PIERO FORNASETTI Milano 1960 Red Enameled Sliding Box Music Instruments
An enameled sliding box designed by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988).
This is a very rare rectangular sliding box created in Milano Italy by Piero Fornasetti. The box is from the mid-century period, crafted in the 1960's in steel and wood. The outer steel is embellished with applications of red and black enamel depicting a composition of antique musical instruments. The box is very decorative and in very good preserved condition. These kinds of boxes are highly collectable and desirable among the mid-century and Italian design collectors.
Piero Fornasetti
He was an Italian artist and designer that born in Milan into a middle-class family, Fornasetti creative pursuits encompassed design, decoration, painting, curating, and printing. His oeuvre, spanning over 13,000 works, displayed a wide range of objects and furniture with a unique emphasis on decorative diversity. Collaborating with figures like Gio Ponti, Fornasetti's atelier became synonymous with bringing art into everyday lives through practical yet artistically adorned objects. Fornasetti's artistic philosophy emphasized the production of series over one-of-a-kind pieces, reflecting his commitment to democratizing art. A central motif in his work was the "variations," notably exemplified in the iconic "Tema e Variazioni" series featuring over 400 renditions of opera singer Lina Cavalieri's face. His creative genius extended across different mediums, from furniture to paintings, demonstrating a coherent stylistic code. Although Fornasetti faced challenges adapting to evolving design trends in the '60s and '70s, his legacy was eventually rediscovered and celebrated through exhibitions and publications. His fusion of classicism, surrealism, and metaphysical art, combined with his commitment to drawing as an innovative tool, cemented his influence on design and decoration. Piero Fornasetti's enduring impact continues through the work of his son Barnaba and admirers worldwide. The company of Fornasetti was founded in the vibrant Milan of the post-war period as a creative mirror of its founder Piero Fornasetti, a multi-faceted artist whose relentless creative flair earned him a place among the most prolific Italian figures of the twentieth century. Precious porcelain, sophisticated pieces of furniture and furnishing accessories have always formed the heart of the Atelier's irrepressible creative variety, which spans art and design: conversation pieces, visions to contemplate, but at the same time objects to be used. This is Fornasetti's great insight, his so-called "practical madness": to put beauty and creativity at the service of utility.
Designer: Piero Fornasetti.
Country: Milano, Italy.
Period: Mid-century modern, 1960's.
Weight: About 1.5 Pounds (0.68 Kg.).
Measurements: 298 mm by 103 mm by 38 mm (11.75 x 4.05 x 1.5 Inches).
Literature: Fornasetti: The Complete Universe. October 26, 2010 by Barnaba Fornasetti, Andrea Branzi & Mariuccia Casadio. Fornasetti: Designer of Dreams Piero Fornasetti 1st Edition. Patrick Mauries & Piero Fornasetti, Victoria and Albert Museum. For similar boxes and designs illustrated.
Condition: The overall condition of this Piero Fornasetti box is very good. Besides the little normal wear, there is no damage and all parts are secured in the settings. This box has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D051525RNMJ/.5640
