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.
Mid-Century Italian Modern Bitossi Ceramic Blue Horse Pottery by Aldo Londi
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and chic horse sculpture circa 1960s Aldo Londi for Bitossi. This piece features all glazed ceramic construction in a beautiful blue / green color. Signed Italy
Ceramic
Huge Italian Vintage Ceramic Rhimini Blue Vase Aldo Londi for Bitossi, C. 1960
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful and rare tall 30cm/12" embossed vase in vibrant 'Rhimini' blue and turquoise by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1968. A great piece of vintage, mid-century handmade Italian pottery. Very rare size to find. Shape number 727/30. We have more rare Bitossi...
Ceramic, Clay
Italian Vintage Ceramic Rhimini Blue Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1960
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful tall embossed vase in vibrant 'Rhimini' blue and turquoise by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1968. A great. piece of vintage, mid-century handmade Italian pottery. Shape number 727/21. We have more rare Bitossi...
Ceramic, Clay
1970s Aldo Londi for Bitossi Rosenthal Netter Ceramic Box, Signed
By Bitossi, Rosenthal Netter
Located in New York, NY
Small-scale lidded ceramic box from Bitossi’s Pietra series, produced in the 1970s and imported by Rosenthal Netter. The box features an abstract patter...
Ceramic
$2,200 / set
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Sake Set
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A circa late 1950’s Aldo Londi Italian stoneware sake set, created for the Bitossi Company. The Cups are decorated with modern inscribed faces and signed under foot, Italy, approxima...
Pottery
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Bitossi Lamp
By Bitossi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A large pottery lamp by Bitossi. Great pattern and coloring. Signed on the base made in Italy. The base we had remade and painted brown while the wiring is new as well. The pottery h...
Pottery
Bitossi Italian Mid-Century Art Pottery Textured Lamp Base
By Bitossi
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish mid-century art pottery lamp base by renowned Italian makers Bitossi and dating from around 1960. The hand-crafted lamp base is of...
Stoneware
$1,440Sale Price / set|20% Off
1950s Stylized Italian Pottery Bird Vases, a Pair
By Aldo Londi, Alvino Bagni, Bitossi, Raymor
Located in New Windsor, NY
A fine pair of handmade Bitossi art pottery stylized bird vases. Great muted color palette of an olive green, black and white glazes. The finger print by the bird's eye is truly rema...
Ceramic, Pottery
Italian Bitossi Ceramic Vase
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
Midcentury Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic Vase
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Barcelona, ES
'Rimini blu' glazed ceramic vase designed by Aldo Londi for by Bitossi. Italy, 1960s. This eye-catching vase is made of blue glazed ceramic with engraved patterns surrounding the cen...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic Vase, Italy 1960
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Barcelona, ES
'Rimini blu' glazed ceramic vase designed by Aldo Londi for by Bitossi. Italy, 1960s. This eye-catching vase is made of blue glazed ceramic with engraved patterns surrounding the cen...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Pair of Black Bitossi Lamps, Italy, 1970
By Bitossi
Located in Bronx, NY
Bitossi lamps Italy 1970s ceramic in a black and silver multi layered glaze with an earthy super sophisticated dark look, signed. Rewired for the US. Shades not included.
Ceramic
Table Lamp by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ceramic table lamp by Bitossi, Italy. Marked: B4/35 Italy. Existing wiring, we do not guaranty functionality, rewiring available upon request. The lamp base heigh 14"; diam -5.5". ...
Stoneware
Mid-Century Bitossi Stambecchi by Aldo Londi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Nice vase from Bitossi by Aldo Londi. The pattern is Stambecchi or Caprone (goat), designed by Aldo Londi. A sgraffito and glazed pattern of goats in grey, brown and orange on a brus...
Ceramic
Large Table Lamp by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Large table lamp by Bitossi ceramic, Italy , Circa 1960th. Signed. Newly rewired. Ceramic base dimensions 24" height x 8" diameter. Total height 35".
Ceramic
$360Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.5 in W 6.25 in D 2 in
Mid-Century Aldo Londi Bitossi Italian Art Pottery Lion Figurine Sculpture Italy
By Bitossi
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Aldo Bitossi Italian art pottery lion figurine sculpture and dates from the 1960's. Marked on the bottom "Made in Italy". Color is great and the figurine is in excellent co...
