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)
Fornasettiana four-panel screen, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Fornasettiana four-panel screen, 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Demi-Lune-Kommode Palladiana, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Demi-Lune-Kommode Palladiana, 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 17, 2010

Auction Closed

Sofatisch Strumenti musicali, 1954

Piero Fornasetti

Sofatisch Strumenti musicali, 1954

Sale Date: June 15, 2010

Auction Closed

Suite de six assiettes sur le thème de la..., 1970

Piero Fornasetti

Suite de six assiettes sur le thème de la..., 1970

Sale Date: June 17, 2010

Auction Closed

Coffee table top, Piazza con obelisco, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Coffee table top, Piazza con obelisco, 1955

Sale Date: June 15, 2010

Auction Closed

Tischplatte mit Tulpen und Rotkelchen, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Tischplatte mit Tulpen und Rotkelchen, 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 5, 2010

Auction Closed

Tischplatte mit antikem Fries, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Tischplatte mit antikem Fries, 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 5, 2010

Auction Closed

Tischplatte mit Tulpen, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Tischplatte mit Tulpen, 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 5, 2010

Auction Closed

Paar Tischleuchten Obeliske, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Paar Tischleuchten Obeliske, 1950–1959

Sale Date: June 5, 2010

Auction Closed

Porte-revues, 1950–1960

Piero Fornasetti

Porte-revues, 1950–1960

Sale Date: May 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Porte-parapluies, 1950–1960

Piero Fornasetti

Porte-parapluies, 1950–1960

Sale Date: May 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Porte-parapluies cylindrique

Piero Fornasetti

Porte-parapluies cylindrique

Sale Date: May 20, 2010

Auction Closed

Paravent à quatre feuilles, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

Paravent à quatre feuilles, 1950

Sale Date: May 20, 2010

Auction Closed

Tallrikar Roma (set of 10)

Piero Fornasetti

Tallrikar Roma (set of 10)

Sale Date: May 6, 2010

Auction Closed

Figurin Carlino

Piero Fornasetti

Figurin Carlino

Sale Date: May 6, 2010

Auction Closed

Giro di Conchiglie patterned tray and stand, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Giro di Conchiglie patterned tray and stand, 1955

Sale Date: May 23, 2010

Auction Closed

Plateau rectangulaire

Piero Fornasetti

Plateau rectangulaire

Sale Date: April 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Container, 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Container, 1960

Sale Date: May 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Arkaden-Tischplatte, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

Arkaden-Tischplatte, 1950

Sale Date: May 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Acrobati-Paravant, 1952

Piero Fornasetti

Acrobati-Paravant, 1952

Sale Date: May 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Schirmständer, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

Schirmständer, 1955

Sale Date: May 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Couchtisch, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Couchtisch, 1950–1959

Sale Date: May 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Barstolar (pair)

Piero Fornasetti

Barstolar (pair)

Sale Date: May 4, 2010

Auction Closed

Bighe tavolino, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Bighe tavolino, 1950–1959

Sale Date: April 12, 2010

Auction Closed

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