Piero Fornasetti tray

This tray was designed by Piero Fornasetti and produced in Italy during the 1950s. Made from lacquered metal, it showcases the bold graphic style and thematic eclecticism that define Fornasetti’s mid-century work.

The tray has an oval shape with a raised rim and is finished in deep red lacquer. Its central motif is an arrangement of ornamental keys rendered in black and gold tones with fine illustrative detail. The keys vary in scale and style, drawing on historical European designs, including baroque and neoclassical influences. The reverse bears the original printed Fornasetti studio stamp, featuring the hand and brush logo alongside the text “Fornasetti Milano Made in Italy”.

The tray shows visible signs of use and wear, including paint loss, scuffing, and surface abrasions, especially around the edges and on the reverse. Despite this, the printed imagery remains well-preserved and legible.

Piero Fornasetti (1913–1988), a Milanese artist and designer, is renowned for blending surrealism, classicism, and visual wit. His trays are among the most recognizable products of his studio, transforming functional domestic objects into decorated surfaces rich with narrative and artistic expression. The design draws on motifs from antiquity, architecture, and collecting culture, using keys here as a decorative and symbolic theme.

The lithographic transfer printing on metal combined with a protective lacquer finish was a hallmark manufacturing method of the Fornasetti studio in this era. Each tray reflects a blend of artisanal finishing and industrial production, resulting in visually distinctive and collectible pieces.

Dimensions measure 50 cm wide, 38.5 cm deep, and 3.5 cm high, approximately 19.7 x 15.2 x 1.4 inches.