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 Fondale Marino Coffee Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original rectangular "Fondale Marino" (seabed) coffee table with transfer-printed wooden top / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: wid...
Wood
'Butterflies' Drinks Table / Side Table by Piero Fornasetti, Signed
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptional and highly collectible ‘Farfalle’ (Italian for “butterflies”) occasional table by Piero Fornasetti is a striking example of the designer’s poetic and surreal approac...
Brass
FORNASETTI Gold Keys on Malachite Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round cocktail side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting gold keys on malachite / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measu...
Wood
1960 Piero Fornasetti Italian Design Flower Metal Brass Gueridon Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Brescia, IT
Side Table Piero Fornasetti Italy, 1950 lithographic transfer print on lacquered metal Brass Frame Paper label on the bottom Wear consistent with age and use (shown in the pictures)
Metal
FORNASETTI Butterfly Square Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original square table with transfer-printed wooden top in the design of butterflies, it can be used as a side table or center table / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s...
Wood
FORNASETTI Fruits Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting circles of various fruits / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: d...
Metal
20th Century, Piero Fornasetti Brass and Metal Tray with Base
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Piero Fornasetti was an Italian painter, sculptor, decorator, and craftsman who used ornamental and pictorial motifs to decorate silk scarves, furniture, plates, vessels, and similar...
Metal, Brass
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
Fornasetti tray, fantastical hot air balloons c1950
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Wonderful Piero Fornasetti original 1950s tray with fantastical hot air balloon motifs on red background. Hand painted, lithograph
Metal
FORNASETTI Playing Cards Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round cocktail side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting a set of imperial playing cards / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label unders...
Wood
Italian Modern Center Table By Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Center Table By Fornasetti. We offer this original Italian mid century modern center by Piero Fornasetti featuring an iron base, brass feet and a decorated lacquered w...
Brass, Iron
FORNASETTI Playing Cards Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting a set of imperial playing cards, it can be used as a side table or center table / made in Milan Italy by Forna...
Wood
Rare "Tulipani" dining table designed by Piero Fornasetti. certificated
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Piacenza, Italy
"Tulipani" dining table designed by Piero Fornasetti. Exceptional and rare circular dining table from the "Tulipani" series, designed and crafted by the iconic atelier of Piero Forna...
Metal
FORNASETTI Rectangular Shells Tray with Stand
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original rectangular tray depicting sea shells with brown stand / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: length 25 inches, width 20 inche...
Metal
Italian Mid Century Modern Piero Fornasetti "Caccia" Coffee Table Milan 1955
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Portland, OR
An important Italian Mid Century lacquered wood & brass, hand-painted & transferred coffee table, designed by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) in the "Caccia" pattern, 1955. This fabulou...
Brass
FORNASETTI Pomelos Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting citrus grapefruit Pomelos / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: d...
Metal
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Rectangular Metal Tray, named Città di Carte
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vintage, rare Piero Fornasetti Rectangular Tray: Città di Carte. Like all Fornasetti accessories, the tray is handcrafted using original artisan...
Metal
FORNASETTI "Fiori della notte" Round Table
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large vintage original round "fiori della notte" table with transfer-printed wooden top and fluted black base, can be used as a dining table or center table / made in Milan Italy by ...
Wood
Piero Fornasetti “Fossili” Table, Italy, 1958
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Rare dining table “Fossili” by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1958. The top features a vibrant and imaginative deep-sea motif, rendered in colourful fossil-like drawings set against ...
Metal
Pair Italian Midcentury Lacquer & Screenprint Side Tables by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Important Pair of Italian midcentury Side or End Tables by Piero Fornasetti. The pieces are beautiful compositions of form and design in the Modern Neoclassical aesthetic....
Brass, Iron
Piero Fornasetti Araldiche Tray, Mounted as Table on Folding Base, 1950s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Conversano, IT
Made in Italy in the 1950s, this extraordinary tray by Piero Fornasetti represents one of the highest points of his decorative production. Entirely made of silk-screened and hand-pai...
Iron
Vintage Italian Piero Fornasetti Cocktail Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Piero Fornasetti coffee table, Milano, Italy. Graphic patchwork design with triangles and chevrons - lithographic transfer on wood. Brass finish patinated metal base. La...
Metal
Fabulous Piero Fornasetti Italian Cameo Medallion Coffee Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Unique mid century modern Italian coffee table by Piero Fornasetti. Cameo medallions gold leaf on white lacquered wood. Tripod black enamel metal base. Verso beats a stamp of Piero F...
Metal
Italian mid-century modern coffe table Strumenti da Disegno Fornasetti 1960s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern coffe table Strumenti da Disegno by Piero Fornasetti, 1960s Strumenti da Disegno coffee table with rectangular gray wooden top decorated with illustrations...
Brass
FORNASETTI Golden Kings Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting golden kings on black background / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Meas...
Metal
Mid-Century Fornasetti Painted Metal Coffee Table, Low Table by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) Low table with wooden base and top in enamelled and painted metal. Milan 1960ca. Original brand stamp. 120x50xh38
Metal
FORNASETTI Shells Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting sea shells / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Measures: diameter 20 inch...
Metal
Piero Fornasetti, Coffee Table, brass, Metal, Mahogany, Italy, 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in High Point, NC
A lithographic-print transfer wood, mahogany, brass and metal coffee table or cocktail table, designed and produced by Piero Fornasetti, I...
Metal, Brass
Piero Fornasetti Coffee Table-Neoclassical Bordo Bassorilievo Pattern
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Bordo Bassorilievo Pattern Coffee Table Circa 1955 Dimensions: 17-3/4 in H × 39-1/4 in W × 19-5/8 in D (45.1 × 99.7 × 49.8 cm) Mark: Fornasetti Milano label on u...
Wood
Vintage Italian Piero Fornasetti "Cammei" Coffee Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Piero Fornasetti "Cammei" coffee table composed of a lithographic transfer with cameo motif on lacquered wood supported by a black enameled-steel base with brass, adjustable feet (ca...
Brass, Enamel, Steel
Side Table, Piero Fornasetti, circa 1950
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Berlin, DE
This unusual, filigree side table was created by the Italian designer Piero Fornasetti. He focused in particular on the surface design of his works with his unusual hand drawings. He...
Brass