Early Set of Piero Fornasetti Themes and Variations Coasters with Original Gold Box, "Tema E Variazioni", 1960s

Early Set of eight Piero Fornasetti Themes and Variations Coasters with Original Gold Box,
"Tema E Variazioni".

1960s.

The complete set of eight Piero Fornasetti coasters is painted in the Themes & Variation pattern.  While common on plates, this pattern is rare to find on coasters, particularly the early examples like these rather than those produced by Barnaba Fornasetti.

Each plate is different with a variation on the Themes & Variation patterns which depict the face of Lina Cavalieri, a famous opera singer of the late 19th century whose face became Piero Fornasetti's Muse.

Dimensions: 4 1/8 inches diameter x 1/4 inch high.  Box: 4 1/4 inches diameter x 2 1/2 inches.

Mark: In black a printed eye and below the pattern name, TEMA E/Variazioni with below that the hand and brush with FORNASETTI. MILANO/ MADE IN ITALY.  Each is hand numbered. Each plate is different but the painter numbered #4 as # 3.

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.

(Ref: NY10102-urr)

Dimensions

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report

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