Giovanni DeSimone was a mid-century ceramicist whose lively designs seem primed to elicit smiles. He created colorful vessels, platters and wall art, decorated with festive figures, flowers and fauna in a style that reveals an appreciation for Cubism and folk art.
DeSimone was born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1930. His parents were aristocrats, and as a young child, he traveled to Somalia. It was here that he grew fond of African artistic traditions. After World War II, DeSimone moved to the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. He attended the Istituto d’Arte per la Ceramica and discovered a passion for pottery. Upon graduation, DeSimone moved back to Palermo and fell in love with Eliana, who became his wife. The couple had three daughters together.
DeSimone opened his famous ceramics studio in the 1960s, producing dinnerware, serveware and decorative tiles. As the studio grew in success and popularity, DeSimone hired more artists to help with the work. In its heyday, the studio had as many as six ceramicists producing work. While each creator had a unique style, DeSimone set a standard for the colors and themes to be used.
DeSimone died in 1991, passing his workshop down to his daughters Margherita and Susanna. Today, the company still operates in Palermo under the name La Fabbrica della Ceramica, producing ceramic pieces inspired by DeSimone's original designs.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Giovanni DeSimone decorative objects, serveware and wall decorations.
Original Signed Giovanni DeSimone Hand Painted 'Balloons' Italian Ceramic Vase
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Original and signed by Giovanni DeSimone, this hand-painted vase is full of colour and fun Hand painted scene of Italian children playing with balloons A terrific piece of Giovanni a...
Ceramic
$133Sale Price|20% Off
Ceramic Hand-Painted Candlestick Candle Holder by DeSimone, Italy
By DeSimone, Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This vintage figural candlestick by Giovanni Desimone Italy is a unique and eye-catching piece of decorative art. DeSimone was a renowned Italian ceramicist and designer who worked in the mid-20th century, known for his whimsical and colorful ceramic sculptures...
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Italian 1960's Giovanni DeSimone Decorative Pottery Dish
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in New York, NY
Italian 1960's hand painted colorful ceramic dish by Giovanni DeSimone, hand crafted in Italy. Signed on underside, DeSimone, Italy 60.
Pottery
DeSimone of Italy, Hand Painted Colorful Ceramic Plate, 1960s
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Colorful hand painted, large ceramic plate by DeSimone, Italy Signed DeSimone, Italy to reverse, circa 1960s Measures: Height 1 inch, diameter 10 inch In very good condition.
Ceramic
DeSimone of Italy, Hand Painted Bright Happy, Smiley Ceramic Plate, 1960s
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Happy and smiley hand painted ceramic plate from DeSimone, Italy, circa 1960s A super, fun plate from DeSimone Signed DeSimone to reverse circa 1960s Measures: Height 1 inch, dam...
Ceramic
Italian Desimone Hand Painted Pottery Round Decor Plate Fisherman Store Cast Net
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted art pottery, round decor plate depicts a scene of a fisherman folding his fish casting nets on a sunny day ...
Pottery, Paint
Desimone Hand Painted Tall Art Pottery Flower Vase Vessel Olive Picking Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted tall art pottery flower vase, vessel. The glazed vase painting depicts a man and a woman in action pic...
Pottery, Paint
Italian Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Pottery Fish Platter Serving Plate
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted pottery, fish platter, serving plate. The plate is glazed and very colorful. Marked and numbered on underside, 'DeSimone, Italy 21'. ...
Pottery, Paint
Desimone Hand Painted Art Pottery Vase, Vessel with Handles Circus Horses Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone, DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
A glazed and colorful Giovanni Desimone hand painted pottery vase or vessel, circa 1969 from Italy. The painting depicts two men on horses riding in a circus arena and people applaud...
Pottery, Paint
DeSimone Hand Painted Ceramic Water Jug
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Fulton, CA
Hand painted ceramic pitcher by Giovanni DeSimone. Italy, circa. 1970's. Signed on base. 6.75 inches high. 6.5 inches wide. 4 inches deep.
Ceramic
Original Signed, Giovanni DeSimone 'Fisherman With Catch' Ceramic Plate c1960's
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Original and signed by Giovanni DeSimone, this hand-painted little plate is full of colour and life depicting a busy fisherman Small in size, huge on personality - Giovanni at his be...
Ceramic
Original Signed, Giovanni DeSimone 'Fisherman With Spear' Ceramic Plate c1960's
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Original and signed by Giovanni DeSimone, this hand-painted little plate is full of colour and life depicting a busy Sicilian fisherman Small in size, huge on personality - Giovanni ...
Ceramic
$842Sale Price|30% Off
Ceramic Plate De Simone Colored 1960s Sailing Ship with Warriors
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Ceramic Plate De Simone colored 1960s sailing ship with warriors, Fenini, Arabs, Normans towards the island of Sicily to consuist it.
Ceramic
$236Sale Price|20% Off
Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Ceramic Jug / Pitcher, Italy, 1985
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Ceramic Jug / Pitcher, Italy, 1985.
