An icon of modernist ceramics since the 1960s, Stan Bitters constructed rough assemblages of clay slabs and spoked wheels into massive murals and tall totems, upsizing his medium to an architectural scale.
Like Toshiko Takaezu, Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner and others, Bitters was part of a small group of American artists during the mid-20th-century who embraced imperfection in their pottery.
Working in ceramics, a material that during the last 100 years was relegated to the supposedly lesser artistic realm of craft, Bitters and these other artists made bold, chunky pieces that served as a counterpoint to the smooth lines and overall slickness of modern and postmodern movements like Bauhaus, constructivism, minimalism, Op art and Pop art.
Hailing from Fresno, California, the self-proclaimed “old hippie” Bitters earned his bachelor’s degree in painting from UCLA. He also studied at what became Otis College in Los Angeles under Voulkos — the bad boy of American ceramics.
Voulkos almost single-handedly spawned what came to be known as the California Clay Movement and flouted pottery’s approved techniques. He transformed clay into a vibrant, highly expressive artistic medium, and Bitters’ funky, fractured style certainly shows it.
Bitters later became associated with organic modernism and created ceramics for Hans Sumpf, a maker of adobe bricks and furniture in Madera.
“Known for his Abstract Expressionist style, Bitters is a steadfast champion of environmental ceramics — the melding of natural, organic clay forms, sculptures and architectural elements into urban spaces to complement, transform and elevate their surroundings,” says Greg Nielson, of Dwell Floor Five, in Studio City, California.
With their sputtery glazes and graffiti-esque glyphs, Bitters’s works exude raw, countercultural energy.
Find Stan Bitters decorative objects, garden ornaments, planters and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Mushroom Table and Stools by Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf Company, USA 1970s
By Hans Sumpf, Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and rare mushroom table and stools set by noted Californian ceramicist, Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf company. As a pioneer of the organic modernist craft movement in the 1960s, Bitters has been producing rough-hewn ceramic birdhouses...
Concrete
Sun Screen by Stan Bitters, Clay, Mid-Century Modern, USA, 2017
By Stan Bitters
Located in Berlin, DE
Stan Bitters sun screen made from strips of fired unglazed clay. Each strip is approximately 2 cm / 0.8 inch wide and they vary in length. The individ...
Clay
Stan Bitters Thumbprint Planter for Hans Sumpf
By Hans Sumpf, Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand formed pot by California artist Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf, c.1995, USA. This clay pot features a textured exterior in a "thumbprint" pattern. Signed on the interior. Dimensi...
Stoneware
$4,500 / item
Toad Stool by Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf, 1960s USA
By Stan Bitters, Hans Sumpf
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original and early ceramic Toad stools by Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf Co. Great yellow and brown coloring and unglazed. These stools date to the early 1960s and are still produced to...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Stan Bitters Bird Houses in Glazed Ceramic, USA, 2017
By Stan Bitters
Located in Berlin, DE
Excellent handmade bird houses of glazed lowlfier clay by Stan Bitters. The birdhouses are available in different colors. The houses are a favourite with finches.
Clay
$1,076 / item
Stan Bitters Bird Houses in Spray Metal, USA, 2017
By Stan Bitters
Located in Berlin, DE
Excellent handmade bird houses of porous lowlfier clay in spray metal by Stan Bitters. The birdhouses are available in different colors. The houses are a favorite with finches.
Clay
Stan Bitters Bird Bath, 1970s USA
By Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful hanging bird bath by noted Californian ceramicist, Stan Bitters. Plastic cords are attached at three points on the dish and meet in a clay disk at the middle of the cords. Each plastic cord is adorned with a clay ball and a cast clay bird at each base. Bath has an inviting blue glazed interior where the water is held. Good condition as shown. Matching bird feeder available in separate listing. As a pioneer of the organic modernist craft movement in the 1960s, Bitters has been producing rough-hewn ceramic birdhouses...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Plastic
$18,846Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Three Stan Bitters Thumbpots, Mid-Century Modern, USA
By Stan Bitters
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of a large brown, a medium white and a small black thumbpot by Fresno, California Artist Stan Bitters. The planters are hand-built with thumbprint design. The hand-built, organic...
Ceramic, Clay
Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf Co. Mid Century Thumbpot Pottery Planter
By Stan Bitters, Hans Sumpf
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf Co. Mid Century Thumbpot Pottery Planter This planter measures: 18.5 wide x 18.5 deep x 10 inches high We take our photos in a controlled lighting studi...
Ceramic
Monumental Stan Bitters Stoneware Ceramic Planter for Hans Sumpf
By Hans Sumpf, Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental Stan Bitters stoneware ceramic planter for Hans Sumpf.
Stoneware
Italian Hand-Painted Ceramic Garden Stool
By Ezio Ceccarelli
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Tuscan clay stool, nice hand-painted. An idea of an Italian garden even in a city apartment: at the entrance it welcomes You with its colors, in the living room You can put down Your...
Ceramic
Willy Guhl Saucer Planter on Stand
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
31" Willy Guhl saucer planter on stand for Eternit Floating saucer planter on base Sculptural garden vessel The base can be flipped upside down for use ...
Concrete
Ceramic Hand Painted Chinese Garden Stool
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage Chinese ceramic garden stool with hand painted decor in blue and white dragon motives. Very good/excellent vintage condition. NOTE: Buyer is solely responsible for paying cu...
