Fornasetti Porcelain Themes & Variation Plate, Pattern Number 82

Details

Description

The Impudent Muse": Fornasetti "Themes & Variations" Plate #82
Circa 2000

A playful and irreverent porcelain wall plate from the … Read more The Impudent Muse": Fornasetti "Themes & Variations" Plate #82
Circa 2000

A playful and irreverent porcelain wall plate from the celebrated "Themes & Variations" (Tema e Variazioni) series by Atelier Fornasetti.

This humorous variation, identified as Number 82 in the series, breaks the typically serene demeanor of Piero Fornasetti’s muse, Lina Cavalieri. The design depicts her face in full frontal view, but in a moment of childish rebellion, she is shown sticking her tongue out directly at the viewer. The graphic black and white transfer print captures the texture of the tongue and the subtle shading of her expression with remarkable detail. By disrupting her classic beauty with a gesture of mockery or teasing, Fornasetti injects a sense of spontaneity and modern attitude into the 19th-century portrait.

Markings:

Reverse: Bears the standard Fornasetti mark (eye, hand, and brush logo) inscribed Tema e Variazioni / Fornasetti Milano / Made in Italy.

Number: Printed 82 (referencing the specific variation).
Two holes pierced on the foot rim for hanging.

Condition: Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or surface wear to the transfer print.

Measurements:
Diameter: 10 1/4 inches (26.0 cm)
Height: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Historical Context:

Fornasetti delighted in subverting the "perfect" image of Cavalieri. Variation #82 is a classic example of his wit, transforming an icon of operatic elegance into a figure of playfulness. It reminds the viewer not to take art—or beauty—too seriously.

The "Themes & Variations" Series:

The "Themes & Variations" (Tema e Variazioni) series is arguably Piero Fornasetti’s most famous and enduring artistic legacy. The series began in 1952 after Fornasetti stumbled upon the face of Lina Cavalieri, a 19th-century operatic soprano and celebrated beauty, in an old French magazine. Captivated by her classically perfect, enigmatic features, he adopted her visage as his ultimate muse and archetype. Over the course of his life, he obsessively reimagined her face in more than 350 distinct variations—transforming her into everything from a sun, a thief, and a clock, to surreal objects like the whimsical face seen here. As Fornasetti famously explained, "I began to make them and I never stopped," proving that a single idea could provide endless creative possibilities.

(Ref: NY10986-crn) See less