Piero Fornasetti Rosenthal Porcelain Themes and Variations Plate, Motiv Number 19, the Baubo

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Myth and Modernism: Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" Plate, The Baubo (Motiv 19)

This dramatically conceived porcelain plate is one of … Read more Myth and Modernism: Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" Plate, The Baubo (Motiv 19)

This dramatically conceived porcelain plate is one of the most provocative and culturally layered designs from Piero Fornasetti's (1913–1988) iconic Themes & Variations (Tema e Variazioni) series. Produced by the Rosenthal Factory in the 1980s, this specific piece, Motiv Number 19, is known as "The Baubo," and is presented with its Original Black Box.

Design, Mythology, and Subversion

The plate features a stark, gold-rimmed design with a black-and-white print. It depicts a nude female torso where the eternally recognizable face of Fornasetti’s muse, Lina Cavalieri, is placed directly upon the woman's stomach. This surrealist juxtaposition of the beautiful, classic portrait with the female body is a direct reference to the ancient Greek mythological figure of Baubo.

In antiquity, Baubo figures—often found in Greek-connected settings—were characterized by their apotropaic (evil-averting) gesture of explicitly exposing the vulva. Fornasetti’s variation draws specifically from the headless, stylized Baubo figures where the face is placed on the body's torso, with the features of the vulva often forming the chin of the body-face. By reinterpreting this potent, subversive image from classical antiquity, Fornasetti creates a commentary on femininity, sexuality, and the body in modern design.

Historical Context and Provenance

This striking piece is a testament to the 1980s collaboration between the Fornasetti studio and Rosenthal, Germany, a partnership vital for reviving and distributing Piero Fornasetti's designs internationally. The plate’s bold use of figurative art, even post-mortem, challenges the prevailing design aesthetics of the era.

Its notable history is further cemented by its Provenance: The Iris Apfel Collection. Apfel, celebrated for her fearless, maximalist aesthetic, was a fitting collector for a piece that so boldly merges historical mythology with mid-century surrealism.

Dimensions: Diameter: 9 1/4 inches × 1 inch high (23.50cm diameter).

Marking: The reverse is authenticated with the clear black-and-white mark: Rosenthal/Germany over the central Fornasetti hand and paint brush logo, followed by Decor:/Temi e variazioni/ Motiv 19.

Reference Notes

Catalogue Raisonné: The guiding philosophy of Fornasetti's art is detailed in: Mauries, Patrick, Fornasetti: Designer of Dreams (Thames and Hudson, 1991, or similar edition).

Citation: Mauries highlights the designer's relentless creativity: "For Fornasetti, a single product never exhausted the possibilities of an idea. He loved to let his imagination roam, finding more and more layers of meaning and association in the process." (Page 192).

Motif Origin: The entire series is founded on the face of operatic soprano Lina Cavalieri, whom Fornasetti saw as an inexhaustible "archetype" for over 500 graphic variations, many of which explore themes of transformation and subversion.

Mythological Subtext: The design directly references the figure of Baubo from Greek antiquity (for extensive discussion, see: bust.com/arts/196838-baubo-ancient-vagina-goddess.html), showcasing Fornasetti's deep knowledge of, and playful approach to, classical iconography.

Provenance: This plate was part of The Iris Apfel Collection, adding significant prestige.

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Dimensions: Diameter: 9 1/4 inches x 1 inch high (23.50cm diameter).

Mark: in black and white Rosenthal/Germany over the Fornasetti hand and paint brush above Decor:/Temi e variazioni/ Motiv 19.

Piero Fornasetti's most famous work is, without a doubt, his illustrations featuring the face of Lina Cavalieri, an operatic soprano. Fornasetti found her face in a 19th-century magazine, turning the black and white image into an iconic representation of his work. It was known as the "Tema e Variazioni" (theme and variation) plate series.

He said: "What inspired me to create more than 500 variations on the face of a woman? I don't know. I began to make them and I never stopped."

Provenance: The Iris Apfel Collection.

Reference:
Fornasetti: Designer of Dreams, Patrick Mauries, page 192. Mauries writes: For Fornasetti, a single product never exhausted the possibilities of an idea. He loved to let his imagination roam, finding more and more layers of meaning and association in the process. Much of his work, therefore, takes the form of variations on a theme.

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