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.
$180 / item
Square Blue Ashtray by Aldo Londi
By Bitossi
Located in Milan, IT
Square ashtray crafted with a pressed white refractory clay base from the Rimini Blue series. Features a distinctive pattern achieved through stamp incision beneath a glossy bright b...
Ceramic
Rimini Blue Cat Made of Ceramics by Aldo Londi, 1960
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Oirlo, LI
Rimini Blue cat made of ceramics by Aldo Londi,1960 This is a rare model, the cat is handmade. Has no chips or damage. It is a nice piece made ...
Ceramic
$402Sale Price|28% Off
H 1.97 in W 7.49 in D 7.49 in
Bitossi by Aldo Londi Rimini Blu Glazed Ceramic Ashtray Vide-Poche, Italy 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Valencia, VC
Gorgeous Italian vintage ceramic large ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi from the Rimini Blu range. Handcrafted in Flavia Montelupo, Italy, circa the 1960s. It would look beautiful ...
Ceramic
$750Sale Price|50% Off
H 4 in Dm 8.13 in
Aldo Londi Bitossi Ashtray, Ceramic, Safety Pin, Blue, Gold, Signed
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Bitossi Ashtray, Ceramic, Safety Pin, Blue, Gold, Signed. Small to medium scale deep ashtray with three cigarette rests. Decorated with a pattern of gold glazed safety pin...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Bitossi Lacrima Bowl, Ceramic, Blue, Signed
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi Lacrima Bowl, Ceramic, Blue, Signed. Large low bowl decorated with a relief pattern of impressed teardrops from Bitossi's Lacrima Decor. Minute...
Ceramic
$3,500
H 2.13 in W 7.94 in D 4 in
Aldo Londi Bitossi Box, Ceramic, Mondrian, Abstract, Red, Yellow, Signed
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Bitossi Box, Ceramic, Mondrian, Abstract, Red, Yellow, Signed. Small scale Mondrian box decorated with rectangles and lines and glazed in red, yellow, and black. Signed f...
Ceramic, Clay
$1,415Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.85 in Dm 7.49 in
Sic Rimini Blu Glazed Ceramic Large Lidded Vessel / Box Bitossi Aldo Londi Style
By Bitossi, SIC Ceramiche Artistiche, Aldo Londi
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Blu) round lidded box , Manufactured by S.I.C Ceramiche Italy, 1950-1960s. It has reminiscences in those Rimini blue designs from Aldo Londi and Bitossi...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
Blue Ceramic Ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Handcrafted in Italy
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Blue Ceramic Ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Handcrafted in Italy "Rimini Blu" enameled terra cotta turquoise blue ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Handcrafted in Italy w...
Stoneware
$1,950
H 2.25 in W 8 in D 4 in
Ceramic Box by Aldo Londi Bitossi, Italy, Orange with Gold Decoration, C 1960
By Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Decorative ceramic box by Aldo Londi Bitossi, Italy, circa 1960. Signed at the bottom, 79/11, Italy. Organic designs on the lid with gold decorations.
Ceramic
$2,830
H 5.12 in Dm 5.12 in
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic Set of Vase, Ashtray and Candleholder
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Barcelona, ES
A beautiful handmade Rimini blue glazed ceramic set of three pieces. Designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi, Italy, 1960s. The set is comprised by a round ashtray, a bott...
Pottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
Bitossi Large Ashtray by Aldo Londi, Rimini Blu Ceramic, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Valencia, VC
Large Round Bitossi Ashtray by Aldo Londi – Rimini Blu, 1950s-60s A stunning Mid-Century Bitossi ashtray by Aldo Londi, featuring the house’s signature Etruscan-inspired sgraffito d...
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Large Ashtray or Catchall, Italian Ceramic
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Lovely and large ashtray or catchall designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Stunning colors and patterns. Well proportioned at 2.75” tall and 8.5” wide.
Ceramic
$429Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.38 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Italian Midcentury square Rimini Blu Ceramic Ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Vienna, AT
iconic Italian modern ceramic ashtray from the Rimini Blu series designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Italy. It is in beautiful original condition. The Italian Ceramic Artist Aldo Lon...
Ceramic