One of the most copied home accessories, the Fornasetti plates are everywhere. Now you don’t have to travel to Italy to get the real thing.
They’re whimsical, surrealist, playful and hand drawn. The Fornasetti plates are much more than just tableware; they’re works of art designed to add a touch of fun and sophistication to any space. Did we mention surrealist? Because many of the plate designs are quite strange and provoke thought.
Recently launched in Manila by Philippine distributor Opulence Design Concept—which also distributes Versace Home, Misuraemme, Stosa Cucine, Swarovski by Rosenthal among other Italian brands—the Fornasetti collection was created by the Italian designer and artist Piero Fornasetti.
Piero Fornasetti was born in Milan, the eldest son of a wealthy family His father traded in typewriters and Piero spent his childhood in the Città Studi district. At 10, he already showed signs of a strong artistic disposition. He enrolled at the Brera Academy to study drawing but was expelled because he rejected the school’s teaching methods.
Fornasetti opened his own atelier in 1940 and started to print art books by the major artists of the time, including De Chirico, Campigli, and Savino. During World War II, he moved to Switzerland where he worked as a designer for a textile company.
After the war, he went back to Milan and in the 1950s he gained renown for his interior design of the Hotel Duomo and the Casino of San Remo. He also exhibited his works in New York.
Fornasetti’s plates have captivated design enthusiasts worldwide, but who is the lady that’s on the plates and other ceramics? It’s Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri, an operatic soprano, actress and monologist who was famous during the Belle Epoque. It’s said that Fornasetti made her his muse after seeing a portrait of Cavalieri when he was browsing an old French magazine.
Now the Fornasetti brand is available in Manila and Opulence Design Concept recently embarked on a collaboration with Fornasetti and Heart Evangelista.
Heart visited Casa Fornasetti in Milan, a grand house museum built in the late 19th century by Piero Fornasetti’s father in Milan’s Città Studi neighborhood. The casa was a sanctuary for Piero’s creativity and artistic mind as he was surrounded by a lush garden and objects that people desired
Today, Fornasetti is managed by Piero’s son, Barnaba Fornasetti, who not only has expanded the brand, but also the grand house museum, which has an archive of 13,000 objects that include ceramics, wall coverings, upholstery fabric and carpets.
The collaboration with Heart Evangelista marks the first time the Fornasetti brand has entered into an international partnership with a celebrity and allowed a shoot to take place at the grand house museum of the Fornasetti family.
In the teaser video released by Opulence, Heart Evangelista strolls through the elegant Casa Fornasetti, offering a sneak peek into the enchanting courtyard garden, the casa’s living room, the staircase adorned with the Gerusalemme wallpaper, and her interaction with the iconic Fornasetti porcelain pieces.
Heart wrote on Instagram that Casa Fornasetti is “a magical place where imagination meets design. Opulence [Design Concept] gave me the opportunity to visit the heart of the Fornasetti archive and immerse myself in an alluring world full of art and decor. My journey with Opulence and Fornasetti has just started. Stay tuned for more details soon…”
Fornasetti, Opulence and Heart Evangelista are currently collaborating on a new project for the upcoming holiday season. “This collaboration is a big feat for Opulence Design Concept and we are truly honored to be granted this amazing opportunity, especially bringing together a highly luxurious brand and the one and only Heart Evangelista,” said Gerry Sy, Owner of Opulence Design Concept. “We will remain steadfast in our commitment to bring the best of Italian design to the Philippines,” he further added.
Check out all their collections and more at the Opulence Design Concept store at the 3rd level of The Podium, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center or visit their website.
