box by Piero Fornasetti from 50's
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare and original metal Boxe by Piero Fornasetti from 50's, decorated with pipes, with the original package. in very good and original condition, used for matches, cigarettes jewelry...
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
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Hand-painted Ceramic 'Spezie' Jar, Italy 1960s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful lidded porcelain jar with an amazing hand-painted pattern. From the series 'Spezie' (Spices). Designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in Milano, Italy. Early production...
Porcelain
1950s by Piero Fornasetti Midcentury Italian Design Box
By Fornasetti
Located in Brescia, IT
Serigraphy on metal, wood box Excellent condition.
Metal
Music Play Box, Around 1960s, Made in Switzerland
Located in Wien, AT
Music play box, around 1960s, made in Switzerland. Wood inlays. Plays " Love story " Music Hight when open: 19cm.
Wood
Mithé Espelt Ceramic Jewelry Box, Mid-Century Modern, France, 1950s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Mid-Century Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt — Lunel, France, 1950s. A stunning mid-century ceramic jewelry box crafted by renowned French artist Mithé Espelt in Lunel, France, d...
Ceramic, Wood
Mid-century Italian Desig Green Onyx Jewelry Box 1950s Scrigno
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Green Onyx jewelry box casket with metal legs.
Onyx
Italian Mid Century Modern Jatoba and Silver Plated Cigarette Box
By Ottaviani
Located in Weesp, NL
Introducing the epitome of sophistication: the Italian Mid Century Modern Jatoba Wood and Floral Decorated Silver Plated Cigarette Box by Ottaviani. Crafted with utmost precision and...
Silver Plate
Piero Fornasetti Rosone Charger, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Miami, FL
A vintage decorative Rosone N.6 large plate or charger designed and manufactured by the Italian master of playful and surreal self-expression Piero Fo...
Porcelain
$595
H 5.5 in W 9.5 in D 6.25 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Gold Washed Jewel Box, Hand-Crafted, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Fantastic Italian 22kt gold washed jewel/document box featuring hand applied passementerie and hand painted details.
Gold Leaf
Italian mid-century modern apple container in metal and glass, 1950s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern apple container in metal and glass, 1950s Apple-shaped glass and metal container. It features a clear glass body and a finely crafted metal lid, embellishe...
Metal
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Hand-painted Ceramic 'Tissues' Jar, Italy 1960s.
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful lidded porcelain jar with an amazing hand-painted pattern. Designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in Milano, Italy. Early production, 1960s. Great original conditio...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Cigarette Box, 1960
By Fornasetti
Located in Chicago, IL
Piero Fornasetti Cigarette Box, 1960’s. Excellent original condition. Measures 12” long 4.25” deep 1.5” tall.
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Mid-Century Ceramic Bowl / Ashtray, Italy 1960s.
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful bowl / ashtray / trinket dish / jewelry holder with amazing decor. Designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti in Milano, Italy. Early production, 1960s. Great original c...
Porcelain
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
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
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 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
Sold
H 1.58 in W 7.88 in D 3.15 in
Beautiful Glovebox / 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, Pesca' to the side of the box. The exterior is lacquered with depictions of traditional fishing trophies...
Pine
Sold
H 1.58 in W 5.52 in D 4.34 in
Midcentury Box in Enameled Metal and Wood by Piero Fornasetti, Italy 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful decorative box by Piero Fornasetti. It has a enameled metal cover with Fornasetti's iconic playing card motif and a wooden inner compa...
Metal
Piero Fornasetti Rectangular Box "Gioielli"
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large example The Gioielli box offers an array of whimsical iconography. Original lacquered surface Original green felt cloth on the bottom of the box with the Fornasetti Stampe...
Fruitwood