M A H O G A N Y
I S S U E
•
n ° 1 4
•
2 0 1 8
by Marta Bernasconi
The fantastic world of Fornasetti
The visionary imagination of a historic brand for a table that will never pass unnoticed
[ MISE EN PLACE ]
Opposite page, from top, printed metal “Polipo” tray, hand lacquered and painted. Printed wood “Grande Pesce” table, hand lacquered and painted, and a detail of the top. Hand-painted porcelain plates from the “Pesci” series. This page, more plates from the “Pesci” series and porcelain “Sirene” plates with hand-painted gold details
bjects that speak the language of painting, sculpture, decoration and architecture. The Fornasetti story is a fascinating adventure that began in Milan in the early 20th century, and saw the brand eventually gain the international fame it enjoys today. Following in the footsteps of his father, a highly cultured man and eclectic artist, Barnaba Fornasetti is now at the helm of the company, guiding it with the same pioneering spirit it has displayed since the very beginning, and through collaborations and licensing agreements he has stamped his unmistakable mark on all aspects of the modern home – ceramics, tiles, fabrics, carpets, wallpaper and much besides, a multifaceted family of objects that share the irony and exclusive language that are the hallmarks of a company based on artisanal excellence. Barnaba Fornasetti’s re-editions are complemented by the so-called “reinventions”, new objects that draw inspiration from the brand’s vast archive. The fantastic marine world depicted in these pages is a very apt metaphor for the Fornasetti brand’s vivid creative and experimental nature. Piero created the first decorations on this theme in the late 1940s. At first they were intended to adorn silk foulards, but they were then applied to a range of objects including screens, trays and plates. The “Sirene” and “Pesci” plate sets are re-editions, while the “Grande Pesce” table is a reinvention by Barnaba Fornasetti. The “Tema e Variazioni” porcelain is based around a series of recurring themes - harlequins, playing cards, the sun, hands – but the real focus of attention is the magnetic face of a woman, Lina
93
[ MISE EN PLACE ]
Faces, looks, expressions that range from enigmatic to ironic are the theme connecting the objects on this page. Porcelain tea cups in the “Tema e Variazioni 2005” series and the printed metal “Bocca” tray, lacquered and painted by hand
Cavalieri. This international actress, singer and entertainer lived
Milan, specialist artisans create the brand’s products. Everything
between the late 1800s and early 1900s and was considered
here is carried out by hand, the colours are applied by a painter
to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Her face was an
referring to original models, every object bears a mark denoting
inexhaustible source of inspiration for Piero Fornasetti and then
the number, annual run and year of production. The result is
for his son Barnaba. They dedicated around 400 variations to
that no two objects are ever exactly the same. This uniqueness
her, unusual, fun, saucy or cloaked in mystery, appearing on
is also reflected in Fornasetti’s mise en place, unfettered by
cups, trays and also on furniture and accessories.
slavish conformity to the classic design canons, and all the more
The brand’s creative continuity goes hand in hand with an
intriguing for it.
outstanding artisanal tradition. At the Atelier Fornasetti in
www.fornasetti.com
94