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.
Vintage ceramic vase, design Aldo Londi, Bitossi Italy 1970s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Mid-Century Italian pottery vase with Bitossi. The outside surface of the vase is decorated with a printed pattern. The glaze has a deep brown and olive color. This vase was designed...
Ceramic
Vintage small ceramic vase, design Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Italy 1970s
By Bitossi
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Mid-Century Italian pottery vase with Bitossi. The outside surface of the vase is decorated with a printed pattern. The glaze has a deep brown and olive color. This vase was designed...
Ceramic
Ceramic vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960's
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in BARCELONA, ES
This Italian Vintage Ceramic Rimini Blue Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1960, is a striking example of mid-century modern Italian pottery from the iconic Rimini Blu collection...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1950s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Modern in the Tradition of Good Taste" Large scale Raymor Bitossi Vase by Aldo Londi Yellow and Green Signed on underside: Italy 4675 Retains partial original Raymor paper la...
Pottery, Ceramic, Clay
$1,100
H 12.6 in Dm 7.88 in
Bitossi by Aldo Londi Ceramic Vase, Sahara Décor for Cer Paoli, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Valencia, VC
Rare Bitossi for Ceramiche Paoli Large Vase – Mid-Century Neolithic-Inspired Design A striking example of Aldo Londi’s masterful work, this large ceramic vase embodies the timeless influence of Neolithic utility pottery, reinterpreted through Bitossi’s signature craftsmanship. Featuring the iconic sgraffito hand decor, inspired by Etruscan ceramics, this piece is part of the Sahara line, distinguished by its earthy, textured aesthetic. Unlike the standard Bitossi Sahara...
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware, Majolica, Stoneware
Italian Stoneware Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960s
By Aldo Londi
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Aldo Londi designed this lacquered chamotte stoneware vase with Rimini Blue Trifoglio center patterns during the 1960s. It was manufactured in Italy by Bitossi. Measurements: H: 20 c...
Stoneware
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Vase by A. Pittalis, East German Design
Located in Queens, NY
East German Mid-Century cylindrical ceramic vase with a raised dark brown loop and circle design around the wider beige and brown glazed body extending upward to a slightly narrower ...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Vase by A. Pittalis, East German Design
Located in Queens, NY
East German Mid-Century ceramic pitcher with a raised green, blue, and brown design on the lower rounded body below a narrower lightly beige glazed neck, connected to a scroll design...
Ceramic
$340Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.75 in Dm 4.75 in
1960's Aldo Londi Bitossi for Raymor Italy Abstract Ceramic Pottery Rimini Vase
By Bitossi, Raymor
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful vintage Aldo Londi Bitossi ceramic/pottery Rimini blue vase, circa 1960s. Made in Italy and is signed on the bottom. Appears to have never been used. Great abstract form an...
Ceramic
Rare Aldo Londi for Bitossi Floor Vase, Italian Ceramic
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Exceptional and large floor vase designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Rare and largest size of this shape. Stunning color and form. Measures: 20” tall 7.5” wide.
Ceramic
Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi - 'Arabesque'
By Bitossi
Located in London, GB
Mid-Century Italian ceramic vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s). Part of the 'Arabesque' range designed by Aldo Londi which was produced in the 1960s, it presents a glazed c...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in London, GB
Mid-century decorative vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s). From their 'Sahara' range, the colours chosen were intended to be reminiscent of the desert, including the sun, s...
Ceramic
Vintage Italian Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s)
By Bitossi
Located in London, GB
Vintage Italian ceramic vase with geometric motif by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s). Discovered in North Central Italy, this particular piece has been well kept over the years. It has a decorative band around its centre with a geometric motif of concentric squares in turquoise. On either side top and bottom, etched circles follow the form of the piece. It is weighty with a slightly concave base with 'Italy' etched in the underside in that Bitossi 'font'. The body shape is widely cylindrical with a reverse tapered neck and flared rim somewhat reminiscent of a Moroccan tagine...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Italian 'Sahara" Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in London, GB
Mid-century decorative ceramic vase by Aldo Landi for Bitossi (circa 1960s). From their 'Sahara' range, the colours chosen were intended to be reminiscent of the desert, including th...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Trifoglio Range Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1964
By Aldo Londi
Located in London, GB
Mid-Century Italian ceramic vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (1964). Part of the 'Trifoglio' range designed by Londi which was produced in the 1960s, it presents two glazed central 'bl...
Ceramic
Vintage Italian Ceramic Vase by Carlo Zauli (circa 1970s)
By Carlo Zauli
Located in London, GB
Italian ceramic vase by Carlo Zauli (circa 1970s). A modernist piece which has borrowed its classical shape from antiquity. Like an ancient amphora without handles, the vase has a ca...
Ceramic
