Surrealist Sophistication: Fornasetti "Jeweled Hand" Trinket Tray

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Surrealist Sophistication: Fornasetti "Jeweled Hand" Trinket Tray
20th Century

This charming vintage rectangular ceramic dish is a classic work designed … Read more Surrealist Sophistication: Fornasetti "Jeweled Hand" Trinket Tray
20th Century

This charming vintage rectangular ceramic dish is a classic work designed by the prolific Italian designer Piero Fornasetti. Set against a crisp white ground, the tray features a finely detailed lithographic transfer of a lady's right hand, opulently adorned with an array of "exotic" jewelry in vibrant colors.

The hand is decorated with multiple rings, including a striking coiled gold snake ring, a large blue sapphire-style cabochon, and various bands set with turquoise and emerald-colored stones. The wrist is finished with a matching gold bracelet set with deep blue and green gems. The graphic style utilizes Fornasetti’s signature fine-line engraving aesthetic, blending 19th-century illustration techniques with modern whimsy.

Measurements:
Length: 6.1 inches (15.5 cm)
Width: 4.1 inches (10.4 cm)

Literature & Reference:

For a similar example of this tray and other "hand" motifs, see Fornasetti: The Complete Universe, Barnaba Fornasetti, page 570, illustration #47.

Historical Context: The Fornasetti Hand

Piero Fornasetti (1913–1988) was fascinated by the concept of "theme and variations." While he is most famous for the face of soprano Lina Cavalieri, the human hand was one of his most recurring and beloved motifs.

Fornasetti drew inspiration from old medical engravings, palmistry charts, and Renaissance sketches. By adding modern, colorful jewelry to these "classical" hands, he created a bridge between the antique and the surreal. These small trays, or posacenere (ashtrays/trinket dishes), were produced in variations during the 1950s and 60s. They were intended to bring a "touch of madness" to the everyday household, transforming a simple utilitarian object into a conversation piece that challenged the starkness of mid-century functionalism.

(Ref: NY11091-ini) See less