WIDN blog

Milanese Fornasetti was a painter, sculptor, interior decorator and engraver of art books. He was also creator of more than 11,000 items, a deviser of sceneries and customs, an organizer of international exhibitions and events. He is most famed for creating more than 350 pieces based on the face of operatic soprano Lina Cavalieri.

Riflesso by Fornasetti

The designs form part of the ‘Classix II’ collection which consists of hand screen printed, digitally printed and hand flocked wallpapers based on the work of the Italian artist. The designs are printed to order and therefore can be custom coloured.

Ionica by Fornasetti

Other designs in the collection include The Queen’s Robing Room by A.W.N. Pugin, a pattern that has been used widely in the Houses of Parliament and of course in the Queen’s Robing Room.

The Queen's Robing Room

Indian is a design from the Coles archive attributed to William Morris and shown in red copper and purple or black, purple and gold.It also includes Phoenix, the historic emblem of Queen Elizabeth I. The 1950s design by Mary Oliver shows the mythical bird as resplendent in colour fades and plumage of ochre, flame and silver on putty ground; or crimson, yellow and violet on silver foil.

Phoenix

The collection also features numerous other designs which have been inspired by Fornasetti. Images from the Cole and Son archive - which contains 1,800 block print designs, 350 screenprint designs and a huge quantity of original drawings and wallpapers - also feature in the new range. The vast archive represents an array of styles from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. In the past the company has provided wallpapers for Buckingham Palace and The White House, as well as creating many well known displays including window dressings for Harrods.