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.
$2,900 / set
Vintage Fornasetti Grouping five pieces
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
two paperweights, two lidded canisters, and a dresser tray designed by Piero Fornasetti
Porcelain
Set of 10 'Spezie' Ceramic Storage Jars by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1960
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
A rare set of x 10 beautifully coloured decorative ceramic storage jars by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1960. This wonderful design is called 'Spezie or 'Spices' and these were produced u...
Ceramic
$1,450 / set
H 1 in Dm 9.5 in
Collection of Five Fornasetti Porcelain Musical Instrument Tableware Pieces
By Fornasetti
Located in Astoria, NY
Collection of Five Fornasetti Porcelain Musical Instrument Tableware Pieces, comprising: (2) two "Instrumenti Musicali", plate and small dish, marked "Fornasetti Milano / Made in Ita...
Porcelain
$322
H 15.75 in Dm 8.27 in
Large Carstens 1960s Mid-Century Modern West German Ceramic Pottery Vase Bamboo
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Large ceramic vase made in Germany by Cartens in the 1960s with a very beautiful Bamboo design. Carstens only produced copies in limited amounts of each design. Stamped underneath ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$950
H 11 in Dm 14 in
Pair of Early 20th Century White Ceramic Chinese Vases Antique Decorative Pieces
Located in IT
This elegant pair of white ceramic Chinese vases, dating back to the early 20th century, embodies timeless craftsmanship and classic design. Their smooth white finish and simple yet ...
Ceramic
Set of 5 1950s Piero Fornasetti Grandi Maestri Gold Ceramic Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Set of 5 Fornasetti ceramic /gold plates “Grandi Maestri” series. Ceramic plate by Piero Fornasetti of the series ” Grandi Maestri ” Music Great Masters. Ceramic, silk screen prin...
Ceramic
Vintage Glazed Brown Pottery
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Vintage Glazed Pottery Beautifully glazed and rich in character, this vintage glazed oil pot adds just the right amount of texture + warmth where you need it. Stunning glazed finish...
Clay
Strawberry Shaped Majolica Ceramic Tureen by Bordalo Pinheiro
By Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Majolica ceramic white and green strawberry shaped tureen. Manufactured by Bordalo Pinheiro, Portugal, 1960s. This cute tureen has a very realistic design with leaves on the top. A leaf shaped serving plate and a small serving spoon complete the set. This highly decorative serving piece will be a nice addition to any kitchen or dining table. It will be a cool choice used as sauce tureen. Excellent condition. On sale as a set of three pieces, strawberry tureen...
Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic
Vintage Fornasetti Panel by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Panel realized by Piero Fornasetti in 1950s. Screen print on wood. Brass frame. Covered with glass. Most probably a unique specimen, realized in 1950s for Sartoria Fanucchi...
Metal, Brass
Piero Fornasetti Capricorn Zodiac Porcelain Plate, The Zodiac Pharmacopoeia
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Cosmic Cabinet of Curiosities: Fornasetti "Zodiac Pharmacopoeia" Capricorn Plate Circa 1960s Discover a witty fusion of ancient astronomy, classic apothecaries, and mid-century Ital...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Vintage Original Studio Pottery Bowl
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This hand-thrown studio pottery bowl is a sophisticated example of contemporary ceramic art, defined by its masterful use of reactive glazing. The vessel features a rich, warm amber ...
Pottery
$1,127Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.48 in Dm 3.94 in
Piero Fornasetti set of eight Monkeys ceramic coasters, Italy 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milan, IT
Piero Fornasetti set of eight Monkeys ceramic coasters, From the "Ne sont tous chevaliers qui sur cheval montent" series Italy 1950s Original box.
Ceramic
Assortment of Vintage French Crockery
Located in Washington, DC
Assortment of vintage French crockery as vases, vessels, cooking mold, and creamers. Handmade vintage, 1880.
