Piero Fornasetti (1913-88) was a Milanese designer, painter, sculptor and interior decorator.

The range of products incorporating his whimsical and often black and white designs include scarves, drink coasters, lamps, umbrella stands, trays, cabinets, chairs, tables, desks, screens and plates and vases.

It has been estimated that by the 1960's there were over 11,000 different items incorporating his designs.

He showed artistic ability as a child, and studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, and later at the Castello Sforzesco school, both in Milan.

After a period of travel to Africa he returned to Milan in 1933, and his designs on silk scarves were seen by noted Italian architect Gio Ponti, who later became his collaborator on various projects including the interior decoration of the Casa Lucano in Milan in 1951, and the ocean liner, Andrea Doria in 1952.

Since his death in 1988, the business more...

52 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Fornasetti, Tema E Variazioni wall plate no. 228, styled…

Fornasetti, Tema E Variazioni wall plate no. 228, styled featuring black and white print of Lina Cavalieri adorned in jewellery to a porcelain plate, 26 cm diameter.

Fornasetti, Mani paper basket, silk-screened and hand-lacquered…

Fornasetti, Mani paper basket, silk-screened and hand-lacquered metal with a brass rim and brass feet, 28.5 x 26.5 x 26.5 cm

Fornasetti, Occhio tray, aluminium tray in original carry bag,…

Fornasetti, Occhio tray, aluminium tray in original carry bag, stamped Fornasetti Milano, Made in Italy, 11-93, 59 x 25.5 cm

A Tema e Variazioni wall plate by Fornasetti, plate number no.…

Fornasetti's Lina Cavalieri Tema e Variazioni Plate

A Tema e Variazioni wall plate by Fornasetti, plate number no. 217. Made from porcelain and depicting the face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri, diameter 26 cm

A Tema e Variazioni wall plate by Fornasetti, no. 228. Made…

Fornasetti Porcelain Wall Plate with Lina Cavalieri's Face

A Tema e Variazioni wall plate by Fornasetti, no. 228. Made from porcelain and depicting the face of Lina Cavalieri, diameter 6 cm

Rosenthal 'Fornasetti' lidded bowl portrait to lid of bowl,…

Rosenthal Fornasetti Portrait Lidded Bowl, 10cm Diameter

Rosenthal 'Fornasetti' lidded bowl portrait to lid of bowl, marked to base, diameter 10 cm.

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), Astrolabe cabinet plate,…

Fornasetti Astrolabe & Tema Cabinet Plates, Sole Ashtray Set

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), Astrolabe cabinet plate, designed 1960, porcelain, transfer printed decoration of an astrolabe and latin motto, together with a Tema e Variazioni cabinet plate, a Sole ashtray, and bag, all retain factory printed…

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), set of six Sole teacups…

Fornasetti Sole Teacups and Saucers Set

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), set of six Sole teacups and saucers, porcelain, gold tone, with sunburst design in black and white, all retains manufacture's decal, in original box, height 5 cm width 7 cm

A Rosenthal Fornasetti designed dish, diameter 23 cm

Rosenthal Fornasetti Dish (23cm)

A Rosenthal Fornasetti designed dish, diameter 23 cm

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988) tray, designed c. 1955…

Fornasetti Milano Tray, 1955

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988) tray, designed c. 1955 lacquered metal, labelled 'Fornasetti Milano made in Italy 1955', paint loss on edges (A/F)

Fornasetti 'Occhi' tray, lithographed enamel on tin, circa…

Fornasetti 'Occhi' Enamel Tray

Fornasetti 'Occhi' tray, lithographed enamel on tin, circa 1950's, circular label verso 'Fornasetti, Milano, Made In Italy', 25 x 59 cm

An Orson & Blake ginger jar in the Fornasetti style, 20th…

Fornasetti-style Orson & Blake Ginger Jar

An Orson & Blake ginger jar in the Fornasetti style, 20th century. White ceramic, ornamented with black and white printed classical faces in the Fornasetti style. Stamped on the underside 'Ob Orson & Blake'. Sound and stable condition, free from any major…

A Piero Fornasetti Goodmorning Goodnight lidded vase, of squat…

Fornasetti Bitossi Goodmorning Goodnight Lidded Vase

A Piero Fornasetti Goodmorning Goodnight lidded vase, of squat form and depicting the namesake motif with one side eyes closed, and the opposite open. Designed by Piero Fornasetti and manufactured by Bitossi. Both Fornasetti and Bitossi stamp to base, and…

A pair of bookends by Piero Fornasetti, sculptural, lidded form,…

Fornasetti Opera Singer Bookends

A pair of bookends by Piero Fornasetti, sculptural, lidded form, depicting the recognisable face seen on much of Fornasetti's work: opera singer Lina Cavalieri. Maker's stamp to the base, height 22 cm, width 12 cm, depth 10 cm (each)

A Piero Fornasetti tall Goodmorning Goodnight lidded vase, of…

Fornasetti Bitossi Goodmorning Goodnight Vase

A Piero Fornasetti tall Goodmorning Goodnight lidded vase, of tall, slender form and depicting the namesake motif with one side eyes closed, and the opposite open. Designed by Piero Fornasetti and manufactured by Bitossi. Both Fornasetti and Bitossi stamp…

A Fornasetti butterfly tray, with multi-coloured butterflies…

Multi-Butterfly Fornasetti Tray, 60cm

A Fornasetti butterfly tray, with multi-coloured butterflies over an ivory ground lacquered metal tray. Designed by Piero Fornasetti, diameter 60 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #278, of…

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate #278

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #278, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face set within a volute column, in black and white, printed factory mark and painted 278 to base, diameter 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #258, of…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Egg Plate

