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Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Italian, 1930-1991

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.

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Creator: Giovanni DeSimone
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 ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

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 ...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

1960s DeSimone Pottery of Italy Colorful Ceramic Art Plate Hand Painted Flower
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s, DeSimone pottery of Italy colorful ceramic art hand painted blue flower plate. Giovanni Desimone Italy. Colorful blue flower. Measures: 8.88 diameter x .88 tall. Inscripti...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Bowls and Baskets

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

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Previously Available Items
Vintage Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Decorative Platter by Giovanni DeSimone
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Vintage hand-painted Italian ceramic decorative platter by Giovanni DeSimone (1969). One of two platters on hand in the gallery (one is the face of a woman and the other, a man), this piece exemplifies his use of vivid colour as a pottery trademark. The bright Sicilian sun encouraged such use of colour. Another evident inspiration in the artist's creation was cubism. Cubism created a new dimension to painting which abandoned traditional Renaissance era perspective. Objects and figures were portrayed from various angles. That inspiration is less evident in this piece than in the other. The bright colours and exaggerated features here however, demonstrate optimism and even a sense of humour in the maker. This platter is in fair overall condition with a surface hairline crack visible on the lower right which does not affect the integrity of the piece. An original pottery sticker remains affixed to the underside. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video will be provided. About the Artist: Giovanni DeSimone (1930-1991) was born in Palermo, Sicily to Italian aristocrats. As a young child he traveled to Somalia, and his experiences there clearly stayed with him and inspired his life’s work, which demonstrated an appreciation for and a belief in the value of what is simple and unsophisticated as well as an appreciation for the cubist movement that was popularised by Picasso, Braque and Gris in the early 20th-Century. DeSimone relocated to Emilia-Romagna following WWII where he enrolled in the famed Istituto d’Arte per la Ceramica in Florence. It was there he found his life’s calling; pottery became his passion. After completing his studies, he and his family returned to Sicily. Nostalgic for his native land now seen through adult eyes, Giovanni finally felt at home. The DeSimone ceramics...
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Rare Ceramics Giovanni de Simone Palermo, 1960 Cubist
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Giovanni Desimone bowls and baskets for sale on 1stDibs.

Giovanni DeSimone bowls and baskets are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Giovanni DeSimone bowls and baskets, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original bowls and baskets by Giovanni DeSimone were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider bowls and baskets by Toni Zuccheri, Sergio Asti, and Fausto Melotti. Prices for Giovanni DeSimone bowls and baskets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $195 and can go as high as $968, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $195.

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