The Isidoro trunk by Poltrona Frau x Fornasetti

The Isidoro trunk, which serves as an exquisite drinks cabinet and was originally designed by Jean-Marie Massaud in 2007, exemplifies the top-end craftsmanship and Italian creativity inherent in both Poltrona Frau and Fornasetti: the elegant finishes are in Walnut-stained wood, while the interior and exterior components are covered in precious Pelle Frau ColorSphere Impact Less leather printed with UItime Notizie decorative motive, one of the most iconic patterns in the Fornasetti archive. Created in 1950 by Piero Fornasetti as a print design for a silk fabric, in 2003 UItime Notizie was reissued and modified by his son Barnaba for the kitchen furnishings in Casa Fornasetti, the historic family residence in Milan. A kaleidoscope of butterflies flutters over a backdrop of multilingual news clippings. The observer is invited to visualise actively and imaginatively: the leather resembles paper and, originally, this paper was designed to be printed on a fabric. The message concealed in this decoration, engraved on the 1919 tray and on the plaque applied to the Isidoro trunk-bar, is perfectly summed up by Barnaba Fornasetti: “Don’t dwell on the news, because the news is fleeting.” With shelves, drawers and bottle racks, the Isidoro drinks cabinet stands 117cm (46 inches) high and tastefully mixes aesthetics and functionality, re-editing itself into a furnishing item with a vibrant visual impact and a newfound modernity.