Lovely Large 1960s Bitossi Ceramic Lamp by Aldo Londi in Famous "Rimini Blue"
View Similar Items
Lovely Large 1960s Bitossi Ceramic Lamp by Aldo Londi in Famous "Rimini Blue"
About the Item
- Creator:Aldo Londi (Designer),Bitossi (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 23.63 in (60 cm)Diameter: 11.82 in (30 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Rewired. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: LMP 5751stDibs: LU2138323734022
Aldo Londi
Master Italian ceramist Aldo Londi created a range of decorative objects in the latter half of the 20th century for the manufacturer Bitossi. In addition to the small-scale animal sculptures for which he is best known, Londi designed a variety of ceramics for the famed company that includes vases, bowls and desk accessories. Collectors know that vintage Aldo Londi pottery is marked by deep attention to detail and an integration of rich, alluring hues typically associated with the Mediterranean.
Londi was born in Montelupo Fiorentino, just outside of Florence, an area that has been known for its pottery since the Renaissance. Londi showed an early interest in the craft, apprenticing at the Fratelli Fanciullacci ceramic workshop when he was only 11 years old. He worked at the company until he left to fight in World War II. After returning to Montelupo Fiorentino in 1946, Londi became the creative director at Bitossi — a position he held for more than 50 years.
Londi's fresh and unique style breathed new life into Bitossi. He prioritized the production of high-quality and handmade decorative objects and created many of Bitossi's pottery lines himself. The most famous of Londi's Bitossi collections is the Rimini Blu line of animals and vases, which debuted in 1955. The collection is characterized by geometric and whimsical patterns and is recognizable for its marvelous blue color.
Londi's fame and popularity extended outside of Italy with the help of Raymor. The American import and distribution company introduced many esteemed Italian manufacturers such as Bitossi to boutiques and department stores in the United States. After Raymor founder Irving Richards hired Ettore Sottsass to design ceramics, Richards connected his new recruit to Londi. Decades before he founded a legendary postmodern design collective in Milan called the Memphis Group, Sottsass used the Bitossi kilns to create timeless works that manifest both primitive forms and modern geometries.
In 2021, Bitossi opened the Bitossi Archive Museum at its Montelupo Fiorentino headquarters. Many of the works designed by the company's most esteemed contributor and artistic director, Aldo Londi, are proudly displayed.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Aldo Londi serveware, lighting, decorative objects and more.
Bitossi
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.
- Lovely 1960s Bitossi Ceramic Lamp by Aldo Londi in Famous "Rimini Blue"By Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in London, GBA lovely 1960s Bitossi ceramic lamp by Aldo Londi in his famous "Rimini Blue" colour. Re wired with new brass fittings and PAT tested, with new bespoke shade.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Lovely 1960s Studio Pottery Vase by Bernard RookeBy Bernard Rooke, Bernard Rooke StudioLocated in London, GBA lovely 1960s studio pottery vase by Bernard Rooke with circular design detail, stamped on the base "Rooke" rewired with antique cord flex, switch and PAT tested. With new bespoke n...Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsPottery
- Large 1960s Studio Pottery Lamps by Bernard Rooke Stamped on the BaseBy Bernard RookeLocated in London, GBA large 1960s studio pottery lamps by Bernard Rooke stamped on the base. Re wired with new brass fittings, antique cord flex and PAT tested.Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsPottery
- A 1970s large Italian faux bamboo ceramic blue lamp with brass fittingsLocated in London, GBA 1970s large Italian faux bamboo ceramic blue lamp with crackle glaze finish, brown ceramic base and brass fittings. Re wired with antique gold cord flex and PAT tested.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- A large 1960s Italian Venini Murano glass shaded brass arc lampBy VeniniLocated in London, GBA large 1960s Italian Venini Murano glass shaded brass arc lamp, with barley twist brass stem mounted on a black lacquer base. Re wired with antique gold cord flex, switch and PAT te...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Lovely Pair of Swedish Red Ceramic Lamps Brass Fittings and New Bespoke ShadesLocated in London, GBA lovely pair of Swedish red ceramic lamps each with circular orange ceramic detail on the bottom of the base. With brass fittings and top plates, mounted on brass bases. Re wired wi...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- 1960s Italian Rimini Blue Ceramic Table Lamps Style Aldo Londi BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Chula Vista, CA1960s Italian Rimini Blue Ceramic Table Lamps Unsigned. In the style of Aldo Londi for Bitossi 22 h to socket x 17 diameter Preowned good vintage condition. Does not include lamp sha...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi Rimini Blue Campus Table Lamp, 1960sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Stockholm, SELarge, exceptional Aldo Londi for Bitossi table lamp featuring a modernist impressed architectural design with figurative palm trees. This line of objects was named "Campus" by the US importer Raymor. Excellent condition, some white dots in pictures are just light reflections. Please note: We are selling this lamp without the lamp shade and measurements are without the shade. Rewired: New EU standard...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Castle LampBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Palm Springs, CALovely large Bitossi Ceramic lamp designed by Aldo Londi in Rimini Blue. Unusual castle trellis top. The lamp has been rewired and functions well. The shade can be included but has s...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Large Ceramic Pair Rimini Blue Table Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, ItalyBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in W Allenhurst, NJFantastic and large pair of Italian lamps by the famed ceramicist Aldo Londi. Beautiful dark Rimini Blue glaze in the Sgraffito style. Curbside to NYC/Philly $300Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi Rimini Blue Glaze Table Lamp, circa 1960By Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in San Francisco, CAAldo Londi for Bitossi Rimini blue glaze table lamp, circa 1960 Measures: 6.5" wide x 5" deep x 22.5" high to the socket x 32" high to the fi...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Pair of 1950's Rimini Blue Ceramic Table Lamps by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Firenze, TuscanyStunning pair of handmade Rimini Blue table lamps signed on the bottom with cotton lampshades (size: 38 diam. x 35 H cm.). Two E27 light bulbs each. Aldo Londi (1911-2003) was a pa...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass