Image credit: Unica Home

If there were one collection I certainly don’t think I could ever overdose on, it’s Fornasetti‘s ubiquitous Themes and Variations. I don’t know what it is about that enigmatic minx that I find so beguiling, but every pose Piero Fornasetti had her strike is simply ingenious. One minute she’s daintily sipping a cup of tea, and the next she is sassily sticking her tongue out at you. My particular favorite is no. 84, where she looks suspiciously to her right, covered in a bejeweled voile. I like to imagine her a spy in Egypt, tip toeing around Cairo and up to various political intrigues! I was lucky enough to receive this fantastic wall plate for Christmas from my boyfriend, and I assured him that this was only the first of many I plan on amassing. Hint hint…!

Fornasetti’s muse, Lina Cavalieri, was an operatic soprano known for her beauty as much as her talent. Fornasetti found her picture in a 19th century magazine and was clearly besotted, and over 350 variations later, we are lucky to have a veritable wellspring of Ms. Lina in every possible scenario. When my friend who works in store design at Barneys New York extended the invitation to attend a presentation of limited edition vases hosted by Piero Fornasetti’s son, Barnaba, I was obviously there.

Image credit: Barneys New York

While Piero Fornasetti was quick to assert that he did not consider himself a surrealist artist, his dream-like, up is down and down is up creations may lead you to believe otherwise. For me, to look at a Fornasetti is to feel the ground shift slightly underneath me, lose my bearings, and fall down a certain rabbit hole of perplexing delight. A devoted following leads me to believe many feel the same way.

This collection of vases, brought to life from an old chalk mold Barnaba discovered in a cellar and recreated by Bitossi Ceramiche, will be on display at Barneys through June 27th.