Ceramic
$1,669
H 7 in W 31.25 in D 7.5 in
Willy Guhl for Eternit, a Mid-Century Modern Concrete Rectangular Garden Planter
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in London, GB
Willy Guhl for Eternit, a Mid-Century Modern concrete rectangular garden planter with rectangular concave decoration with opposing triangul...
Concrete
Small Oak Stool “Toad-Stool”
Located in Doylestown, PA
Small custom-made “toad-stool” in antique reclaimed oak, handmade. Wax finish. Can also be used as a small table.
Oak
$973
H 19.5 in W 15.5 in D 15.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Two-Piece French Concrete Hour Glass Style Planter on Stand
Located in London, GB
A Mid-Century Modern two-piece Modern French concrete hour glass style planter on stand with nice light even patina.
Concrete
$490Sale Price|48% Off
H 6 in W 15.75 in D 6 in
Willy Guhl for Eternit Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter, circa 1968
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This designer on-trend architectural rectangular concrete planter is by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, crafted circa 1968 Switzer...
Concrete
Ceramic Hand Painted Chinese Garden Stool
Located in Vilnius, LT
Chinese ceramic garden stool with openwork details and circumferential decoration of the floral elements and scenes of ladies.
Ceramic
$18,846Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.91 in Dm 30.91 in
Set of Three Stan Bitters Thumbpots, Mid-Century Modern, USA
By Stan Bitters
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of a large brown, a medium white and a small black thumbpot by Fresno, California Artist Stan Bitters. The planters are hand-built with thumbprint design. The hand-built, organic...
Ceramic, Clay
Baré Planter, White Oak with Cast Bronze Planter and Tray
By Jake Whillans
Located in HAMILTON, ON
The Baré Planter is part of a family of surfaces designed around the act of indoor horticulture. Named after Jeanne Baré - the first woman to circumnavigate the globe - each object in the series provides an elegant, elevated home for your houseplants. The smallest of the set features a cast bronze...
Bronze
Superb Vintage Large Scale Painted Metal Bird Cage
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A particularly elegant and gracefully designed Tall Standing Birdcage in white-painted metal. With a hexagonal domed top with scrolled and pointed finial. The hexagonal wire cage overlaid with spidery thin branches with a large door and a small door at the bottom on one side with a pull-out drawer below. With a grillework insert inside. Raised on six double scrolled legs...
Metal
Willy Guhl Dog House, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing industrial cement dog kennel by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit. Large size with dark, heavy patina and lichen. Doggy door opening on left front side. A beautiful minim...
Cement
Vintage Stan Bitters Hans Stumpf Hose Pot California Modern c. 1970's
By Stan Bitters
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century, California Modern garden hose pot, by noted potter Stan Bitters, for Hans Stumpf, circa 1970's. This example is in very fine, ...
Clay
Stan Bitters Thumbprint Planter for Hans Sumpf
By Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round hand formed pot by California artist Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf, c.1995, USA. This clay pot features a textured exterior in a "thumbprint" pattern. The planter also features a...
Stoneware, Clay
Stan Bitters Ceramic Garden Hose Holder Pot for Hans Sumpf
By Stan Bitters, Hans Sumpf
Located in Oakland, CA
Ceramic garden hose holder pot in red clay designed by California ceramic artist Stan Bitters known for his large scale installations, art pottery and large ceramic planters. He desi...
Ceramic
Stan Bitters California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse
By Stan Bitters
Located in San Diego, CA
Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse. The shelter is 6" high x 6" wide. The cord is 32" in length. Stan Bitters is a California ceramics sculptor whose...
Stoneware
Stan Bitters Midcentury Ceramic Stoneware Birdhouse
By Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stan Bitters ceramic stoneware birdhouse Created for Hans Sumpf California Circa 1970s Elevate your outdoor space with this charming artisanal piece Organic composition and fee...
Ceramic
Stan Bitters Hose Pot for Hans Sumpf
By Stan Bitters, Hans Sumpf
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round hand formed pot by California artist Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf, c.1970s, USA. This clay pot features a raised center in which to wrap a garden hose around. It's a discreet an...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Stan Bitters California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse
By Stan Bitters
Located in San Diego, CA
Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse. The shelter is 6" high x 6" wide. The cord is 32" in length. Stan Bitters is a California ceramics sculptor whose...
Stoneware
Stan Bitters California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse
By Stan Bitters
Located in San Diego, CA
Stan Bitters California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse in a white glaze. This is a studio made birdhouse made by Stan in the last 15 years. The shelter is 7" high x 7" wide. The cord is ...
Stoneware
Stan Bitters Bird Feeder, USA 1970s
By Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful hanging bird feeder by noted Californian ceramicist, Stan Bitters. Plastic cords are attached at three points on the dish and meet in a k...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Plastic
Stan Bitters Grouping of Stoneware 'Earth Texture' Planters
By Stan Bitters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A great set of California Design Planters. Manufactured at the Hans Sumpf Company Fresno California. Thick crude forms with natural earthy texture. Normal patina consistent with age...
Stoneware
Stan Bitters California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse
By Stan Bitters
Located in San Diego, CA
Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf California Modern Stoneware Birdhouse. The shelter is 6" high x 6" wide. The cord is 32" in length. Stan Bitters is a California ceramics sculptor whose...
Stoneware
California Ceramic Artist Stan Bitters Garden Hose Pot for Hans Sumpf, 1970s
By Stan Bitters
Located in Oakland, CA
Adobe hose pot designed by California artist Stan Bitters, made with a special formulation of adobe clay created by Hans Sumpf. This one was created in the 1970s and are designed to hold the garden hose...
Clay