Fornasetti Milan Overview
The Milanese design studio began as a printworks opened in 1930 by company founder Piero Fornasetti, becoming known as the first works in the city to print lithographs of the surrealist and metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico; indeed, de Chirico would hold an influence over what became the eccentric Fornasetti house-style. Another major development in the studio’s style came when Piero met famed Italian designer Gio Ponti; together they designed the award winning architettura trumeau, now in the V&A collection, and, buoyed by this success, the recently launched Atelier Fornasetti went from strength to strength.
Perhaps the most widely recognised Fornasetti products are the plates and other homewares bearing the face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri, considered in the 1950s one of the most beautiful women alive. Piero took her portrait as inspiration for his series Tema e Variazioni in which four hundred subtle variations on this face were, and still are, applied to Fornasetti-produced pieces. Following mixed fortunes in the 1960s and 70s the firm was taken over by Piero’s son Barnaba following his death in 1988 and, under his stewardship, has reclaimed its place as an aspirational, if eccentric, brand producing high quality homewares with a twist.
Fornasetti works are sought-after at auction and regularly achieve high results; Wilson55 has an excellent record selling pieces by Fornasetti including a trumeau cabinet (or bureau bookcase) for £15,500, a coffee table for £1,800, a “Leopard” chest of drawers for £9,000 and a set of plates for £2,100. We welcome enquiries regarding Fornasetti furniture and homewares for inclusion in our Modern Art & Design sale held four times a year.
For a free, confidential auction valuation of your collection, to enquire about any of our lots or to enter your own collection into one of our specialist sales, get in touch: james.spiridion@wilson55.com or fill in our online valuation form below.
Meet the Expert
James Spiridion
Auctioneer and valuer specialising in Modern Design. James has recently returned to the North West after spending the last few years as a valuer in Scotland, during that time James also featured on Paul Martin's Auction Showdown for Channel 5 as a 'Rival Auctioneer'.
Email: james.spiridion@wilson55.com