Chances are you are at least familiar with Fornasetti's Julia plates (above). The numerous black and white (sometimes with gold) illustrated porcelain dishes that sport imagery of "julia" (who is actually modeled after a woman named Lina Cavalieri), suns and moons and other Fornasetti themes.This year two more fabulous collaborative collections (wallpaper and rugs) have been released, along with more ceramic items and Fornasetti furniture. Read on to learn more about these other Fornasetti items, history and frankly, more Fornasetti than you ever needed to know.Who was Piero Fornasetti?
Below are some of the new Fornasetti products available on the market:Above: Calendar plate "2008"Classic Fornasetti Tableware is available at Barney's, and etabletop,who offers the largest collection of existing Julia plates, no longer being produced. Moss also offers some Julia plates, many special editions made for Moss only.These special Adam and Eve plates below are available at Unica home:
Above: Fornasetti's version of a Venetian blind reproducing the “Procuratie Nuove” the building that lines one side of Piazza San Marco.
Buy them here.
WALLPAPER (new):Cole & Son's Fornasetti Wallpaper or Wall coverings:Back to Creation with a good looking Italian and a collection of wallpapers - Adam and Eve, created by Piero Fornasetti in 1954 and Hydrangea from Fornasetti’s garden or even the Garden of Eden, an exquisite original drawing discovered in the Fornasetti archives and adapted as large scale wallpaper by Karen Beauchamp, Creative Director of Coles.These Fornasetti wallpapers are hand screen printed by Cole & Son. With Fornasetti, nothing is ever quite as it seems - the classically inspired figures of Adam and Eve are seen through a screen of colour in which twelve fretwork circles provide an intriguing ‘trompe l’oeil’ view of the figures. The effect is typical of Fornasetti’s bizarre and humorous style, inspired by his skillful drawings from nature and classical sources.The figure of Adam finely drawn by Fornasetti is in black on white and gold against a wine red ground, a colour he favoured, while Eve, the serpent coiled at her feet, is in black, white and gold on an ink black ground.Hydrangea is in two colourways – black and white on an opulent gold ground or black and gold on a pure cerulean sky blue. All wallpapers bear the distinctive Fornasetti signature.The wallpapers play on a theme of Creation – an allegory perhaps for design and craftsmanship uniting two historic companies. The figures of Adam and Eve are an impressive 1.6 meters high with 3 meters of plain background between each image to position as wished. The repeat of Hydrangea is 1.5 meters.RUGS (just launched!):The rugs by Roubini Works of Art created for Fornasetti, reflect his unique style. The great illusionist is aptly represented with his whimsical perception of life’s objects, architecture, nature and variations on a theme. Piero Fornasetti applied his decorative vocabulary to an astonishing array of commonly found objects to which Roubini has added a line on magnificent rugs, hand knotted in wool and silk and available in standard as well as custom sizes.See the whole Roubini collection of Fornasetti rugs here.FURNITURE:The Tête-à-Tête Collection was a collaboration between Nigel Coates and Barnaba Fornasetti created in 2002:The collection includes vases, glasses, lamps and chairs.Above is the first collaboration with Fornasetti and a furniture designer since the one with Gio Ponti which yielded the item below in addition to several others:Above: a product of a collaboration between two of the most creative minds of the twentieth century, the trumeau series remains in our mind as the finest outlet for fornasetti's creative mind. designed by gio ponti, the trumeau has been changed ever so slightly and decorated completely differently over the years, resulting in an incredible overview of fornasetti production and charm. This decor is known as 'architecture'; available in white or ivory ($27,o63.00)31.9" x 15.4" x 86.2" Buy it here.SGABELLO BAR / BAR STOOLSize: Ø cm 38x79hAvailable in the motifs: "Bocca" "Tergonomico" "Egocentrismo" Occhio" "Sole".Available from the Fornasetti Atelier.Butterfly tables:Above: Recently introduced in milan and designed by barnaba fornasetti, the 'butterflies' tables feature a flight of butterflies entirely painted by hand in the atelier in milan. available in white or black versions.Buy them here.The Latest News Chair:Buy it here.Above: CHEST desk “Grand Coromandel”Size: cm 100x56x91hThis re-invention by Barnaba Fornasetti has the same shape of the classic Fornasetti curved chest of drawers but it has been visibly elaborated in order to obtain a desk with two doors and writing table. Inside there are several counter tops to contain CDs, papers, desk materials and a drawers with a counter top for a notebook. This lacquered wood chest desk is decorated with the motif "Grand Coromandel" in gold leaf on a treated pouring-like background which is sponge painted by hand. It is available in all the decors of the Fornasetti chest of drawers: "Achitettura", "Palladiana", "Pompeiana", "Fiori nella notte" and "Leopardo".Available from the Fornasetti Atelier.Sun and moon tables:Buy them here.Ceramics & Porcelain:Thanks to the collaboration with Bitossi Ceramiche today it has been possible to realize this project. The collection is composed of 4 vases realized in different colours and produced, like the first collection edited in 2005 (which is sold out), in a limited edition of 299 pieces.The above products (and more decor items) can be bought here.Above: set of 6 drinking glasses, available here.Trays and Screen:The above items (and more) are available here.Ceramic tiles:buy them here.Textiles:Buy them here.Jewelry:Buy the jewelry here.MediaFornasetti Moves from Detour Design is a was to transform your flat screen into is a a moving series of Fornasetti's images:However, last time I checked, the site and the company seem to be out of business.Interested in acquiring some vintage Fornasetti products? These are for sale.Book:Above: FORNASETTI Conversation with Philippe Starck© 2005 Assouline publishing, New York. Available also in French. buy it here. SHOW-ROOM FORNASETTIVia Manzoni, 45 - Milano 20121Tel:+39 02 6592341 - Fax: +39 02 6592244E-Mail: showroom@fornasetti.comFornasetti's Official Site.