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #258, of circular form, decorated with a woman's head appearing from a broken egg, in black and white, printed factory marks and painted 258 to base, diameter 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #311, of…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Cat Face Plate

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #311, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face, the lower section in the form of a cat, in black and white, printed factory mark and painted 311 to base, diameter 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate with Fan Motif

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #26, of circular form, decorated with a ladies face with fan shaped motif in front of face, in black and white, printed factory marks, diameter 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Rosenthal Plate: Julia Motif

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #27, of circular form, decorated with a ladies face in square sections in black and white printed factory marks, diameter 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Rosenthal Plate, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #28

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #28, of circular form, decorated with the back of a woman with a face appearing on it, in black and white, printed factory marks, diameter 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Rosenthal plate: Julia, lion-faced woman motif

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv # 29, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face with the lower part in the form of a lion, in black and white, printed factory marks, diameter 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti's "Julia" Plate with Lion Face Motif

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv # 29, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face with the lower part in the form of a lion, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Julia Plate, Temi e Variazioni #27

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #27, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face broken into various sized panels, in black and white, printed factory mark, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Rosenthal Plate: Julia's Face and Back

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #28, of circular form, decorated with the back of a woman with a face appearing on it, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Julia Plate by Rosenthal

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #34, of circular form, decorated with a circular panel of a woman's face surrounded by six smaller versions, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti's "Julia" Plate for Rosenthal, Football Face Design

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #36, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face depicted as a football, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate with Hand and Faces Buttons

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #13, of circular form, decorated with a hand resting inside a jacket, the buttons in the form of faces, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate for Rosenthal, 23.5cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #22, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face behind bars, in black and white, printed factory mark, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti's 'Julia' Plate for Rosenthal

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv # 15, of circular form, decorated with a face partly covered by two hands, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti's 'Julia' Plate with Clock Face Motif

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #20, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face and clock face, in black and white, printed factory mark to base, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #35, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face in the form of a gong, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate for Rosenthal

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #23, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face torn into pieces, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate with Floral Motifs

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #30, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face surrounded by floral motifs, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, # 192, of…

Piero Fornasetti Julia Plate

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, # 192, of circular form, decorated with the bust of a woman, in black and white, printed factory marks and painted 192 to base, depth 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #33

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #33, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face set into cubes, in black and white, printed factory marks to base, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate with Clam Shell and Pearl Face

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv # 14, of circular form, decorated with clam shell and pearl with face, in black and white, printed factory mark, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate with Necklace of Faces

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #16, of circular form, decorated with a portrait of lower part of a woman's face depicted wearing a necklace of faces, printed factory marks, original box, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Fornasetti Rosenthal Plate with Woman's Face and Map Design

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #31, of circular form, decorated with an image of a woman's face with map, printed factory marks to base, depth 23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni…

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate for Rosenthal

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' plate for Rosenthal, Temi e Variazioni Motiv #18, of circular form, decorated with a sun with a woman's face surrounded by clouds, in black and white, printed factory marks, original box, d23.5 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #258, of…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #258, of circular form, decorated with a woman's head appearing from a broken egg, in black and white, printed factory marks and painted 258 to base, depth 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #278, of…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Plate, No. 278

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #278, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face set within a volute column, in black and white, printed factory mark and painted 278 to base, depth 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #271, of…

Fornasetti 'Julia' Face Plate

Piero Fornasetti 'Julia' Tema E Variazioni plate, #271, of circular form, decorated with a woman's face divided into two moon shapes, in black and white, printed factory mark and painted 271 to base, depth 26 cm

Piero Fornasetti (Italian 1913-1988) sun motif Vest or Gilet.…

Fornasetti Sun Gilet

Piero Fornasetti (Italian 1913-1988) sun motif Vest or Gilet. Circa 1980s, in purple & black. In display case, length 64 cm (vest) 77 x 69 cm (case)

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), two Julia cabinet plates,…

Fornasetti & Warhol Plates Set

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), two Julia cabinet plates, for Rosenthal, with factory's mark to base, together with an Andy Warhol Marylin plate, for Rosenthal (3), diameter 24 cm

Piero Fornasetti, a boxed set of eight lithographic transfer…

Fornasetti Coasters: Soli e Lune Design (Set of 8)

Piero Fornasetti, a boxed set of eight lithographic transfer design coasters, 'Soli e lune' (sun and moon) pattern.

Piero Fornasetti, a boxed set of eight lithographic transfer…

Fornasetti Adamo Coasters Set

Piero Fornasetti, a boxed set of eight lithographic transfer design coasters, 'Adamo' (Adam) pattern.

A floral decorated ceramic cat designed by Pierro Fornasetti,…

Fornasetti Floral Ceramic Cat Sculpture

A floral decorated ceramic cat designed by Pierro Fornasetti, Italian, second half 20th century. 13 cm high, 31 cm long, 18 cm deep

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), Il Sole di Capri plate…

Fornasetti's Il Sole di Capri Square Plate

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), Il Sole di Capri plate manufactured by Rosenthal, of square form, in box, factory mark to underside 'Rosenthal, Classic, Germany, Fornasetti, Dekor: Il Sole Di Capri'. Width 22.5 cm. Provenance: John Playford,…

Piero Fornasetti, italian wall plate decorated with a moon face…

Moon Face Wall Plate by Piero Fornasetti

Piero Fornasetti, italian wall plate decorated with a moon face design. Diameter 26 cm

Italian Piero Fornasetti, wall plate decorated with a sun burst…

Sun Burst Wall Plate by Piero Fornasetti

Italian Piero Fornasetti, wall plate decorated with a sun burst design. Diameter 26 cm