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.
1980’s Memphis Coffee Set by Marco Zanini for Bitossi Italy
By Marco Zanini, Bitossi
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Beautiful set of a coffee pot, sugar bowl with lid, creamer and two coffee cups and saucers in glossy black and matte blue and glossy white details. The set from the Hollywood colle...
Ceramic
1980s Postmodern Ceramic Tea or Coffee Pot by Marco Zanini for Bitossi
By Marco Zanini, Bitossi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning postmodern ceramic tea or coffee pot from the Hollywood collection designed by Marco Zanini for Flavia Montelupo/Bitossi. White body, rounded pink handle, and stacked teal top...
Ceramic
Broccoli Fruit Bowl, by Marco Zanini from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Group, Marco Zanini, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Ceramic three-level fruit bowl originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1985 for Memphis Milano. The three geometrical shapes in three colors complete the idea of a trilogy. Marco Zan...
Ceramic
$180Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 1 in W 15.5 in D 10 in
Post Modern / Memphis "Carnival" Platter by Kato Kogei for Fujimori
By Kato Kogei, Kenji Fujimori
Located in San Diego, CA
Post modern / Memphis "Carnival" platter / serving dish by Kato Kogei for Fujimori, circa 1980s. Wonderful colorful Memphis style! #1817.
Ceramic
$2,290 / item
H 9.06 in W 11.42 in D 11.82 in
Colorado Ceramic Teapot, by Marco Zanini from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Group, Marco Zanini, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Colorado teapot in ceramic was originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1983. Marco Zanini was born in Trento in 1954. He graduated in architecture ...
Ceramic
$1,694
H 9 in W 11 in D 9 in
Michael Graves Postmodern Tea Kettle by Alessi Italy Production First Years 1985
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Biella, IT
Michael Graves Postmodern tea kettle by Alessi Italy production years 1985 the first matte platinum grey enamel body, black knob, orange whistle bird a...
Metal
Large Espresso Coffee Maker Postmodern Design by Bodum 6 Cup
By Bodum
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple, stylish, and sustainable, the Chambord Espresso Maker allows you to brew a rich, authentic espresso coffee in minutes. No need for a complicated Inspired by traditional Italian stovetop Moka pots...
Metal
$175
H 1 in W 12.5 in D 9.25 in
Fujumori for Kato Kogei Japan Alpha 3 Platter Post-Modern Memphis 1980s
By Kato Kogei, Fujimori
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Serving platter in Alpha 3 pattern was designed by Kaneaki Fujimori for Kato Kogei Japan in 1980s. Alpha 3 series consists of mugs, salad/casual plates, and decorative serving platt...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Pottery
$129Sale Price|30% Off
H 10 in W 7.25 in D 6 in
Art Deco S Sternau Copper Tea Coffee Pot Teapot Kettle Burner Stand 10"
Located in Dayton, OH
Art Deco S. Sternau & Company copper tea kettle with bird spout and black wood grip and finial, set on a four legged chafing stand with burner. Burner marked with a different logo. ...
Copper
French Silver Hot Chocolate Pot or Coffee Pot, Puiforcat
By Jean Puiforcat
Located in Paris, FR
Silver hot chocolate pot decorated with laurel garlands and gadroons. The lid is topped with a fruit bowl, and a rosewood handle is attached t...
Silver
$580
H 13.39 in W 3.55 in D 4.73 in
20th Century French Silver Plated Coffee or Tea Pot with Nice Decoration
Located in Sofia, BG
A silver plated Armand Frenais coffee pot standing on four legs, the figured body of baluster shape decorated with a flower ornaments. The piece is stamped on the bottom. 20th cent...
Silver Plate
Rigel Glass Bowl, by Marco Zanini for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Marco Zanini, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Rigel Glass Bowl was originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1982. The piece features blue, black, green, red and clear glass with lid and ste...
Glass
Italian Postmodern Round Tray with Violet Murano Glass Handles , 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a round tray that achieves a refined balance between minimalist design and artisanal decoration. This piece was made in Italy between the 1980s and 1...
Stainless Steel
Large Espresso Coffee Maker Postmodern Design by Aldo Rossi for Alessi 6 Cup
By Aldo Rossi, Alessi
Located in San Diego, CA
Great design early production in polished aluminum finish color finish large espresso maker designed by Aldo Rossi for Alessi, circa 1988, six cup capacity the design after Italian c...
Metal