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Fornasetti Furniture

The Italian artist, illustrator and furniture maker Piero Fornasetti was one of the wittiest and most imaginative design 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 the 19th-century opera singer Lina 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 desks to dinner plates, lamps and umbrella stands. His work is archly clever, often surreal 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 his 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 Fornasetti’s collaborator and patron. Beginning in the early 1950s, they created a striking a 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.

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Creator: Fornasetti
FORNASETTI Pair of L Immaginario Table Lamps by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage "L'Immaginario" table lamp composed of a flat plexiglass sheet photostatic printed with newspaper motif, assembled by folding the sheet into a cylindrical form / designed by ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Plexiglass

Set di Piastrelle "Sole e Luna" di Fornasetti Anni 90
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, MI
Set di piastrelle, serie 'Sole e Luna', realizzate da Fornasetti negli anni '90 Ø cm 13 h cm 13 Le piastrelle sono realizzate con supporto in cottoforte e decorazione in decalcoman...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Fornasetti Silk Cushion Sardine Fishes on Red
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs. Cushion cover material: S...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Silk

Vintage 20th Century Italian Table Lamp By Fornasetti
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A beautiful large table lamp by Piero Fornasetti. This particular model retailed by Antonangeli in the 1990s, now discontinued and appreciating in value. More importantly it gives ...
Category

20th Century Italian Other Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Plexiglass

Pair of Illuminated Mirrors by Barnaba Fornasetti, Circa 1970.
By Fornasetti
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of illuminated mirrors by Barnaba Fornasetti, Circa 1970. Pair of mirrors by designer Barnaba Fornasetti, illuminated mirrors in whit...
Category

20th Century European Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

‘Levriero Afgano’ Afghan Hound Dog Umbrella Stand, Piero Fornasetti Italy c.1955
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
An early ‘Afghan Hound’ umbrella stand by the incredibly creative, Piero Fornasetti, c.1955. One of the twelve trompe l’oeil dog umbrella stands Fo...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Steel

Fornasetti Desk and Chair "FIORI NELLA NOTTE" - Unique Pieces
By Fornasetti
Located in Rome, RM
The Fornasetti "Fiori nella Notte" desk and chair are unique pieces made in exclusive for Betony Vernon's private home in Paris in 2004. The desk has a drawer and the top opens to be...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Enamel, Bronze

Piero Fornasetti Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988), Italian designer known for his whimsical trompe l'oeil works on metal. This is an early example, circa 1950s-1960s.
Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

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 ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti paper weight with NATO phonetic alphabet with pen rest
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Rare Fornasetti porcelain paperweight with pen holder. With the phonetic alphabet o as in Oscar P as in Papa Q as in Quebeck etc..
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Italian Fornasetti Mythological Ceramic Coaster - Set of 8
By Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your entertaining with this exceptional set of eight vintage coasters by the legendary Italian designer, Piero Fornasetti. Each ceramic coaster is a miniature work of art, fe...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Giltwood, Paper

Pair of Table Lamps Model Julia by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of table lamps model Julia by Fornasetti, sticker on the base, circa 1970.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

20th Century Piero Fornasetti Umbrella Stand Theme Bottles Wine in Printed Metal
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Turin, Turin
Umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti themed with bottles on a typical italian wine barrel, in silkscreened sheet metal from the 1950s. Good condition...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Brass, Sheet Metal

Ombrello Serie Orologi Rosso di Fornasetti Anni 90
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, MI
Ombrello di Fornasetti, collezione 'Orologi' rosso, realizzato negli anni '90. Il manico è realizzato in legno di faggio tinto e i dettagli in ottone. Ø cm 110 h cm 93 Fornasetti...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Brass

Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White/Gold
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Adamo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Malachite Large Pendant lamp by Fornasetti for Wonderglass
By Fornasetti, WonderGlass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by the iconic Italian decorative firm, Atelier Fornasetti, Through The Clouds takes inspiration from daydreaming. Delicate glass clouds float above the viewer, suggesting di...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

FORNASETTI Set of 6 Fornasetti Mural Plates by Louis Vuitton
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fornasetti Mural plate set, co-designed by Johnny Coca and the Italian atelier Fornasetti, each featuring a unique motif echoing the antiquity theme from the Louis Vuitton Women's Fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "2, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" to the underside.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti, Oranges Tray, Atelier Fornasetti, ca. 1955
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Firenze, IT
Rare oranges aluminum Tray Prod. Fornasetti, Milan, Italy, ca. 1955 Serigraphed metal. Label not present H 4.5 cm x 39 x 51 cm Bibliography: Mariuccia Casadio, Barnaba Fornasett...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Piero Fornasetti Rare Vintage Matador Bull Porcelain Dinner Plates Set of Six
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
These wonderful hard to find and hard to come by complete set of RARE wonderful bullfight black and white vintage Mid-Century Modern porcelain dinner plates are the genius work and i...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

FORNASETTI Greek Key Round Mirror
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round wall mirror, featuring greek keys motif in a gold tone over a green and black granite like pattern / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label un...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mirror

