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Piero Fornasetti

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Tema e Variazioni No. 224

Documentation

Signed

Origin

Italy

Period

1950-1979

Materials

porcelain

Dimensions

Diam.	10.25 in;
Diam.	26.04 cm;

Condition

Good.

Description

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Tema e Variazioni No. 224,
1970s-1980s
(Ref: NY9551-nkk)

The Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate depicts the face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalieri depicted in a series of overlapping circles. This is one of the most unusual of Fornasetti Themes & Variation Series.

Dimensions: Diameter 10 1/4 inches x 1 inch high

Reference:
(http://www.fornasetti.com/en/story/temavariazioni/)

The image that inspired Fornasetti to coin the title 'Tema e Variazioni', is the enigmatic face of a woman: the opera singer Lina Cavalieri.

He found that now iconic face as he leafed through a 19th century French magazine and became fascinated. Taking her as much as a muse and as a motif, he would return to Lina Cavalieri's face again and again throughout his career. The archetypal classic female features and enigmatic expression of Lina Cavalieri became Fornasetti's most frequently used template and upon which he based more than 350 variations.

Lina Cavalieri's face, explained Piero Fornasetti, was another archetype - a quintessentially beautiful and classic image, like a Greek statue, enigmatic like the 'Gioconda' and therefore able to take shape into the idea that was slowly building in his mind. It was this formal, graphic appeal (rather than Lina Cavalieri's celebrity) that demanded such loyalty and inspired the spontaneous and ceaseless creativity of Fornasetti. For him, this face became the ultimate enduring motif. With great modesty all these works were reproduced on a series of everyday objects like the plate. Tema e Variazioni shows its variations playing with one idea.

Styles / Movements

Mid Century, Modern

Patterns

Contemporary/Modern

Dealer Reference Number

NY9551-nkk

Incollect Reference Number

429800