Designer: Piero Fornasetti (1913 – 1988)

Item: Strumenti Musicali Antichi (Antique Musical Instruments) Wooden Box

Manufactured by: Piero Fornasetti

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: Circa 1960

Materials: Mahogany wood, silkscreen printed images, paint, brass

Dimensions: 2” x 7” x 7” (the box without the brass pull is 1 ½” high)

Condition: Excellent vintage condition.

References: Fornasetti, Barnaba, Fornasetti: The Complete Universe, Rizzoli (2010), page 498.

Description: Here is an extremely hard-to-find vintage Fornasetti wooden lidded box with his famous musical instruments motif.  What’s most interesting about this box is that the lid is printed on both sides with different motifs. The top with the brass knob is the musical instrument motif, and the bottom is a classical motif of a Roman vase and other decorative elements. Each also has a different colored ground (see photos).  We have only ever seen one other example of this box come to market from a seller in Italy asking $2,500.  We have seen one other similarly constructed example with a different motif referred to as Vaso E Tromba.  Inside the box there is a divider that appears to be the measurements to hold playing cards on one side and perhaps chips or other card-playing accessories on the other.  This box retains its vintage gold foil Fornasetti label on the bottom, as well as the Palazzo retailer foil label in Italy, where it was likely purchased.