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.
Italian Mid-Century Modern Glazed Ceramic Vase by Bitossi, Red, 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Mid-Century Modern Glaze ceramic red vase by Bitossi 1960s. Stamp on the bottom made in Italy, original ceramic in typical Bitossi red colour.
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Vase by W. Germany, Hand-Crafted, 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Mid-Century Modern West German Ceramics This West German ceramic vase from the 1960s features a striking lava glaze with flowing red and earthy tones, emblematic of the bold artisti...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Italian Ceramic Water Jug, 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics This vibrant Bitossi ceramic pitcher vase from the 1960s showcases the distinctive craftsmanship and design language of mid-century Italian ceram...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Hand-Painted Ceramic Vase by Roberto Rigon, Italy
By Roberto Rigon
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics This Italian ceramic vase by Roberto Rigon from the 1970s is a vibrant expression of mid-century craftsmanship and colour innovation. The piece c...
Ceramic
Handcrafted Ceramic Vase by Fontana, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1960s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
mth and artisanal beauty of Tuscan ceramic traditions. Featuring a natural brown glaze with black tonal bands, the piece highlights the region’s signature craftsmanship — refined, or...
Ceramic
Bitossi Ceramic Vase, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 40cm Tall, 1960
By Bitossi
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Bitossi Ceramics is an Italian ceramics company founded in 1921 by Guido Bitossi in the town of Montelupo Fiorentino, located in the Tuscany region of Italy. Bitossi Ceramics is know...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Italian Red Ceramic Vase from Bitossi, 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Red Ceramic Vase from Bitossi, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Ceram...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Rimini Red Pottery Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960s
By Aldo Londi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Rimini Red Pottery Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, ...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Italian Rimini Red Pottery Vase Aldo Londi Bitossi, 1960s
By Aldo Londi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Rimini Red Pottery Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional informati...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Red Ceramic Vase by Bitossi, Italy, 1960s, 6.3"
By Bitossi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Red Ceramic Vase from Bitossi, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Ceram...
Ceramic
Red Glazed Ceramic Vase designed by Amphora, Belgium
By Amphora
Located in Antwerp, BE
Expressive red decorative ceramic vase designed and made by Paco, Antwerp, Belgium 1960's. Paco was a ceramic artist with his own Ceramic Studio in Antwerp and work for Amphora. The ...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Red West German Vase by Fohr Pottery 1970s
By Walter Grau, Fohr
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Small vintage midcentury modern vase by Walter Grau for Fohr Pottery, Germany, circa 1970. The Company Fohr started producing decorative pottery in the 1950s under Wilhelm Fohr, alth...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery