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Marbalia Large Pendant lamp by Fornasetti for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by the iconic Italian decorative firm, Atelier Fornasetti, Through The Clouds takes inspiration from daydreaming. Delicate glass clouds float above the viewer, suggesting di...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti Cushion Mano Hand from the Series Tema e Variazioni Cotton
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs. The decoration features t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Cotton

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Marbalia Small Pendant lamp by Fornasetti for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by the iconic Italian decorative firm, Atelier Fornasetti, Through The Clouds takes inspiration from daydreaming. Delicate glass clouds float above the viewer, suggesting di...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Cylindrical Handmade Black Pleated Silk Lampshade
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This cylindrical lampshade in silk with a metal frame is the ideal complement to create, together with the base, a lamp that becomes an art object. Any minor discrepancies between...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Malachite Small Pendant lamp by Fornasetti for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by the iconic Italian decorative firm, Atelier Fornasetti, Through The Clouds takes inspiration from daydreaming. Delicate glass clouds float above the viewer, suggesting di...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Lacquered Wood "Rosa" Tray by Pierro Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Montreal, QC
Lacquered Wood "Rosa" Tray Transfer lithograph by Pierro Fornasetti
Category

1890s Italian Antique Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Fornasetti Tray Holder Tray Black Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti trays become elegant coffee tables by adding this black wood base. Is suits a 40 cm diameter metal round tray.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Borsa Pochette in Tessuto di Fornasetti Decoro Mongolfiere Anni 70
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, MI
Borsa pochette in tessuto di Fornasetti, con decoro 'Mongolfiere', realizzata negli anni '70 Ø cm 30 Ø cm 9 h cm 19 Fornasetti è un marchio italiano di design di lusso fondato da P...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Silk

Fornasetti Astrolabio plate series
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Astrolabio series 2 of 2 ceramic and gold dishes by Piero Fornasetti. Italian with original malachite print decorated boxes.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

20thC Set Of Four "Recipe" Plates By Fornasetti, Commissioned By Fiat c.1950
By Fornasetti, Fiat, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A charming and rare set of four porcelain plates, created by Piero Fornasetti in the 1950s, specially commissioned by Fiat to celebrate the culinary and cultural traditions of Turin....
Category

20th Century Italian Other Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Piatto serie "Astrolabio", Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti Milano, 1971
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Piatto serie "Astrolabio" Fornasetti Milano , Natale 1971
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Two 1970s Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti for Winston White Ceramic Vide Poches
By Fornasetti
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A pair of square white ceramic vide poches designed and manufactured by Fornasetti for Winston cigarettes, they feature the famous woman's face that we see in many variations of her ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Handmade Decorative Centrepiece Rosone Black White Gold
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The art of the table is manifested in this hand-decorated porcelain centrepiece with gold accents: Fornasetti's unmistakable decorative style makes it a true collector's item. Any...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Cushion Abbaglio from the Series Tema e Variazioni Cotton
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti cushions will add to each room an unexpected detail thanks to the most iconic Italian atelier designs. The decoration features t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Cylindrical Handmade White Silk Lampshade
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This cylindrical lampshade in silk with a metal frame is the ideal complement to create, together with the base, a lamp that becomes an art object. Any minor discrepancies between...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "4, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Six Iconic "Julia" Plates by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of six "Julia" displaying porcelain plates with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Variations”). These plates were m...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Set of three “Panoplie” series plates in porcelain with lithographed decoration
By Fornasetti
Located in Madrid, España
Set of three “Panoplie” series plates in porcelain with lithographed decoration on gold leaf - Piero Fornasetti - Milano - Italy - c. 1960
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti ‘Seeds of Playing Cards’ Tripod Side Table, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Piero Fornasetti ‘Seeds of Playing Cards’ side table or occasional table composed of lithographic printed, lacquered and hand-painted on wood tabletop with image of card suits, heart...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fine Fornasetti Surrealist Wall Art Plate Tema E Variazioni N. 218 Made In Italy
By Fornasetti, Jonathan Adler
Located in San Diego, CA
Excellent wall plate featuring a black and white portrait of opera singer Lina Cavalieri’s face with fruits and shadows.From the iconic Tema e Variazioni series by Fornasetti. Beaut...
Category

20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Ombrello Serie "Teatro Alla Scala" di Fornasetti Anni 90
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, MI
Ombrello di Fornasetti, collezione 'Teatro alla Scala', realizzato negli anni '90. Il manico è realizzato in legno di faggio tinto e i dettagli in ottone. Ø cm 110 h cm 93 Fornaset...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Brass

Piero Fornsasetti box, Fornasetti Milan. 1960s
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Small and rare box signed Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti Milan, 1960s Classic screen-printed decoration. Useful as a pocket emptier
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fornassetti Folding Tray Table
By Fornasetti
Located in Toronto, CA
A classic, reimagined in technicolour. This vintage folding tray table features one of Fornasetti’s most iconic faces—peek-a-boo style—set beneath vivid rainbow stripes. The chrome X...
Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Fornasetti "Tartaglia" Box from the Estate of Jose Ferrer
By Fornasetti
Located in Westport, CT
Fonasetti Metal enameled box sliding wood compartment
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped 11, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Lux Gstaadt Chair by Fornasetti, Contemporary
By Fornasetti
Located in London, England
Charming chair with the back rest decorated both sides with Fornasetti's muse, Lina Cavalieri, sporting a purple knitted ski hat with a yellow pom-pom. Hand-c...
Category

