Flights of Fancy: Piero Fornasetti "Mongolfiere" Hot Air Balloon Plates (Set of Six)

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Flights of Fancy: Piero Fornasetti "Mongolfiere" Hot Air Balloon Plates (Set of Six)

This remarkable set of six ceramic plates … Read more Flights of Fancy: Piero Fornasetti "Mongolfiere" Hot Air Balloon Plates (Set of Six)

This remarkable set of six ceramic plates in the "Mongolfiere" (Hot Air Balloon) pattern, dating from the 1970s, is a key illustration of Piero Fornasetti’s (1913–1988) graphic artistry and his obsessive chronicling of historical themes. The collection presents a fascinating visual history of early aviation, blending factual details with the designer's whimsical style.

Design and Chronicle
Each plate features a unique, hand-transfer printed design of a historical hot air balloon, rendered in high-contrast black and white with the precision of an antique engraving. The surrounding text panels act as historical captions, documenting pivotal and often eccentric moments in ballooning's early days. The collection includes:

Number 5: The 1784 Dijon Academy flight, noted for using oars to steer.

Number 6: The 1784 Tuileries Garden flight by Robert & Mullin, detailing their unusual attempt to use parasols for guidance.

Number 8: The dramatic 1797 Equestrian Ascension by Testu-Brissy—a clear example of the showmanship involved in early flight.

Number 10: The harrowing 1786 flight of Testu-Brissy enduring a three-hour tempest.

Number 11: The anachronistic 1951 flight of the acrobat Thevelin on the balloon 'Eagle,' showing the pattern's update into the 20th century.

Number 12: The symbolic, ill-fated 1804 Fire Balloon for Napoleon's Incoronation that soared above Rome and landed in the Lake of Bracciano.

The pattern's name, Mongolfiere, is an Italian reference to the French pioneers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier. By placing these historical and often surreal vignettes on an everyday object, Fornasetti transforms the dinner table into a library of curiosity and adventure.

Historical Context and Production
Produced in the 1970s, this set represents the enduring popularity of Fornasetti's designs during his lifetime and beyond. Unlike some of the later collaborations, these ceramic plates bear the signature mark of the Milanese atelier, confirming their direct lineage to Fornasetti's creative vision. The set is a perfect example of how Fornasetti rejected the strictures of pure functionalism, dedicating his art to "practical madness" and infusing decorative objects with narrative and wit.

Dimensions: 10 1/2 inches diameter × 1 1/2 inches high (26.67cm diameter).

Marking: Each plate is authenticated with the central motif of a hot air balloon containing its series number on the side, surrounded by the text: Mongolfiere/Fornasetti/Milano/Made in Italy. The mark also includes the characteristic Fornasetti hand and brush logo to the right.

Reference Notes
Catalogue Raisonné: Fornasetti: The Complete Universe, Edited by Barnaba Fornasetti (Rizzoli, 2010). Examples from the Mongolfiere set are illustrated on Page 616, #167.

Design & Theme: The collection showcases Fornasetti's consistent themes of historical documentation, technology, and surrealism applied to domestic ceramics.

Dating: The style and marking place the plates within the core production years of the Fornasetti studio, prior to major collaborations with firms like Rosenthal.

(Ref: NY10743-nmrr) See less