Fornasetti presents in London three more pieces of the Cilindro collection

In the start of the Fifties, Piero Fornasetti, described by Pablo Neruda as “the magician of precious and precise magic” and later widely acknowledged as one of the most original and creative talents of the twentieth century, while out riding, he finds himself at an electrical sub-station. He notices some tubes made of masonite, a material used as an insulating coat for certain components. Struck by the cylindrical form of these tubes, Piero goes in search of the industry that manufactures them by the metre, and decides to use them in his small-scale handmade production of furniture and accessories. The largest tubes, he reasons, are perfect for making columns, the medium-sized ones for umbrella stands and paper baskets, while the smallest are ideal for lamp bases. No material holds any secrets for him and masonite is a good base for varnishing and other forms of decoration, being capable of withstanding changes in temperature without cracking. The shape underlying the cylinder is the circle, a symbol of perfection, enclosing and protecting within its embrace a world of precious objects and little secrets.

Later, in the mid Fifties, Piero opts for the more durable welded, calendered sheet metal, still used today for the umbrella stands and paper baskets reissued by his son Barnaba, the director and artistic heart of the company, who safeguards his paternal heritage with re-releases of the most iconic pieces.

The new container Cilindro, presented during the 2017 Design Week is a “re-invention”, in the handcrafted tradition that distinguishes the Fornasetti Atelier, is an original creation designed by him using ornaments and motifs taken from his father’s boundless archive. Its cylindrical outline is a true all-rounder, playing host to a multitude of different decorations. Its extremely clean, simple lines reflect the importance of the quality of both concept and functionality, essentials for Barnaba Fornasetti, who has been breathing new life into the Atelier’s themes and objects since the Eighties.

Produced in three different versions, Cilindro – made of wood, printed, laquered and painted by hand, and available as limited editions – can be placed in any room in the home, acting as a small table/storage unit a space for holding objects or a display case.