Ashtray with Tray and Roman Coin Decoration from the 1950s

Tray ashtray with Roman Coin decoration, created by Piero Fornasetti in the 1950s

Ø 11 cm, height 14 cm

Glazed ceramic tray ashtray with a centered white background and gold decoration depicting a raised Roman coin bearing the face of an emperor. The so-called “tray” ashtray, in its simple configuration—raised or elongated—is the object on which Fornasetti developed the greatest number of variations, creating a total of 592, with production beginning in the early 1950s.

Fornasetti is an Italian luxury design brand founded by Piero Fornasetti in 1940. The brand produces a wide range of products, including furniture, wallpaper, lamps, ceramics, and textiles. These products are all characterized by Fornasetti’s distinctive style, which blends classicism, surrealism, and humor.
Piero Fornasetti was an Italian artist, interior designer, sculptor, and engraver, best known for his extravagant and theatrical designs. His work was inspired by classical Italian art and architecture, as well as the Surrealist movement.