Ceramic
Glorious, Original Signed Giovanni DeSimone Madonna And Child Ceramic Plaque
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Madonna and Child ceramic plaque - a glorious creation by Giovanni DeSimone, Italy A limited edition piece, this is number 25 of 30 Signed to front by G...
Ceramic
$1,263Sale Price|30% Off
Square Bottle Vase Giovanni De Simone 1970s Italian Pottery Picasso Style
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Square bottle vase Giovanni De Simone 1970s Italian Pottery Picasso style.
Ceramic
$495 / item
Desimone Hand Painted Ceramic Vase
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
One-of-kind vase, hand-crafted and hand-painted by Giovanni Desimone. Great design with whimsical images on both sides. Signed and numbered, this rare piece is colorful as the us...
Ceramic
Desimone Ceramic Pitcher Vase
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
One-of-kind handled vase, hand-crafted and hand-painted by Giovanni Desimone. Great design with a whimsical figurative image on the front and other accentuating decor on the sides. ...
Ceramic
Desimone Hand Painted Tall Art Pottery Flute Player Flower Vase Vessel Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted tall art pottery flower vase, vessel. The glazed vase painting depicts a man playing the flute. Marked...
Pottery, Paint
Italian Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Big Art Pottery Flower Vase Vessel Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted tall art pottery flower vase, vessel. The glazed vase painting depicts two fishermen in action catchin...
Pottery, Paint
$2,947Sale Price|30% Off
Large Sculpture DeSimone 1960 Very Special and Rare, Fisherman
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Large sculpture Desimone 1960 very special and rare, fisherman. Made in clay ground, paperwork pieces and decorated with cold colors, very particular and rare in its kind.
Clay, Parchment Paper
$260Sale Price / set|20% Off
Decorative Hand Painted Italian Ceramic Plate and Bowl by DeSimone
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in San Diego, CA
Decorative hand painted ceramic plate and matching bowl by DeSimone of Italy, circa 1964. The set is in very good vintage condition with no chips or ...
Ceramic
Desimone Hand Painted Ceramic Tray Plaque Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
A very large oval platter or plaque by Giovanni Desimone.
Ceramic
Midcentury Italian Pottery Candleholders
By Aldo Londi
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Unknown Importer: Raymore Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Pottery These mid century Italian pottery candle hold...
Pottery
Italian Large Ceramic Vase Hand Painted
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Torquoise Ceramic large vase hand painted in gold 1960. Large vase with gold flowers painted around the whole vase. Tiny crack at the bottom.
Ceramic
$185 / item
H 0.75 in Dm 10 in
Ed Langbein Mid-Century Modern Hand Painted Italian Hilltop Village Plate
By Ed Langbein
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mid-Century Modern pottery plates, designed and hand-painted by the American industrial designer Ed E. Langbein, and manufactured in Italy, circa 1930-1950. Offered individually, ea...
Pottery
A. Martin Vallauris French Provençal Palissy Trompe L’oeil Vegetable Wall Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rarely seen Palissy style Provençal majolica trompe l’oeil wall plaque made and signed by the potter A. Martin, from Vallauris, Cote d’Azur, France, Mid-Century Modern Era, circa ...
Ceramic
Sky Ceramic Plate Hand Painted Glazed Earthenware Italian, Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Hand painted ceramic plate "Sky" series by Pantoù Ceramics, hand thrown and hand painted glazed earthenware. All unique pieces, Italy, 2019. Measure: 40 cm diameter. Pantoù Cerami...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Giovanni de Simone Hand-Painted Jug Vase
By Giovanni de Simone
Located in Skokie, IL
Giovanni de Simone Hand-Painted Jug Vase This three-sided handled jug vase by famed Italian artist Giovanni de Simone (1930-1991) is an original gem. The...
Ceramic
Richard Ginori Giovanni Gariboldi Vase Ceramic 1950 Italy
By Giovanni Gariboldi
Located in Milano, IT
Richard Ginori Giovanni Gariboldi vase ceramic 1950 Italy.
Ceramic
$1,142
H 2.76 in W 12.21 in D 12.21 in
Important Wall Ceramic Abstract Plate Decoration by JN Gerard French Pottery
By Jean Nicolas Gerard
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
J.N. Gerard French ceramic wall plate realised in the 1990s. Excellent original conditions, signed under the base Dimensions: 7 x 31 x 31cm.
Pottery
$697 / item
H 12.6 in Dm 3.55 in
Japanese Modern LAAB Tamu Set of 2 Candle Holders Raku Ceramic Black Green
By LAAB Milano
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Tamu candle holders A metallic effect cover these two tall candle holders so masterfully crafted that these pieces have a mirror effect along their ...
Ceramic
$221Sale Price|25% Off
H 6.5 in Dm 12 in
Large Antique Hand Painted Ironstone Pottery Bowl. English C.1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous ironstone pottery bowl Hand painted decoration Imari inspired " Amherst Japan " pattern No makers mark. Possibly Minton Good condition / tiny hairline on the outside of ...
