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What is Piero Fornasetti famous for?

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What is Piero Fornasetti famous for?
Piero Fornasetti is famous for his work as a designer. The Italian artist was one of the wittiest and most imaginative talents of the 20th century. Fornasetti crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal vocabulary of images that included birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and — most frequently, and in some 500 variations — an enigmatic woman's face based on that of opera singer Lina Cavalieri. Fornasetti used transfer prints of these images, rendered in the style of engravings, to decorate an endless variety of furnishings and housewares that ranged from chairs, tables and decorative objects to dinner plates, table lamps and umbrella stands. His work is archly clever, often Surrealist and always fun. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Piero Fornasetti pieces.
1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024
Shop for Piero Fornasetti Furniture on 1stDibs
Piero Fornasetti Series 8 Coasters Commissioned by Banca Unione Milan
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Complete set of eight porcelain coasters produced in 1970 by Piero Fornasetti; they were expressly commissioned by the Banca Unione of Milan; the graphics with the decoration "Le Monete" represents eight variations on the theme of coins made in black and pure gold with the third firing; the term "third firing" means, in ceramics, the third firing that is applied to an object to add decorations, especially those in pure gold, a technique that requires great skill and precision; the saucers represent in numerical order 1)Boat, 2)Home, 3)idea, 4)Everything, 5)Holidays, 6)Christmas, 7)Student, 8)Car; they are contained in a golden cardboard case. These are Fine collectibles in excellent condition; the saucers were created in 1970 to be given as gifts by Banca Unione of Milan to its customers; they were made by Piero Fornasetti (1931-1988) a versatile and eclectic founder of the design and decorative arts atelier that bears his name. The Banca Unione was established in 1919 by Carlo Feltrinelli, father of Giangiacomo, a publisher very close to the left; among the minority shareholders were Bastogi (the largest Italian financial); since 1968 the bank became the property of the financier and fixer Michele Sindona (1920-1986) who secured the absolute majority along with the Vatican; the Bank dedicated itself to the Italian market by launching an unprecedented commercial policy, in an attempt to reconcile the interests of the institution with socially advanced actions. According to Sindona, in Italy, banks were only interested in the wealthy, snubbing the categories of workers with modest incomes. Sindona overturned this logic and, ahead of his time, sent Banca Unione promoters into the factories. Sindona was a member of the P2 lodge (card no. 0501) and had clear associations with Cosa Nostra and the Gambino family in the United States. Involved in the Calvi affair, he was behind the murder of Giorgio Ambrosoli. He died poisoned...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Fornasetti 70s for Winston - Collectible Ceramic Ashtray, Variazione 212
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Dive into the world of collectible ceramics with this vintage Fornasetti 70s ashtray from the iconic ‘Tema e Variazioni’ series, crafted in the Seventies for Winston brand. Adorned w...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Face Mirror Viso Wall Mirror Brass, Italy, circa 1955
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Vienna, AT
Piero Fornasetti Face Mirror 'Viso' Wall Mirror Brass, Italy, circa 1955 Very rare, surrealistic face mirror 'Viso' by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, from t...
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors

Materials

Brass

Piero Fornasetti House of Cards Surrealist Porcelain Tray or Dish Vintage
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This dream like hallmarked Mid-Century Modern original Piero Fornasetti small tray, dish or desk accessory is lithographically hand painted porcelain. It is called the House of Cards...
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Ashtray, Black and Gilt Compass Rose, Milano, Italy, 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Stockholm, SE
Piero Fornasetti ashtray, black and gilt compass rose, Milano, Italy, 1950s. An everyday object combining function with refined exclusivity and artistic detailing. Placing this ashtr...
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Porcelain

A Vintage 20th Century Italian Table Lamp By Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A beautiful table lamp by Piero Fornasetti. This particular model retailed by Antonangeli in the 1990s, now discontinued and appreciating in value. More importantly it gives any room...
Category

20th Century Italian Other Table Lamps

Materials

Plexiglass

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