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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
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

Fornasetti Table Top Cortile Celeste Architectural Motif, Wooden Legs
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
A Fornasetti table is the perfect synthseis of the artist's vision: a perfect balance of functional design and visionary illustrations that bring new meaning to a common object. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fornasetti paper weight 1962 Zodiac calendar
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Rare Fornasetti porcelain paperweight with Zodiac calendar c1962
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Fornasetti Oggetti Con Nastro Wastebasket / Trash Can
By Fornasetti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful example of this form. This example was deaccessioned from the Fornasetti Archives. Original surface is very nice.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

Piero Fornasetti, Oranges Tray, Atelier Fornasetti, ca. 1955
By Piero Fornasetti, 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

FORNASETTI Butterfly Square Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti, 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...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

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...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Face Pendent Light by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional example of the unique artistry of Piero Fornasetti, this iconic “Face” Pendant Light from the 1960s is a striking piece of Italian design history. The ceiling luminair...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

FORNASETTI Face Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting the face of Lina Cavalieri, it can be used as a side table or center table / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Fornasetti Surrealist Themes Variations Plate, #18, Fornasetti, "Circles"
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Fornasetti Porcelain Themes Variation Plate, #18, Circles, Atelier Fornasetti The Fornasetti porcelain plate in the Themes Variation pattern depicts a depiction of the ...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White
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

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

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

Modern Art Porcelain Plates, 4
By Jean Cocteau, Limoges, Fornasetti
Located in Astoria, NY
Group of Four Modern Art Porcelain Plates, comprising: set of three Jean Cocteau limoges portrait dishes, marked "Limoges / France" to the underside and Fornasetti "Zodiacus" circula...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

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 Umbrella Stand with Music Theme, Milano, circa 1980
By Fornasetti
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Piero Fornasetti painted metal umbrella stand of a musical theme with painted sheet music and musical instruments. Original label on the reverse. Italy, circa 1980s.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Other 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

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

Pietro Fornasetti, Rare metal Bookend Janus Two-Faced 1950s (First edition)
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Argelato, BO
Pietro Fornasetti, Rare metal bookend from the 1950s (First edition) In the extraordinary creative imagination of Pietro Fornasetti every household object is transformed and embelli...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage 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

20thC Set Of Four "Recipe" Plates By Fornasetti, Commissioned By Fiat c.1950
By Piero Fornasetti, Fiat, 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

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

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

Fornasetti Table Top Bocca Red Lips Hand Colored, Wooden Legs
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
A Fornasetti table is the perfect synthseis of the artist's vision: a perfect balance of functional design and visionary illustrations that bring new meaning to a common object. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fornasetti Neoclassical Trompe l oeil Teste Antiche Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Divine Piero Fornasetti umbrella stand crafted from hand silk screened and lacquered metal. Trompe l'oeil Teste Antiche or antique heads in a Greco-Roman theme. Excellent joinery and...
Category

20th Century Italian Neoclassical Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Iron

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Malachite 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

Piero Fornasetti, Vintage Plate from the Series of Church Domes Cupole d Italia
By Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Decorated porcelain Plate number 5 from the series Cupole d’Italia: Cupola di San Lorenzo a Torino. Each plate with a different dome of an Italian church seen from the inside named and numbered on the reverse. These plates were designed and executed for building contractor Andrea Brenta, Milan, as Christmas presents...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

Fornasetti Tray Holder Black
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti trays become elegant coffee tables by adding this black wood base. Is suits a 25 x 60 cm wood tray. The image shows the tray on its holder (the tray is not included in ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Marbalia 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

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 Bar Stool Tergonomico Handcrafted Black and White Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The Fornasetti chairs and stools are going to be the most surprising detail of your house. This stool is handcrafted using original artisan techniques. It is silk-screened by han...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

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

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Marbalia Small 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

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

THROUGH THE CLOUDS Malachite Small 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

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

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

Fornasetti Bookends Gift Tema E Variazioni N. 171 Black/White/Red Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
There can be wit and unpredictability in the order: this was Fornasetti idea when he designed his first bookends. The mix of images with their functional design make these accessorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Metal

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

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

Piero Fornasetti N 8 Coaster Ceramic 1950
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Fornasetti.
Category

1950s Italian Other Vintage 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

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

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

Coppia Vasi Monofiore Piero Fornasetti Milano anni 70
By Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
Coppia di vasi monofiore in vetro con decoro amovibile a serpentina. Etichetta della manifattura sotto la base.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Glass

Rare Vintage Mid-20th Century Limited edition Fornasetti Umbrella Stand
By Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
This highly decorative piece is in excellent condition and a rare subject depicting bags & light luggage from the mid-20th century. There is also an image showing the limited edition...
Category

1960s 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 "2, Fornasetti-Milano, Made in Italy, Arcimboldesca'" to the underside.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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

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

Exceptional Table by Piero Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare occasional table featuring classically-rendered decorative faces on a brass tripod base. Great vibrant coloring and attractive fading. (Please confirm item location NY or NJ ...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

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

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 Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Fornasetti, Rosenthal
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

Set of Four Malachite Fornasetti Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of four Malachite Fornasetti plates.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fornasetti Furniture

Materials

Malachite

Piero Fornsasetti box, Fornasetti Milan. 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti, 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

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.

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