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.
$879 / set
H 12.21 in Dm 5.52 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern West German Pottery Vases by Bodo Mans for BAY
By Bodo Mans, Bay Keramik
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Mid-Century Modern glazed ceramic vases designed by Bodo Mans for BAY Keramik, West Germany 1960s. Decorative geometric pattern and vibrant shades of turquoise and blue, remi...
Ceramic
$879 / set
H 7.29 in W 4.93 in D 3.35 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern West German Pottery Vases by Bodo Mans for BAY
By Bodo Mans, Bay Keramik
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Mid-Century Modern glazed ceramic vases designed by Bodo Mans for BAY Keramik, West Germany, 1960s. Decorative geometric pattern and vibrant shades of orange and blue and gre...
Ceramic
Artful Pair of Mid Century Modern Pottery Vases
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful pair of hand crafted midcentury modern pottery vases having gray & white geometric shapes with gold gilding accents.
Pottery
$422Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 11.02 in Dm 3.54 in
Scandinavian Mid-century modern vintage pottery vases from Tilgmans, Sweden
By Tilgmans Keramik
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A fantastic pair of large ceramic vases by Tilgmans, Sweden. Tilgmans is celebrated for its masterful use of graffito decoration, a signature technique that defines these striking pi...
Ceramic
$554 / set
H 7.09 in W 4.93 in D 4.73 in
Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Vases by Fratelli Fanciullacci, 1960s
By Fratelli Fanciullacci
Located in Glasgow, GB
A striking pair of Italian ceramic vases by Fratelli Fanciullacci, produced in Italy during the 1960s. Designed as angular pitcher forms, these sculptural vessels exemplify the bold ...
Gold
$195 / item
H 6.75 in Dm 3.5 in
Mid Century Modern Sculptural Art Pottery Vases Scheurich & Bay West Germany
By Scheurich Keramik
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Two fabulous West German vases, 1 signed Scheurich, the other Bay. Blue is bay and it's 6.75 x 3.5, Orange is Scheurich and is 5.75 x 3.25. Both are in fantastic condition with no c...
Clay, Stoneware
1950 Bitossi Ceramic Italian Mid Century Modern Vase, Set of 2
By Bitossi
Located in Brescia, IT
Bitossi Italy, 1950 Set of 2 Ceramic vases Excellent condiction Vase: h 23 / diam 11 cm Bowl: h 12 / diam 20 cm
Ceramic
Two Aldo Londi for Bitossi Vases Blue Rimini Collection
By Bitossi
Located in Antwerp, BE
These magnificent vases are designed by Bitossi's artistic director Aldo Londi in 1953. The sinuous shape of these white clay pieces, finished with a vivid turquoise color, are decor...
Ceramic
$712 / set
H 11.23 in Dm 4.14 in
Set of 2 Original vintage "ATHEN" Vases by WÄCHTERSBACH, Germany, 1960s
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: ceramic vases set of 2 Producer: Wächtersbach, West Germany Decade: 1960s Model: ATHEN Series Description: This original vintage vase set was produced in the 1...
Ceramic
$880 / set
H 12 in Dm 8 in
A Pair of Mid Century Modern Two Tones Studio Pottery Ceramic Vases. Circa 1970s
Located in Miami, FL
A Pair of Mid-Century Modern Two-Tone Studio Pottery Ceramic Vases. Circa 1970s Features beige drips with hints of gray and blue tones on an off-white background. Signed at the bot...
Ceramic
Pair Bitossi Pottery Liberty Rosenthal Candle Holders Vase Londi Italian Vintage
Located in Wilton, CT
Pair Bitossi candle holders in yellow, green, and orange "Liberty" pattern. Circa 1960’s. Rosenthal-Netter import label on base. 6 1/4” high, 4 1/4” diameter. Chonky little things at...
Pottery
Pair Antique Awaji Pottery Turquoise Ginger Jars
By Awaji Pottery
Located in Wilton, CT
Pair antique hand turned Awaji Pottery ginger jars in fantastic turquoise monochrome glaze, circa 1920's. 10" high, 8" diameter. Impressed marks. Excellent condition.
Pottery
Pair Awaji Pottery Yellow Flambe Vases
By Awaji Pottery
Located in Wilton, CT
Pair vintage Awaji pottery vases in bright yelow flambe glazes, circa 1930. With slightly cinched waists and little handles curling from the wide shoulders. Impressed marks. 6" high,...
Pottery
Henry Gernhardt Studio Pottery Vintage Vase Organic MCM Feelie Weed Pot Signed
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage Henry Gernhardt studio pottery vase in spherical form with little trumpet mouth and terrific blue and purple velvety mottled matt glaze. Impressed cipher on base. 5 3/4" high...
Pottery
Vintage Bitossi Flavia Pottery Vase Londi Italian Turquoise Monochrome 10"
By Bitossi
Located in Wilton, CT
Bitossi Flavia vase in rouleau form with deep turquoise monochrome glaze. Hand turned. Circa 1980's (the Flavia name was used from about the mid seventies to the late nineties). 10 1...
Pottery
Pair Antique Awaji Pottery Golden Yellow Art Deco Buttress Handle Vases
By Awaji Pottery
Located in Wilton, CT
Great pair of architectural Awaji Pottery buttress handle vases in glowing golden yellow monochrome glaze, circa 1920. Architectural supports carved into the four corners of the base...
Pottery
