September 10, 2026

Words: Rebecca Thienes

A Look At Fantini’s Timeless Taps

In 1976, Apple Computer was founded, Charlie’s Angels debuted on TV, and the Corcorde jet offered its first flight. It was also the year an iconic faucet was born. Inspired by Pop Art and Disney’s Goofy and Mickey Mouse characters, designers Paolo Pedrizzetti and Davide Mercatali devised a cross-handle faucet dubbed I Balocchi—Italian for “the playthings.” Giovanni Fantini, cofounder of family-run plumbing brand Fantini, was smitten, and it became the brand’s sole design at the next trade fair. Initially, the tap paired a chrome base with yellow, orange, or red cross handles (or staider white, black, and brown options). A reissued version in 2012 added matte finishes and streamlined the design details. Fifty years on, the collection has three standard colorways—red/chrome, matte black, and matte white—and can be specified in custom RAL hues. Today, with second-generation CEO Daniela Fantini at the helm, a portion of I Balocchi’s proceeds fund the 100 Fontane: Fantini for Africa initiative helping to provide clean water to Burundi. fantini.it

OBJECTS of design 50 years: Fantini

  • A woman in a dark suit stands with arms crossed in front of a wall with a red shape and white decorative elements.
    Daniela Fantini.
  • Twelve X-shaped objects in various colors, each with a circular black label in the center, arranged in four rows on a white background.
  • A red faucet with matching hot and cold knobs on a white surface. The handles and spout have a glossy finish with chrome bases.
    I Balocchi.
  • A grid of ten cross-shaped bathroom faucet handles in various colors, each with a black center labeled “HOT WATER.”.
  • A surreal scene with a large blue faucet pouring water into a landscape of peaches, flowers, dollhouses, teacups, glasses, and watches. Text reads “I BALOCCHI” and “FANTINI.”.
  • A yellow faucet with two matching yellow, flower-shaped handles is set against a solid green background.

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