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.
Rare Aldo Londi Bitossi Italian Ceramic Bottle Vase with Orange Geometric Glaze
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi, Raymor
Located in Troy, MI
Rare vessel designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Distributed by Raymor Italy circa 1960s Architectural bottle form in textured earthenware with vertical geometric resist design in ora...
Ceramic, Pottery
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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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
1970s Aldo Londi for Bitossi Rosenthal Netter Ceramic Box, Signed
By Rosenthal Netter, Bitossi
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
Italian Vintage Ceramic Rhimini Blue Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, circa 1960
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
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
$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
$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 Ceramic Vase, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 40cm Tall, 1960
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
Mid-Century Bitossi Stambecchi by Aldo Londi
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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
$946Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.11 in Dm 3.55 in
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic Vase, Mid-Century Modern, Italy 1960
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
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
$1,500
H 10 in W 6 in D 6 in
Aldo Londi For Bitossi Rare Ceramic Vase, Vessel With Textured Glaze, 1960's
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Italian ceramic vase or vessel is a glazed pink with another rough glazed earthenware overlay in tones of brown, dark gray and dark green. It was designed by Aldo Londi ...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Water Jug for Bitossi, Italy, 1950's
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Bern, CH
Late 1950’s - early 1960’s Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Water Jug for Bitossi, Italy. Decorated with the typical geometric pattern with a turquoise and cobalt blue colouring. Numbered on b...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Terracotta Ceramic Rimini Blue Vase for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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
$1,427Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.34 in Dm 5.71 in
Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic XL Vase, Italy 1960
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Barcelona, ES
A giant sized handmade Rimini blue ceramic vase designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi. Italy, 1960s. Blue glazed ceramic with engraved patterns adorning the top of the ...
Pottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
$2,283Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.12 in Dm 5.12 in
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic Set of Vase, Ashtray and Candleholder
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
$523Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.78 in Dm 8.08 in
Rare Yellow Glazed Dish by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Karis, Nyland
Rare circular ceramic dish designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy, 1960s. The piece features a vivid yellow glaze with an olive-green interior rim, applied o...
Earthenware
$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
Large Ceramic Lion Attributed to Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1970s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Skokie, IL
Large ceramic lion attributed to Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1970s Additional information: Material: Ceramic Dimensions: 15.9" W x 6" D x 8.6" H
Ceramic
$1,600
H 14.18 in W 3.55 in D 8.67 in
"Figura Di Uccellino" Rimini Blu Series by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Blue Bird
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in NEUVILLE-DE-POITOU, FR
Blue ceramic bird on iron black basement engraved by hand and enamelled in bright blue and green colors with their characteristic patterns. Marked "Bitossi made in Italy" on the bo...
Ceramic
Ceramic Owl by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960's
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Barcelona, ES
Ceramic owl by Aldo Londi as part of the Blue Rimini collection for Bitossi, Italy, 1960's. Blue and turquoise glazed ceramic with carved geometric design.
Ceramic
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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi
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 Bitossi, Aldo Londi
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 Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic Rimini blues featured in this modernist piece. Built for cigars, but is a decorative piece as well.
Ceramic