Leading British wallpaper creators Cole & Son and Italian luxury design atelier Fornasetti have presented their latest collection of whimsical wallpapers set to inspire the imagination and animate the world of interiors.
Sharing a passion for creative exploration, artistic design and impeccable craftsmanship the two design doyens now offer their third collaborative collection that was launched earlier in the summer.
Featuring a range of iconic motifs from fantastical flying machines and architectural elements to hidden keys and mischievous monkeys, the capsule collection of 12 timeless designs capture the wit and originality of Fornasetti’s unique artworks in a range of new and much-loved colour palettes inspired by the wonderful world of Fornasetti.
Cole & Son was founded in 1875 by John Perry,Cole & Son was first established in the borough of Islington in North London, an area renowned for its 190 hand block printing businesses at the time.Today, the Cole & Son archive consists of approximately 1,800 block print designs, 350 screen print designs and a huge quantity of original drawings and wallpapers, representing all the styles from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries to modern day. Amongst these are some of the most important historic wallpaper designs in the world. Cole & Son has provided wallpapers for many historic houses including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. Cole & Son continues to produce innovative and beautiful designs; current collections reflect a long and distinguished history as well as a continuing passion for new and exciting wallpapers.
Fornasetti is an Italian luxury design atelier internationally renowned for its decorated furniture and home accessories. Humour, nostalgia, metaphors and allusions define its fully-fledged visual language, dreamlike, colourful and full of irony. Each Fornasetti object is unique and different, a piece of art, entrusted with a character that lies between design and art.Artistic techniques and artisanal production methods give life to outstanding handmade design objects. Founded in Milan in the fifties, the Atelier is currently led by the visionary Barnaba Fornasetti, guardian of the legacy of his father Piero, the Italian artist and designer celebrated as one of the most creative and original talents of the 20th century.
Here are 6 of the wallpapers in the collection that captures the timeless designs and originality of Fornasetti’s unique artworks. Frutto Proibito gloriously combines different archival Fornasetti motifs from the 1940s and 50s. Mischievous monkeys, originally conceptualised for the Milanese patisserie, Dulciora, sit amongst sprawling pomegranate tree branches, taken from a striking fabric print. The playful composition of flora and fauna is quintessentially Fornasetti, mixing lifelike etchings with decadent, bold prints. Deep Ink grounds accentuate Magenta forbidden fruits, whilst Seafoam and Lemon, and Cerulean and Orange offer a bright, sunny alternative.
Fish appear as motifs in some of Piero Fornasetti’s earliest work – such as luxurious silk scarves, trays and decorative porcelain – having been fascinated by the dichotomy of marine life’s simple aspect hiding a fascinating, mysterious nature within the depths of the ‘aquarium’.The whimsical composition and scale of Acquario creates a unique and striking wallcovering, whilst the colour palettes retain a Fornasetti classicism in tones of Viridian, Seafoam, and Soot.
Filled with characterful NewWorld charm,the wondrous fabled ‘flying machines’ of Macchine Voltanti evoke childhood fantasy and adventure. Explore the outer limits of your imagination by getting lost in the enveloping skyscape filled with man, machine and ethereal creatures in palettes of Stone, Rouge and Blue, and Slate Blue and Gilver.
Uccelli, meaning birds, originated as luxurious folding screens depicting vibrantly coloured birds of all species adorning sparse branches. Since translated to a beautifully intricate wallcovering panel design, this delicate motif brings an ornate quality to a stand-alone feature wall or, used in repeat, creates a stunning aviary rich in detail and colour. Cole & Son has updated this arresting study with two new unique colourways, Ballet Slipper pink and Cerulean Sky.
Created from an atmospheric etching of clouds, the subtle line work and delicate detail render Nuvole one of Fornasetti’s most magnificent and beloved designs. With its billowing clouds rolling across a romantic sky, Cole & Son has updated this arresting study with a unique ombré, encompassing the colour and light of an ever-changing sky.
Nuvole al Tramonto is available in two colourways, Dusk and Dawn. Whilst Dawn captures the first bright light of an early morning showing soft sage clouds rise into puffs of mint and duck-egg before diffusing into a hazy blue spring sky; Dusk captures the changeful evening sky where whirls of sunset pink clouds move through muted violet before diffusing into a summery soft blue.
The Procuratie facades of St Mark’s Square in Venice provide a primates’ playground for these mischievous monkeys, wrapped around the classical arches and ornate balustrades. Drawn in a simple intaglio style, the timeless soft palettes of Stone and Powder Blue, and Soot and Snow enhance the intricate line work without detracting from the design’s stunning scene.
