Piero Fornasetti tray

This tray was designed by Piero Fornasetti and produced in Italy during the 1950s. Crafted from lacquered metal, it features a lithographically applied decoration emblematic of Fornasetti’s distinctive style, which blends whimsy, precision, and classical motifs.

The tray has an oval shape with a shallow rim and a black lacquered background. At its center is a detailed printed motif depicting a bowl filled with cherries, rendered in an engraving-like manner. The cherries are shaded in red and white tones with subtle hatching to convey volume and shadow, complemented by green leaves and stems. The bowl is illustrated in ochre with crosshatched black detailing, referencing traditional engraving techniques. The reverse side carries the original Fornasetti label, printed with handling instructions and marked “Fornasetti Milano, Made in Italy.”

The tray is in good condition, showing signs of wear consistent with age and use, including light surface scratches, minor edge chips, and scattered marks on the lacquered surface. The printed decoration remains intact with good color contrast.

Piero Fornasetti (1913–1988) was a Milanese artist, designer, and printer whose work spanned furniture, interiors, ceramics, and decorative objects. His studio became renowned for applying surreal and neoclassical imagery to everyday items, often using screen printing combined with hand-finishing. In the 1950s, Fornasetti’s trays became iconic within mid-century Italian decorative arts, merging functional design with theatrical graphic expression.

This tray exemplifies Fornasetti’s talent for integrating fine art aesthetics with industrial techniques, elevating a utilitarian object into a collectible piece. Its botanical subject and stylized engraving effect reflect the designer’s enduring fascination with natural history illustration and trompe-l’œil.

Dimensions measure 45.5 cm in width, 34.5 cm in depth, and 4 cm in height, approximately 17.9 x 13.6 x 1.6 inches.