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.
Brown Ceramic Lamp Bitossi, Custom Double Silk Rattan Lampshade by R. Houben
By Bitossi
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table/ floor. Custom made double rattan lampshade by René Houben. The brown ceramics and the warm colored details fit perfectly with the custom made double shade w...
Ceramic
$1,395Sale Price|20% Off
large 43cm Ceramic Table Light by BITOSSI Italy for BERGBOMS, Sweden 1960s
By Bitossi, Bergboms
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Ceramic table light base Producer: BITOSSI, Italy for BERGBOMS, Sweden Decade: 1960s This original vintage ceramic Pottery light base was produced by BITOSSI in Italy for Swedish light producer BERGBOMS in the 1960s. It is made of solid pottery and has coloration in main color of white beige on the bottom and on the top shining silver tone surface finish. The light base is marked with production number and made in Italy. A very collectible and very rare item of the Bergboms Bitossi collection...
Ceramic, Pottery
Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A fantastic pair of ceramic table lamps by Bitossi. These lamps are brown ceramic in the center with a metallic glaze at the top and bottom. Newly rewired with new nickel hardwar...
Nickel
Pair of Table Lamps by Bitossi for Bergboms
By Bergboms, Bitossi
Located in Karlstad, SE
Pair of table lamps featuring ceramic bases produced by Bitossi and mounted by Bergboms during the 1970s. The cylindrical bodies are decorated with a repeating geometric relief patte...
Ceramic
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
$2,231 / item
H 47 in W 23 in D 23 in
Double World by Ango – Hand-Woven Rattan Sculptural Floor Lamp (Organic Modern)
By Ango
Located in Bangkok, TH
Double World by Ango is a sculptural, organic modern floor lamp hand-woven from kilometres of superfine natural rattan. Evolving from Ango’s well-known Hanging World pendant, this do...
Stainless Steel
Bitossi, Table Lamp, Ceramic, Sweden, 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in High Point, NC
A pink and off-white glazed stoneware table lamp designed and produced by Bitossi, Sweden, 1960s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 13.25” H x 4.75” Diameter Dimensions of Shade (inches)...
Ceramic
$6,423 / item
H 67.33 in Dm 17.72 in
Organic 'Etna' Floor Lamp in Bronze Plaster with Lampshade, Custom
By Benediko
Located in Freiburg im Breisgau, DE
The Etna tree branch floor lamp is individually hammered and hand formed. Each piece has been skillfully finished in plaster to resemble the texture of tree bark and is a unique orga...
Metal
Pair of gilt ceramic lamps by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
Pair of ceramic lamps by Bitossi Pair of gilt ceramic lamps. By Bitossi (manufacturer) for Miranda ( Swedish retailer ) Italy, 1960 Dimensions : Height ( total - with lampshade )...
Ceramic
$4,059 / item
H 63 in W 18 in D 18 in
Double Orbit 'Floor' by Ango, Sculptural Floor Lamp with Natural Rattan
By Ango
Located in Bangkok, TH
This sculptural floor lamp is developed from Double Orbit (ceiling light) in the same architectural lighting form. This is a part of the Ango continuity s...
Stainless Steel
$9,262 / item
H 75.99 in Dm 31.5 in
Tiffany contemporary modernFloor Lamp 80 rose Silk lampshade Brass Silver Glass
By Sabrina Landini
Located in Pietrasanta, IT
TIFFANY The first one, Audrey inspired the iconic Introducing Sabrina's breathtaking collection of Tiffany lamps. Year after year Sabrina Landini perpetuates its exceptional exp...
Brass
1960s Ceramic Lamp, Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Italy
By Aldo Londi
Located in Paris, FR
Vintage ceramic table lamp with lampshade, Italian production Aldo Londi - Bitossi from the 60s. . Ceramic base worked and painted by hand (on the bottom it bears the monogram of...
Ceramic
Italian Table Lamp by Bitossi for Bergboms, 1960
By Bergboms
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful glazed ceramic table lamp by Bitossi Sweden, 1960, in a textured, off-white color with brown geometric decorations. marked 'Italy/Bergboms', linen shade included, wired for...
Ceramic
Space Age Ceramic Lamp with New Lampshade
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Stunning Space Age table lamp or floor lamp. The lamp shade is not original and is a new one. Dimensions including shade: 71 cm H and 48 cm W No light in the foot.
Ceramic
Large 27cm Abstract Ceramic Table Light by Bitossi Italy, 1970s
By Bitossi
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Ceramic table light base Producer: BITOSSI, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage ceramic Pottery light bas...
Pottery
Sold
H 33.08 in Dm 7.09 in
Large and Rare 1960s Ceramic Bitossi "Rimini Blue" Lamp Designed by Aldo Londi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in London, GB
A very large and rare 1960s Bitossi ceramic lamp designed by Aldo Londi in his distinctive "Rimini Blue" colour and intricate pattern detail. This is a rare model and very interestin...
Bronze
Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
A vibrant rimini blue and turquoise ceramic table lamp by Bitossi featuring three rows of inset circular tile patterns and a small foot at base.