Heraldic tray table by Piero Fornasetti, 1950s

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Item description

Made in Italy in the 1950s, this extraordinary tray table by Piero Fornasetti represents one of the highlights of his decorative production. Made entirely of silkscreened and painted iron, the work depicts a visual encyclopedia of power and history: a grid of coats of arms of the world's rulers, each meticulously illustrated with vivid colors and subtle nuances, arranged in a regular composition that conveys the idea of a universal catalogue. The heraldic theme, dear to Fornasetti for its dual symbolic and ornamental nature, is reinterpreted here with irony and graphic precision, blending the language of ancient engraving with the modernity of industrial printing. Each coat of arms tells a fragment of identity, a territory, a dynasty: together they construct a global, almost utopian vision, where the cartography of power transforms into total decorative art. The tray, supported by a lightweight folding wooden structure covered in red velvet and enriched with decorative tassels, combines functionality and theatricality, fully embodying the Fornasetti aesthetic that makes each object a poetic microcosm. The patina of the metal surface of time amplifies the charm of a piece that today stands out as a rare and precious testimony to Italian design in the ’50s, halfway between art, craftsmanship and visual culture. A collector's item par excellence, this tray epitomizes Piero Fornasetti's ability to create a universe of encyclopedic curiosities, intellectual irony, and timeless beauty — a celebration of knowledge translated into art form. The wooden base featured a woodworm that was appropriately microwaved in a specialized center with documentation and certification that is attached to the cabinet.

ID: 30303-1762947490-135883