Pottery
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Astrolabe Plate, Number 5
By Fornasetti
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
The Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate depicts an astrolabe, it is number five of twelve in series. This is a very rare edition with the special mark on the back side "La Production I...
Ceramic
1960s Piero Fornasetti Themes and Variations Milano Italy Porcelain Cat Plate
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Piero Fornasetti Tema e Variazioni 10" porcelain plate depicting his muse, Lina Cavalieri as a cat. Signed on reverse with number 311. In very good vintage 1960s condition. Plate com...
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Themes and Variations Milano Italy Surrealist Porcelain Plate
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Piero Fornasetti Tema e Variazioni 10" porcelain plate depicting his muse, Lina Cavalieri. Signed on reverse with number 74. In very good vintage 1960s condition.
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.25 in Dm 4.13 in
Piero Fornasetti Wine & Liquor Coasters, Vini E Liquori, With Original Gold Box
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti wine & liquor coasters, Vini E Liquori, With Original Gold Box, 1960's. The charming complete set of coasters with their origina...
Ceramic, Pottery
Piero Fornasetti Zodiac Pottery Plate, Sagittarius
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Zodiac Pottery Plate, Sagittarius, Zodiacus Pattern, 1960s The Fornasetti pottery plate is extremely rare to find in this part...
Pottery
Piero Fornasetti Zodiac Pottery Plate, Cancer
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Zodiac Plate, Cancer, Zodiacus Pattern, 1960s The Fornasetti pottery plates are extremely rare to find in this particul...
Pottery
Piero Fornasetti Strumenti Musicali Pottery Plates
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Strumenti Musicali pottery plates, Pair, 1950 The porcelain plates each depict a different selection of stringed in...
Pottery
Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate Galvani Pattern
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate. Galvani Pattern, 1947-55 The very early rare Piero Fornasetti pottery plate is named Galvani on reverse. The unusual pattern mysteriously depic...
Ceramic, Pottery
Sold
H 0.25 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Piero Fornasetti Small Porcelain Ashtray, the Day, Jewish Journal, 1961
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti small porcelain ashtray- The Day- Jewish Journal, 1961, Written in Yiddish. The oval small dish is designed with a newspaper banner and part of a front page. It is titled at the top "The Day- Jewish Journal" and below, a globe with torches to either side emanating light and the words, "The National Jewish Daily" and below that "New York Thursday February 2, 1961". The text below that is in Yiddish in Hebrew script. It comes is a small cardboard box which is most likely the original box. Dimensions: 5 1/2 inches x 4 inches x 1/4 inches high. Mark: black stamp in ther form of a black seal with the hand and pen in White and Piero Fornasetti Milan, Italy around the top and bottom. Der Tog, Morgen Zshurnal = the Day-Jewish Journal (New York, N.Y.) was a New York Yiddish-language newspaper which published between 1914-1971. Interestingly, Der Tog was the first Yiddish newspaper to include female journalists on the editorial staff. Adella Kean-Sametkin wrote about women's issues, and Dr. Ida Badanes, about health matters; the popular fiction writer Sarah B...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Horse Racing-Subject Dish
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Horse Racing-subject dish A rare rectangular Piero Fornasetti ceramic dish decorated with horse-related objects- with a crop, a horses...
Ceramic
Piero Fornasetti Coasters Musicalia with Green Malachite Original Box
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Coasters- MUsicalia with green malachite original box, Set of eight, The 1950s. Each coaster with a different historica...
Pottery
Set of Piero Fornasetti Ceramic Storage Jars, Italy, 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Sofia, BG
Beautiful and rare authentic set of storage jars with missing top of some, as shown on the photo. 8 pieces in total. Additional photos on request.
Ceramic
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Plate, Mongolfiere 'hot air' Design
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Plate, Mongolfiere (hot air) Design, 1804/ Dec. 16 fire-balloon for/Napoleon's Incoronation, soared above/ Rome and ...
Pottery