Piero Fornasetti 1913-1988.

The Italian artist and illustrator Piero Fornasetti was one of the wittiest and most imaginative design talents of the 20th century. He crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal vocabulary of images that included birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and — most frequently, and in some 500 variations — an enigmatic woman’s face based on that of the 19th-century opera singer Lina Cavalieri. Fornasetti used transfer prints of these images, rendered in the style of engravings, to decorate an endless variety of furnishings and housewares that ranged from chairs, tables and desks to dishes, lamps and umbrella stands. His work is archly clever, often surreal and always fun.

A rare collection of beautifully decorated ceramic storage jars by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1960. Depicting five different designs – Pepper, Cinnamon, Garlic, Nutmeg and Ginger, these vintage jars were produced using decorative transfers that were hand-coloured and then glazed. 

The jars represented a leading production item during the 1960s, inspired by old pharmacy jars, and were produced in six sizes from 30cm high for the largest jar to 11 cm high for the smallest.

Genuine makers mark on the base.

Measures 12 cm high x 8 cm diameter. 

Condition: Excellent, pattern good – just a small scratch to one lid as shown.