Piero Fornasetti Complete Set of Eight Ceramic Coasters, Il Mondo Alla Rovecia Pattern, (“The Topsy-Turvy World”)

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Satirical Scenes: Fornasetti's Il Mondo Alla Rovecia Coasters
(c. 1950s–1960s)

This is a complete, whimsical set of eight ceramic coasters … Read more Satirical Scenes: Fornasetti's Il Mondo Alla Rovecia Coasters
(c. 1950s–1960s)

This is a complete, whimsical set of eight ceramic coasters by Piero Fornasetti, featuring the rarely seen “Il Mondo Alla Rovecia” (The Topsy-Turvy World) pattern. Produced between the 1950s and 1960s, these coasters capture different scenes from the 18th-century opera of the same name by Antonio Salieri.

The pattern’s conceit directly reflects the opera’s plot: a satirical comedy set on a mythical island where the roles of men and women are reversed. On this island, women rule in Amazonian fashion, and men are relegated to subservient roles. Each coaster presents a hand-colored, transfer-printed scene of this role-reversal, accompanied by text detailing the reversed action.

Known for his witty adaptation of historical and literary motifs, Fornasetti transforms the opera's mildly risqué and amusing social commentary into a set of collectible barware. The complete collection is numbered 1 through 8, capturing the full narrative cycle.

Dimensions: 4 1/8 inches diameter x 1 1/8 inches high (10.48 cm diameter)

Medium: Transfer-printed, hand-colored ceramic pottery

Markings: Each coaster is marked on the underside:
FORNASETTI MILANO MADE IN ITALY/ The title IL MONDO ALLA ROVESCIA/ An upside-down boot graphic.
Each dish is numbered 1–8.

Historical Context: Salieri's Opera

The source material, Antonio Salieri’s Il mondo alla rovescia (The Topsy-Turvy World), premiered in Vienna in January 1795. Though it quickly faded into obscurity for over two centuries, the opera exemplifies the opera buffa style of its time, using satire to comment on social mores and gender roles.

Fornasetti's decision to resurrect this obscure opera is typical of his approach to design. By drawing from neglected, witty, or obscure classical sources and reinterpreting them with modern graphic clarity and a surrealist edge, he creates objects that are both visually appealing and intellectually engaging. This coaster set is a fascinating intersection of 18th-century opera, 20th-century Italian design, and enduring social satire.

Note: Antonio Salieri is perhaps most famously known today through his fictionalized portrayal by F. Murray Abraham in the 1984 film, Amadeus.

(Ref: NY10175-nau) See less