2010s Italian Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti Porcelain plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "1, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Plate with Vegetable Face Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fornasetti Porcelain Plate with face made with arranged vegetables. Stamped "6, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" and "Arzberg Germany...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in Westport, CT
Piero Fornasetti Enameled metal wine and alcohol themed Umbrella stand
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Italian Post-Modern Ceramic Wall Calendar Plate 2013 by Fornasetti, 2013
By Fornasetti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post-modern Ceramic wall calendar plate 2013 by Fornasetti, 2013 Wall calendar plate of 2013, limited edition, in ceramic. It present a drawing ...
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Calender Plate 2009 Porcelain n. 42 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2009 . Porcelain n.42 ,Made in Italy .
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti Calender Plate 2010 porcelain n.43 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2010 Porcelain n.43 . Made in Italy
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Fornasetti Porcelain Tableware, 2 Pcs.
By Fornasetti
Located in Astoria, NY
Two Fornasetti Porcelain Tableware Pieces, comprising: lighter in medallion pattern and jar with gin liquor label and newspaper pattern, each marked "Fornasetti Milano / Made in Ital...
Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Umbrella Handler by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Vintage umbrella handler in lacquered metal with a musical theme signed by Fornasetti, Italy, 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Piero Fornasetti Vintage Ceramic Storage Jars, Italy, circa 1960
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
A wonderful collection of three ceramic storage jars designed by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1960. These highly decorative pieces feature hand-coloure...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Fornasetti furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Fornasetti furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 143 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 53 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Fornasetti were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Richard Ginori, Alfredo Barbini, and La Murrina. Prices for Fornasetti furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $274 and can go as high as $32,216, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,614.
Questions About Fornasetti Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Fornasetti plates are hand-made in Italy. They continue a tradition of excellent craftsmanship that goes back to founder Piero Fornasetti, who established the atelier during the 1950s. Shop antique and modern Fornasetti plates from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Fornasetti is an art design company that produces furniture and home accessories decorated by hand. Piero Fornasetti established the company in Milan, Italy, during the 1950s as his atelier. As of December 2021, his son, Barnaba Fornasetti, heads the company. You'll find a selection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Piero 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 ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    The style of Fornasetti is mid-century modern. The Italian artist and designer crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal library of images rendered in transfer print engravings, including birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and an enigmatic woman's face, to decorate an endless variety of furnishings and housewares that range from chairs, tables and decorative objects to dinner plates, table lamps and umbrella stands. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti art, furniture and decorative objects.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    You can buy Fornasetti directly from the brand's online store. In addition, numerous brick-and-mortar retailers around the world carry Fornasetti pieces. You can also shop for the brand's furniture and home décor on multiple online platforms. You'll find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    How you display Fornasetti plates is largely a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to rest them flat on a low table or shelf, while others position them upright on plate stands. You can also thread string or twine through the two holes found on the back of every piece and display it as wall art. Find a collection of Fornasetti plates on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To burn a Fornasetti candle, first trim the wick to remove any soot. Then, light the candle and allow it to burn for up to three hours. Use a snuffer to extinguish the candle, as blowing out the flame can disturb the wax. Find a collection of Fornasetti on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Opera singer Natalina ‘Lina’ Cavalieri is the face that inspired Piero Fornasetti throughout his artistic career, from his plates to wallpaper and more. Lina Cavalieri was known as the most beautiful woman in the world during her lifetime from 1874-1944. It was eight years after Cavalieri’s death that Fornasetti came across her image in a magazine and was thereby inspired to replicate it repetitively. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Fornasetti plates from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    The style of art by Fornasetti varied. His use of whimsical motifs has often led his artwork to be associated with Surrealism, while his use of repetitive imagery, like in his many prints featuring opera singer Lina Cavalieri, skewed toward Pop art. As a designer, his works reflected mid-century modern sensibilities with a playful twist. Explore a collection of Piero Fornasetti art and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, each and every Fornasetti design is hand made and hand painted. The colors are expertly applied by painters, ensuring no two items are alike. You’ll find a variety of Fornasetti designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To hang Fornasetti plates, thread a length of string through the two small holes found on the tops of their backs. Tie the string in a secure knot and then hang from a nail, screw or hook. Avoid using plate hanger hardware, as it could crack or damage the plates. You'll find a collection of Fornasetti plates on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024
    Piero Fornasetti is famous for his work as a designer. The Italian artist was one of the wittiest and most imaginative talents of the 20th century. Fornasetti 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 opera singer Lina 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. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti pieces.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Whether 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    No, every Fornasetti porcelain figurine is handmade. In fact, the brand produces all of their home decorative items by hand at their workshop in Milan, Italy. If you see indications that a figurine came from a factory, it is likely not an authentic Fornasetti. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Fornasetti on 1stDibs.