Sold

The BADA Standard

  • Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
  • Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
  • Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
  • Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
  • Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
Click here for more information on the BADA Standard

Piero Fornasetti.

Rosenthal Themes and Variations Plate, Motiv 15.

1980s.

Porcelain.

The striking Rosenthal Fornasetti gold rimmed black and white porcelain plate is printed with the face of Lina Cavalieri, her hands held up to her face.

During the 1980s Rosenthal helped revive Fornasetti's reputation by applying some of his most enduring illustrations on their products.

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

The image that inspired Piero to coin the title 'Tema e Variazioni', is the enigmatic face of 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 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. One upon which he based more than 350 variations.

Lina Cavalieri's face, explained Piero, was another archetype. A quintessentially classic and beautiful image, like a Greek statue. Eigmatic 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 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.

Dimensions

9 1/4 inch diameter




Stock number

NY09548

The BADA Standard

  • Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
  • Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
  • Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
  • Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
  • Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
Click here for more information on the BADA Standard