Piero Fornasetti

(Italian, 1913–1988)

Piero Fornasetti was an Italian engraver, interior decorator, and artist. Born on November 10, 1913 in Milan, Italy, he attended and was later expelled from the city’s Brera Art Academy. He was later expelled again—this time from Italy altogether—during World War II, and went on to develop as an artist in Switzerland. Fornasetti is known for using a swath of fanciful motifs such as the sun, moon, playing cards, animals, and other Surrealist imagery. He is best known for the recurring face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri, using her image across numerous works, including a series of 350 individual plates. Most of the artist’s pieces are executed in black and white—the total number of his designed objects are in the tens of thousands. Fornasetti’s other notable talent was for interior design, creating whimsical items such as umbrella stands and dressers, as well as full rooms such as the Casino Remo’s famous “Zodiac Suite,” where the walls are intricately decorated with all the creatures of the zodiac. In 1959, Fornasetti received a Neiman Marcus Award for “distinguished service in the field of fashion.'” He died on October 9, 1988 in Milan, Italy.

Related Categories

Contemporary Art, Furniture, Impressionist and Modern Art

Related Artists

Alvar Aalto, Shiro Kuramata, Carlo Mollino, Gio Ponti, Ettore Sottsass

Piero Fornasetti Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Piero Fornasetti (3,190 results)
Table basse, 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Table basse, 1960

Sale Date: October 8, 2010

Auction Closed

Acht Untersetzer Eva, 1965

Piero Fornasetti

Acht Untersetzer Eva, 1965

Sale Date: September 21, 2010

Auction Closed

Capitello corinzio chairs, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Capitello corinzio chairs, 1955

Sale Date: September 22, 2010

Auction Closed

Caccia coffee table, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Caccia coffee table, 1955

Sale Date: September 22, 2010

Auction Closed

Palladian chest, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

Palladian chest, 1950

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Sunburst chair, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Sunburst chair, 1955

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Musicale chair, 1951

Piero Fornasetti

Musicale chair, 1951

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Capitello chair

Piero Fornasetti

Capitello chair

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Balloon chair

Piero Fornasetti

Balloon chair

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Table lamp

Piero Fornasetti

Table lamp

Sale Date: September 11, 2010

Auction Closed

Soli di Capri magazine rack (+..., 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Soli di Capri magazine rack (+..., 1950–1959

Sale Date: September 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Blackamoor vase, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

Blackamoor vase, 1950

Sale Date: September 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Grec ceiling lamp, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

Grec ceiling lamp, 1950

Sale Date: September 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Vintage tema e variazioni, 206 (lina..., 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Vintage tema e variazioni, 206 (lina..., 1955

Sale Date: December 29, 2009

Auction Closed

Tema e variazoni plates (set of 6)(+..., 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Tema e variazoni plates (set of 6)(+..., 1950–1959

Sale Date: August 10, 2010

Auction Closed

Ucelli nella gabbia mbrella stand (+..., 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Ucelli nella gabbia mbrella stand (+..., 1950–1959

Sale Date: August 10, 2010

Auction Closed

Panel, 1970

Piero Fornasetti

Panel, 1970

Sale Date: August 10, 2010

Auction Closed

Magazine rack, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Magazine rack, 1950–1959

Sale Date: August 10, 2010

Auction Closed

Ensemble composé d'un plateau et trois..., 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Ensemble composé d'un plateau et trois..., 1960

Sale Date: June 30, 2010

Auction Closed

Boite à thé (pair), 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Boite à thé (pair), 1960

Sale Date: June 30, 2010

Auction Closed

Tray table and stand, 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Tray table and stand, 1960

Sale Date: July 10, 2010

Auction Closed

1 chaise modèle Chapiteau ionique et 1 chaise...

Piero Fornasetti

1 chaise modèle Chapiteau ionique et 1 chaise...

Sale Date: June 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Paire de chaises modèle Montgolfière

Piero Fornasetti

Paire de chaises modèle Montgolfière

Sale Date: June 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Blackmoor bust (+ 2 others; 3 works), 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Blackmoor bust (+ 2 others; 3 works), 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 30, 2010

Auction Closed

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