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.
Aldo Londi for Raymor Rimini Blue Pottery Tripod Occasional Table, 1950s
By Aldo Londi, Rosenthal Netter, Bitossi
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Aldo Londi for Bitossi incised blue & green Tripod Side Table for Raymor. Featuring a handcrafted imprinted, lipped circular glazed ceramic surface with incised decorative accents, i...
Iron
Blue Green Aldo Londi Bitossi for Raymor Pottery Table Top on Wrought Base
By Aldo Londi, Raymor, Bitossi
Located in Ferndale, MI
Beautifully blended colors of blues and green fired on Aldo Londi designed pottery table. Pattern is incised into table top. Top sits on flat band wrought iron...
Wrought Iron
$1,267Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.9 in Dm 16.93 in
Italian Midcentury Brass and Tinted Glass Occasional Table, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This round tripod occasional table was made in Italy in the 1950s in the manner of Ico Parisi. It has got a brass base, a bronze tinted (smoked) glass tabletop and brass handle and d...
Brass
Round Marble Top Tripod Brass Base Legs Occasional Butler Side Table
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern solid brass or bronze base occasional side table with carry handle attribute to Parzinger.
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Kittinger Tripod End Tables, Dark Walnut Wood, Antique Design, 1950s
By Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of round top dark walnut/espresso lacquered finish wood side or end tables by Kittinger Furniture Company. Solid hard wood construction tables resting on center post with tripod...
Wood
1950s English Mahogany Tripod Table in Georgian Revival Style
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
An elegant English tripod table dating from the 1950s, crafted entirely in mahogany and designed in the Georgian Revival style. The circular top is finished with a raised, dark-stain...
Wood
Spanish 1950s Vintage Hand-Forged Iron Tripod Side Table
Located in Buchanan, NY
Spanish 1950s Vintage Hand-Forged Iron Tripod Side Table This elegant vintage Spanish side table from the 1950s features a hand-forged iron construction, exemplifying artisanal cra...
Iron
$4,500
H 30 in W 49.5 in D 29 in
French Pastry Table, Hand-Crafted Marble Top, Wrought Iron Base, 1900
Located in Essex, MA
Lovely French marble top pastry table with fancy black wrought iron scrolled leg bottom with attractive brass decoration. The marble top is a veined beige marble. Fabulous size for ...
Marble, Brass, Wrought Iron
Antique Tile Top Wrought Iron Base Garden Patio Sunroom Table
By Salterini, Catalina Pottery
Located in New York, NY
Charming garden, patio, occasional, side, end table having a wrought iron base and a top comprised of four scenic tiles. The table is in good estate condition, the base is in later,...
Wrought Iron
Aldo Tura Green Goatskin Square Side Table
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Square side table made by Aldo Tura in green lacquered goatskin and four brass ros executed circa 1970s, in excellent condition. Along with artists like Piero Fornasetti and Carlo Bu...
Brass
Decorative Wrought Iron Stone Top Table C 1930
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite two-part Italian sectional settee, crafted in the 1950s, is a refined example of mid-century Italian design. Defined by its sculptural curves and streamlined silhouett...
Stone, Wrought Iron
1950s Italian Occasional Table in the Style of Carlo Mollino
By Carlo Mollino
Located in Hanover, MA
1950s Italian modernist three leg table made of mahogany stained beechwood and an asymmetric glass top which is roughly the shape of a heart or a guitar pick. Two insect-like arms re...
Mahogany
Rosenthal Netter Bamboo Display Pedestal, Plant Stand, Italy, 1950s
By Rosenthal Netter
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Great bamboo stand with a brown laminate top, made in Italy for Rosenthal Netter design attributed to Franco Albini.
Bamboo, Rattan
Walnut Base Marble-Top Table Lamp
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice brass marble and walnut combination end side table floor lamp.
Mid-Century Bitossi Candle Holders '4'
By Bitossi
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Four nice candle holders from the famous Italian pottery Bitossi.
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Bitossi Ceramic Side Table
By Bitossi
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Aldo Londi for Bitossi ceramic iron and teak side table, circa late 1960s. This seldom seen example has a multi colored ceramic top with fluted teak stem and flared iron legs.
Iron
Aldo Londi Bitossi Blue Ceramic Teak Table
By Aldo Londi, Raymor, Bitossi
Located in Westport, CT
Aldo Londi Bitossi blue ceramic teak and black iron base table with paper label and signed number underside. Original condition. Retailed for R...
Iron
Ceramic Table by Bitossi, Italy, circa 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Greding, DE
Side table on a smooth wooden stand with a round green ceramic tabletop in the style of Aldo Londi. The glazed surface is decorated with radial carved decors. Stamped below “le ceram...
Ceramic, Wood
Ceramic Side Table by Bitossi for Raymor
By Bitossi, Raymor
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Ceramic occasional table by Bitossi for Raymor.
Steel
Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Table
By Aldo Londi, Raymor, Bitossi
Located in New Windsor, NY
Rimini blue pottery top, tapered teak shaft and a tripod iron base. Fully signed on bottom, Italy, 2395A, circa 1960. Excellent, original condition...
Iron
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Ceramic Metal and Teak Side Table
By Bitossi
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Aldo Londi for Bitossi side table, circa early 1960s. This rare example has a tripod metal base, teak shaft and beautifully textured and glazed cera...
Rare Ceramic “Tulip” Side Table by Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designer: Bitossi. Manufacturer: Bitossi. Period/Style: Mid-Century Modern. Country: Italy. Date: 1960s. Dimensions: 18.5″ H x 13″ W. Materials: Glazed ceramic. Condition: S...
Ceramic
Ceramic Side Table by Bitossi for Raymor
By Raymor, Bitossi
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Ceramic Side Table by Bitossi for Raymor.
Steel