Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Sezioni Di Frutta Dinner Plate, Number 6

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Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Dinner Plate, 'Sezioni Di Frutta' (Apple), Number 6

This charming and sophisticated porcelain dinner plate by Piero … Read more Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Dinner Plate, 'Sezioni Di Frutta' (Apple), Number 6

This charming and sophisticated porcelain dinner plate by Piero Fornasetti (1913–1988), dating from the 1960s, is a prime example of the artist's signature trompe l'oeil wit and elegant graphic style.

The plate is part of the iconic 'Sezioni Di Frutta' (Fruit Sections) series. It features a stunning, scientifically accurate, and yet surreal rendering of the cross-section of an apple , centered against the bright white porcelain ground. The detailed engraving-style depiction—with its fine lines, subtle shading, and touches of ochre and deep magenta—plays on the viewer's perception, transforming the dinner plate into a curious object of study.

The whimsy, intellectual rigor, and graphic impact of the design are typical of Fornasetti's distinctive mid-century modern aesthetic. The underside features the characteristic Fornasetti Milano hand and brush mark, along with the series title and the number 6, denoting the specific design within the collection.

Dimensions: 9 1/2 inches diameter x 1 inch high.
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Historical Context: Piero Fornasetti and Mid-Century Trompe L'oeil

Piero Fornasetti was one of the most prolific and influential Italian designers of the 20th century, working primarily in Milan. His work, which spans painting, sculpture, and decorative arts, is defined by his commitment to fantasy, irony, and repetition.

The Sezioni Di Frutta Series: Produced in the 1960s, this series is typical of Fornasetti's method, which involved taking a mundane or natural object and presenting it in a detailed, often hyper-realistic, graphic manner. By depicting the inner anatomy of fruit—the seeds, core, and flesh—Fornasetti imbues a common dinner plate with an unexpected sense of scientific inquiry and surreal beauty. This exploration of trompe l'oeil (deceive the eye) and graphic precision allowed him to bridge the gap between fine art and functional design.

The plates were often produced in collaboration with the high-quality German porcelain manufacturer Arzberg (whose mark sometimes appears, as it does here, alongside the Fornasetti mark). Fornasetti's ceramics represent a unique contribution to the Mid-Century Modern movement, injecting a theatrical, almost dreamlike quality into domestic objects.

(Ref: NY10145-nam) See less