Italian artist and designer Piero Fornasetti will forever be remembered for his vast output of highly collectible art pieces, all of which seamlessly blend function and flair.

The Trumeau Fun Fan cabinet

The Trumeau Fun Fan cabinet

Italy has certainly produced more than its fair share of renowned artists and designers, but Piero Fornasetti assuredly stands out as one of the most prolific of the bunch. He created well over 11,000 art objects in his lifetime, all of which bear the mark of his distinctive, highly original style – a contemporary blend of fantasy, poetic humour, and timeless beauty.

Born in Milan in 1913, Piero was the eldest son from a well-heeled, middle-class family. By the age of 10 his interest and ability in art was already apparent, and he spent much of his free time drawing landscapes and portraits, and sketching out fanciful architectural designs. When he began painting, his inspirations came from Renaissance-era masters such as Piero della Francesca and Giotto, as well as the classical frescoes of antiquity, most notably the ones found in the ancient ruins of Pompeii.

Wall plates from the Tema e Variazioni series