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)
Sole e Luna' tray, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Sole e Luna' tray, 1950–1959

Sale Date: February 21, 2017

Auction Closed

Casa con colonne' umbrella stand, 1950–1960

Piero Fornasetti

Casa con colonne' umbrella stand, 1950–1960

Sale Date: February 21, 2017

Auction Closed

Rose' tray, 1950–1969

Piero Fornasetti

Rose' tray, 1950–1969

Sale Date: February 21, 2017

Auction Closed

Commode dite

Piero Fornasetti

Commode dite "Léopard", 1953

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Guéridon tripode dit

Piero Fornasetti

Guéridon tripode dit "Constantinople", 1960

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Table basse dite

Piero Fornasetti

Table basse dite "Place à l'obélisque", 1950

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Table basse dite

Piero Fornasetti

Table basse dite "Les trois visages", 1960

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Paravent dit

Piero Fornasetti

Paravent dit "Arcadie" ou "Boutique..., 1954

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Pied de lampe, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

Pied de lampe, 1950

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Pied de lampe dit

Piero Fornasetti

Pied de lampe dit "Livres", 1950

Sale Date: February 28, 2017

Auction Closed

Table Architettura, 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Table Architettura, 1960

Sale Date: February 14, 2017

Auction Closed

Rare Piero Fornasetti Folding Screen

Piero Fornasetti

Rare Piero Fornasetti Folding Screen

Sale Date: February 5, 2017

Auction Closed

Piero Fornasetti Revolving Coffee Table, 1950–1959

Piero Fornasetti

Piero Fornasetti Revolving Coffee Table, 1950–1959

Sale Date: February 5, 2017

Auction Closed

A Collection of Eight Rosenthal Fornasetti..., 1950

Piero Fornasetti

A Collection of Eight Rosenthal Fornasetti..., 1950

Sale Date: January 19, 2017

Auction Closed

Porte-parapluie, 1960

Piero Fornasetti

Porte-parapluie, 1960

Sale Date: December 13, 2016

Auction Closed

Small Gran Coromandel screen, 1958

Piero Fornasetti

Small Gran Coromandel screen, 1958

Sale Date: December 6, 2016

Auction Closed

Table basse à plateau rectangulaire et bords...

Piero Fornasetti

Table basse à plateau rectangulaire et bords...

Sale Date: December 2, 2016

Auction Closed

A GROUP OF THREE CHAIRS, 1950

Piero Fornasetti

A GROUP OF THREE CHAIRS, 1950

Sale Date: December 12, 2016

Auction Closed

A SET OF FOUR 'QUATTRO STAGIONI' CHAIRS, 1955

Piero Fornasetti

A SET OF FOUR 'QUATTRO STAGIONI' CHAIRS, 1955

Sale Date: December 12, 2016

Auction Closed

AN 'ARCHITETTURA' LOW TABLE, 1980

Piero Fornasetti

AN 'ARCHITETTURA' LOW TABLE, 1980

Sale Date: December 12, 2016

Auction Closed

A RARE 'ANGOLO DI SPOGLIATOIO' FOUR-PANEL..., 1955

Piero Fornasetti

A RARE 'ANGOLO DI SPOGLIATOIO' FOUR-PANEL..., 1955

Sale Date: December 12, 2016

Auction Closed

LOT OF 4 PLATES & 4 VIDE-POCHES, 1950–1970

Piero Fornasetti

LOT OF 4 PLATES & 4 VIDE-POCHES, 1950–1970

Sale Date: December 2, 2016

Auction Closed

Set of ten plates, from the Tema e..., 1959–1969

Piero Fornasetti

Set of ten plates, from the Tema e..., 1959–1969

Sale Date: December 13, 2016

Auction Closed

Scaletta

Piero Fornasetti

Scaletta" four-panel screen, 1955

Sale Date: December 13, 2016

Auction Closed

English (US)

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