Piero Fornasetti

Piero Fornasetti (1913–1988) was an influential Italian designer, artist, and decorator, best known for his imaginative, whimsical, and often surreal designs that blend art and functionality. He is particularly famous for his work in the fields of furniture, ceramics, and home décor. Fornasetti's creations often combined a playful sense of irony with traditional craftsmanship, merging fine art with commercial design.

One of his most iconic motifs is the face of La Donna con la Pipa (The Woman with the Pipe), a repeated image of a woman’s face that appears on many of his designs, particularly his porcelain plates. This image is based on the actress Lina Cavalieri, whose portrait Fornasetti found in an old magazine. He used it throughout his career as a symbol of beauty, mystery, and transformation.

Fornasetti's work was deeply rooted in the aesthetic tradition of Italian design but also had a modernist edge. He was a master of trompe-l'œil (illusionistic art), and his designs often incorporated elements of surrealism and fantasy. He founded his own studio in Milan in the late 1940s, which became famous for its eclectic and often eccentric designs.