Pottery
Unavailable|$895
H 10.24 in W 4.73 in D 10.24 in
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blu Horse, Italy, circa 1968
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Pymble, NSW
A deep 'Rimini Blu' glazed horse by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Brilliant glaze with streaks of green over the highly detailed trappings.
Pottery
City Scape Table Lamp by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A hand thrown tapered ceramic table lamp with an apartment building and water tower motif. Designed by Bitossi, produced in Italy, circa 1950s.
Brass
$2,346 / set
H 10.04 in Dm 4.53 in
Bitossi Sahara Aldo Londi Cer Paoli Glazed Ceramic Vases, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Bruno Paoli
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of two Bitossi Aldo Londi for Cer Paoli Sahara range ceramic vases. Italy, 1960s. Ceramiche Paoli "Cer Paoli" was created at the end of the Second World ...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s Italian ceramic and brass table lamp by Bitossi. Newly rewired for US, new vanilla linen shade, wire and socket, that takes 100w max Edison bulb. Ceramic base is in great vin...
Brass
Aldo Londi Terracotta Ceramic Rimini Blue Vase for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning sphere-shaped terracotta ceramic Rimini blue vase for Bitossi. This magnificent set was designed by Aldo Londi in Italy during 1960s. This...
Ceramic, Terracotta
Sold
H 12 in W 3.5 in D 6.25 in
Mid Century Bitossi Seta Sgraffito Pitcher Turquoise and Gold Italian Pottery
By Bitossi
Located in Lutz, FL
Mid Century Modern Italian Bitossi Seta Sgraffito Pitcher, blue, white and turquoise colorway with gold accents. Very minimal losses to glaze on handle as shown, no chips or cracks. ...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery
Sold
H 5.91 in W 10.83 in D 3.75 in
Italian Vintage Ceramic Blue Bull Sculpture by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, c. 1970
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful large bull animal sculpture in vibrant 'Rimini' blue and turquoise with embossed pattern by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1970s. A great piece of vintage, mid-century handm...
Ceramic, Clay
Mid-Century Bitossi Vase
By Bitossi
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Nice Bitossi vase with vibrant colors. The Bitossi family was documented in the territory of Montelupo Fiorentino as far back as 1536. Over the centurie...
Ceramic
Italian Ceramic Rhimini Blue Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful midcentury vintage Italian made embossed ceramic jug, vase or pitcher in vibrant blue and turquoise by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1965. A beautiful original piece of Ita...
Ceramic, Clay
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Face Vase
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pottery face vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, retailed by Goodfriend. Marked on the base Italy with the numbers 95/3XX indicating Goodfriend. A lovely piece, very different from the...
Pottery
Sold
H 2.13 in W 8.13 in D 4 in
Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter Box, Ceramic, White, Brown, Abstract, Signed
By Rosenthal Netter, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter box, ceramic abstract ridges, signed. Small scale lidded box decorated with an abstract pattern of incised relief or carved rid...
Ceramic
Bitossi 'Rimini Blu' Horse Bookends by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi designed several figural bookends for Bitossi. This is a fine example in the rich "Rimini Blu" glaze.
Pottery
Bitossi Box Ceramic White Brown Signed
By Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi box ceramic white brown signed. White glaze lidded box with brown piping on both the lid and the box. Signed on underside of the box: 530/20 W Ital...
Ceramic
Small “Rimini Blu” Bowl or Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A small, deep bowl from the iconic “Rimini Blu” collection by Aldo Londi for Bitossi with its customary hand-incised geometry and variegated blue-and-green glaze. Signed with hand-pa...
Ceramic
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 6.3 in
Aldo Londi, Bitossi Ceramics, Set Carafe and Glasses, Rimini Blue, Italy 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Roma, IT
Set of blue enameled blue glazed ceramic carafe and glasses by Aldo Londi of Rimini and produced by Bitossi. Handmade in Italy with a hand carved geometric design and in satin turquo...
Ceramic
Sold
H 11.25 in Dm 3.75 in
Aldo Londi Bitossi Raymor Ceramic Vase Stripes Pottery Signed, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Bitossi Raymor ceramic vase stripes pottery signed, Italy, 1960s, stoneware Cambogia vase in vibrant bands of turquoise, violet, light and dark...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Cigar Ashtray by Aldo Londi
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic Rimini blues featured in this modernist piece. Built for cigars, but is a decorative piece as well.
Ceramic