Like a Fellini movie, the ceramics of the famed Italian company Bitossi Ceramiche embody a creative spectrum that ranges from the playful and earthy to the high-minded and provocative. Based in Florence, Bitossi draws on craft traditions that date back to the 1500s. These find expression in Bitossi pottery that includes artisanal vintage vases and animal figures by the firm’s longtime art director Aldo Londi, as well as the colorful, totemic vessels designed by the high priest of postmodernism, Ettore Sottsass.
Bitossi was incorporated by Guido Bitossi in 1921, though the family began making art pottery in the mid-19th century. In the 1930s, Londi came aboard, bringing with him a mindset that respected time-honored craft, yet looked also to the future. On the one hand, Londi’s perspective fostered the making of Bitossi’s popular whimsical cats, owls, horses and other animal figures, hand-shaped and -carved and finished in a rich azure glaze known as “Rimini Blue.”
But with his other hand, Londi reached out to thoughtful, experimental designers such as Sottsass. After hiring Sottsass to design ceramics for his New York imports company, Raymor, American entrepreneur Irving Richards connected the Milanese design polymath to Londi, who introduced Sottsass to ceramics in the 1950s.
During that decade, some 20 years before he founded the Memphis postmodern design collective in Milan, Sottsass used the Bitossi kilns to create timeless works that manifest both primitive forms and modern geometries. In later decades, Bitossi would welcome new generations of designers, which have included such names as Ginevra Bocini and Karim Rashid.
While always looking forward, Bitossi is firm in their belief that mastery of craft is the first step towards beautiful design. As you will see from the works offered on these pages, that is a winning philosophy.
Find a collection of vintage Bitossi decorative objects, lighting and serveware on 1stDibs.
Decorative Vase Blue Ceramic by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy 1970s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful cylindrical decorative vase in glazed blue ceramic attributed to Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Vase cylinder decorated with several bands of organic and geometric impressed patterns. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vase also retains original "The Seahorse...
Ceramic
$936Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.11 in Dm 3.55 in
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic Vase, Mid-Century Modern, Italy 1960
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Barcelona, ES
'Rimini blu' glazed ceramic vase designed by Aldo Londi for by Bitossi. Italy, 1960s. This eye-catching vase is made of blue glazed ceramic with engraved patterns surrounding the cen...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Postmodern Blue and Teal Ceramic Vase in the style of Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s - 1970s. This is a blue and cyan glazed and engraved ceramic vase. It is a vintage item, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered...
Ceramic
1960s Bitossi Blue Ceramic Vase
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1960s Bitossi vase.
Ceramic
$1,412Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.34 in Dm 5.71 in
Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic XL Vase, Italy 1960
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Barcelona, ES
A giant sized handmade Rimini blue ceramic vase designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi. Italy, 1960s. Blue glazed ceramic with engraved patterns adorning the top of the ...
Pottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
Aldo Londi Terracotta Ceramic Rimini Blue Vase for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Argelato, BO
This vase is an iconic example from the "Rimini Blu" series, designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Ceramiche in the 1950s (production continued until the 1970s). Main features: Shape:...
Ceramic
Knabstrup Danish Modern Turquoise Blue Ceramic Vase, Beaded Decoration, 1960s
By Knabstrup
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This is a striking Danish Modern ceramic vase produced by Knabstrup Keramik of Denmark, dating to the 1960s. This elegant cylindrical form is finished in a richly saturated turquoise...
Ceramic
$1,765
H 11.82 in Dm 5.71 in
Midcentury Turquoise Italian Ceramic Vase by Fratelli Fanciullacci, circa 1960
By Fratelli Fanciullacci, Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautifully detailed vase in vibrant turquoise (green / blue) with textured sgraffito shoulder and neck by Fratelli Fanciullacci, Italy, circa 1960s. Wonderful whimsical embossed ani...
Ceramic, Clay
Mid-Century Italian Rimini Blu Pottery Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Aldo Londi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Rimini Blu Pottery Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Mat...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy. Large ceramic vase with azure blue glaze.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Aldo Londi (1911-2003) for Bitossi, Italy. Large ceramic vase with azure blue glaze. Approximately from the 1970s. Marked. In perfect condition. Dimensions: H 31.5 cm x D 12.0 cm.
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Bitossi Lacrima Vase, Blue Turquoise Ceramic, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi vase, ceramic, blue turquoise, impressed, textured, signed. Medium scale chunky vase from Aldo Londi's 'Lacrima' series. Its body is decorated with a relief pattern of impres...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Bitossi Pietra Ceramic Vase, Cyan Blue, Ribbed, Italy 1960s
By Bitossi, Rosenthal Netter
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi for Bitossi vase, Italy, 1960s. Small scale vase from Bitossi's Pietra (Stone) decor series. The cyan blue glazed body has deep relief ridges...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Cinese Vase, Ceramic, Blue, Gold, Italy, 1960s
By Bitossi, Rosenthal Netter
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Cinese Vase, Ceramic, Blue, Gold, Italy, 1960s. The cylindrical body is covered in a richly textured blue-green glaze, with a tapered gold-glazed base decorated with impressed spiral circles. Signed in black glaze on the underside: "52/3B ITALY," with the original "Created in Italy for Rosenthal-Netter Inc." distributor decal intact. Londi's Cinese series drew from the forms and patinas of ancient Chinese bronze vessels...
Ceramic
Bitossi Vase, Ceramic, Blue, Gold, Geometric, Italy, 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi Vase, Ceramic, Blue, Gold, Geometric, Italy, 1960s. Medium scale rounded vase with footed base, decorated with a gold diamond pattern over a Rimini blue glaze. Signed with il...
Ceramic
Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter Vase, Ceramic, Blue, Red, White, Onion
By Rosenthal Netter, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi for Rosenthal netter vase, ceramic, blue, red, and white, onion. Medium scale chunky cylinder vase decorated with a wavy abstract onion pattern.
Ceramic
Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter Pietra Vase, Ceramic, Blue, White, 1970s
By Rosenthal Netter, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter Pietra Vase, Ceramic, Blue, White, 1970s. Small scale bottle form vase from Bitossi's Pietra (Stone) decor series. T...
Ceramic
