Please complete the form to email this item.

Cabinet

Cabinet

  • Place of origin:

    Milan, Italy (made)

  • Date:

    1951 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Ponti, Gio, born 1891 - died 1979 (designer)
    Fornasetti, Piero, born 1913 - died 1988 (artist)
    I Fratelli Radici (maker)

  • Museum number:

    W.21&:2, 3-1983

  • Gallery location:

    National Art Library, room 76, case 1

  • Image in copyright

In Italy this type of cabinet was known as a trumó or trumeau. Its origins can be traced back to the 1700s. Piero Fornasetti's unique style of decoration has transformed Gio Ponti's modern version into a striking piece of furniture. The technique used to make it was unusual. Lithographs were created for each section, printed on to transfer sheets, and then applied to fibreboard panels. These were fitted to the cabinet and varnished. Fornasetti's trompe-l'oeil schemes were inspired by 16th century Italian Mannerist art as well as by 20th century Surrealism. (Trompe-l'oeil is a French term meaning 'trick of the eye'.) They were based on his knowledge of printed books and engravings, rather than the observation of real buildings.

Place of Origin

Milan, Italy (made)

Date

1951 (made)

Artist/maker

Ponti, Gio, born 1891 - died 1979 (designer)
Fornasetti, Piero, born 1913 - died 1988 (artist)
I Fratelli Radici (maker)

Dimensions

[Cabinet] Height: 2230 mm, Width: 797 mm, Depth: 400 mm

Historical context note

Exhibited at the 9th Triennale, Milan, 1951.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Wilk, Christopher, ed. . Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 230p., ill. ISBN 085667463X.

Exhibition History

Gio Ponti (Design Museum 03/05/2002-06/10/2002)

Labels and date

SECRETAIRE

Designed by Gio Ponti (Italian 1891-1979)
Decorated by Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988)
Screen-printed wood-fibre board (masonite) on laminated and solid wood, varnished
1949

Fornasetti was secretive about his decorative techniques, in an attempt to thwart imitators. He created lithographs of his designs, which were printed onto transfer sheets and then applied to each section of the furniture. Colour was added later, as was a varnish, which has yellowed with age on this example.

W.21-1983

Materials

Wood; Fibre-board

Techniques

Varnishing

Subjects depicted

Architecture

Categories

Furniture

Collection code

FWK

Qr_O70984
Ajax-loader