When you think of iconic home decor, nothing captures the imagination quite like Fornasetti plates. Adorning the walls of homes, restaurants, and galleries around the world, these plates are more than beautiful decorative pieces, they are works of art that have withstood the test of time. Perhaps the most constant presence across the brand’s range of pieces is the enigmatic woman whose face graces many of Fornasetti’s most iconic designs. But who is she, and what’s the story behind her?
The Mystery of the Muse
Fornasetti is a name synonymous with whimsical elegance, and the visionary behind the brand Piero Fornasetti, was a master of melding surrealism with Italian craftsmanship. Founded in the 1950s, the Fornasetti label quickly rose to fame for its avant-garde approach to home decor, producing everything from furniture to ceramics, textiles, and of course the iconic decorative plates.
But the real magic behind Fornasetti’s allure lies in the recurring face of the woman on many of their pieces, from plates, cushions, to tea sets. The woman’s face, often serene, sometimes mysterious, and always captivating, became a symbol of Fornasetti’s unique aesthetic. This face, which seems to stare directly at you from the plate, invites intrigue and conversations, So who is she exactly?
Lina Cavalieri, the Face of Fornasetti
The woman whose face is responsible for making the Fornasetti plates an iconic piece to this day is none other than Lina Cavalieri, an Italian opera singer and actress who was one of the most celebrated beauties of the early 20th century. Fornasetti first encountered her image in a photograph from a 1910 magazine. He was immediately captivated by her striking beauty and dramatic gaze. Her face, he believed, could embody the very sense of both mystery and elegance, the perfect muse for his work.
Born in 1874, Cavalieri was a celebrated soprano who performed on some of Europe’s grandest stagest. On top of her talent, she was also known for her exceptional beauty, and she became a prominent subject in art, photography, and even literature. But it wasn’t just her physical appearance that intrigues Fornasetti, it was the idea of her face representing something timeless and universal.
Piero Fornasetti’s interest in Cavalieri’s likeness was more than a mere admiration of beauty; it was an exploration of how an image can become imbued with meaning and history. For Fornasetti, having Cavalieri’s face on his plates symbolized femininity, allure, and an almost dream-like quality that sparks a mix of emotions. Her image was transformed, altered, and altogether reimagined across a wide range of designs, making a permanent fixture in Fornasetti’s visual lexicon.
The Diversity in Fornasetti Plates
Fornasetti’s take on Lina Cavalieri’s face is anything but static. Rather than simply reproducing the photograph he saw, Fornasetti played around with it, stretching it, warping it, and placing it in a variety of different contexts. The face appears in multiple forms, sometimes cam and serene, other times fragmented or with surreal elements added, such as butterfly wings, birds, an hourglass. In this sense, Fornasetti’s use of her face was an experiment in both the art of portraiture and the art of reimagining. Each new plate was a different chapter in the story of Cavalieri’s face.
This surreal approach to design was a defining feature of Fornasettis’s aesthetic. He was known for his ability to take something as familiar as a face and transform it into a symbol of something deeper, something that resonated with themes of beauty, mystery, and even melancholy. Every Fornasetti plate tells a story, and the woman on it serves as a silent protagonist who invites the viewer into her enigmatic world.
Pieces of History, Statements of Style
The allure of the Fornasetti plates lies in their ability to transcend the definition of mere decoration. These plates are not just good as displays, they’re also conversation starters, pieces of history, and statements of style. Whether hung on the wall, placed on a shelf, or sitting arranged on a table, a Fornasetti plate brings a unique sense of elegance into any room. However, beyond their artistic value, Fornasetti plates carry a deep cultural significance. Each plate represents a moment in design history, a tribute to the beauty of Lina Cavalieri and the genius of Piero Fornasetti. Owning a Fornasetti plate isn’t just about owning a piece of home decor, it’s about connection to a story, an idea, and to an era in art history.
More than half a century after they first entered the design scene, Fornasetti plates remain iconic. Offering a glimpse into the artist’s imagination, showcasing a timeless balance between form and function. And of course, there’s the woman who continues to mesmerize, her face immortalized across the design world, forever gracing the plates that have come to define the Fornasetti legacy. More than a figure frozen in time, Lina Cavalieri is a testament to the lasting power of art, beauty, and imagination. Her face is both a symbol of the past and a timeless invitation to dream.