Pottery
$336Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in Dm 8.27 in
Vintage Spanish Ceramic Porrón, Hand-Painted Rooster, 1960s
By Pablo Picasso, Bitossi, Fratelli Fanciullacci
Located in Valencia, VC
Spanish Mid-Century Ceramic Porrón with Hand-Painted Rooster A very charming Spanish ceramic porrón featuring a beautiful interplay of textures—white glossy spots over a matte cream...
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware
$240 / item
H 5.91 in Dm 5.12 in
Modern Metropolis S Candle Holder Sculpture Raku Ceramic White Crakle
By LAAB Milano
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Metropolis sculptures represent civilization at different stages, starting from contained elements of smaller dimensions getting taller. The cracklè exalt the geometric shapes of these candle holders, result of the Japanese Firing...
Ceramic
Sold
H 14.75 in Dm 8.75 in
Giovanni Desimone Large Italian Art Pottery Vase Mid Century Modern Unusual
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Sarasota, FL
Incredibly unusual vase by Giovanni Desimone. Definitely one of the most unusual designs I've ever come across from Desimone. Signed both to the side of the vase and also to the un...
Pottery
Sold
H 1.75 in W 12 in D 16.5 in
Large Giovanni Desimone Mid-Century Modern Italian Ceramic Fish Platter Tray
By Royal Haeger, Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Giovanni Desimone Italian made ceramic platter with hand painted large yellow fish. This particular platter seems to be quite rare. Giovanni DeSimone (1931-1999) was an Italian cera...
Ceramic, Paint
Desimone Italian Paint Decorated Ceramic Bowl With Fish
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Signed Desimone on the base and the side. An amusing folk style decorated large center bowl with colored fish and fishermen on blue ground. Mottled gray glazed inside. Retailed by Gu...
Ceramic
Sold
H 10 in W 7 in D 6 in
Hand-Painted Ceramic Water RareJug by Giovanni Desimone With Sangria Recipe
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in San Diego, CA
One-of-kind pitcher hand-painted by Giovanni Desimone, great design signed, Made in Italy a rare piece nice large size.
Ceramic
Sold
H 8 in W 7.5 in D 6 in
Hand-Painted Ceramic Water RareJug by Giovanni Desimone With Sangria Recipe
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in San Diego, CA
One-of-kind pitcher hand-painted by Giovanni Desimone, great design signed, Made in Italy a rare piece not as colorful as the usual pieces by him, well-made piece. with Sangria Sicil...
Ceramic
Sold
H 8.67 in Dm 3.15 in
DeSimone Hand Painted Ceramic Bottle, Italian Pottery circa 1960 Era Aldo Londi
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Desimone, hand painted ceramic bottle, Italian Pottery, circa 1960 - Aldo Londi Very beautiful bottle representing a woman carrying a basket of fruits or vegetables on the top of ...
Ceramic
1960s DeSimone Pottery Ceramic Hand Painted Art Plate from Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s DeSimone pottery ceramic hand painted Art Plate from Italy Giovanni Desimone Italy Measures: 8.88 diameter x .88 tall Inscription: Desimone ...
Ceramic, Pottery
1960s DeSimone of Italy Colorful Art Plate Hand Painted Ceramic Pottery
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s DeSimone of Italy colorful ceramic pottery hand painted art plate Giovanni Desimone Italy 8.75 diameter x .88 tall Inscription: CER DESIMON...
Ceramic, Pottery
Sold
H 0.75 in Dm 8.38 in
1960s Desimone Ceramic Pottery Italy Art Plate Yellow Red Green Hand Painted
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Desimone ceramic pottery Italy Art Plate Hand painted in Yellow Red and Green Giovanni Desimone Italy 8.38 diameter x .75 tall Inscription: Desimone Italy 64/15 AC Origin...
Ceramic, Pottery
1960s DeSimone Pottery Italy Ceramic Art Plate Hand Painted Turquoise Flower
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s DeSimone Pottery of Italy Colorful Ceramic Art Hand Painted Turquoise Flower Plate Giovanni Desimone Italy Colorful Turquoise Flower 8.25 diameter x 1 tall Inscription: DE...
Ceramic, Pottery
1960s DeSimone Pottery Italy Colorful Ceramic Art Plate Aqua Flower Bowl
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s DeSimone pottery of Italy colorful ceramic Art hand painted soup bowl plate Giovanni Desimone Italy Measures: 8.5 diameter x 1.63 tall Inscription: DESIMONE Original vint...
Ceramic, Pottery
1960s DeSimone Pottery of Italy Vibrant Ceramic Art Plate Hand Painted
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s DeSimone Pottery of Italy Vibrant Ceramic Art Plate Hand Painted Giovanni Desimone Italy 8.63 diameter x 1 tall Inscription on the back: De...
Ceramic, Pottery