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
$716Sale Price|57% 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
$360Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.5 in Dm 4 in
Mid-Century Modern Giovanni de Simone Hand-Painted Ceramic 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
Richard Ginori Giovanni Gariboldi Vase Ceramic 1950 Italy
By Giovanni Gariboldi
Located in Milano, IT
Richard Ginori Giovanni Gariboldi vase ceramic 1950 Italy.
Ceramic
Desimone bottle / vase /vessel ceramic/pottery signed dated.
By DeSimone, Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare ceramic / pottery bottle by Desimone , attributed to himself creator and founder Giovanni DeSimone , also dated . appears 1961 .
Ceramic
Hand-Painted Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Vase by Giovanni DeSimone
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
1970s Italian Pottery Vases
Located in New York, NY
1970s mid-century modern Italian pottery decorative vases, in vintage original condition with minor wear and patina due to age and use.
Pottery
Vintage Italian Hand Painted Floral Ceramic Vase
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Vintage Italian Hand-Painted Floral Ceramic Vase with vibrant floral motifs and timeless craftsmanship, ideal for decor or collectible display. ...
Ceramic
Hand Painted Ceramic Bowl by Giovanni De Simone 1970s
By Giovanni de Simone
Located in Milano, MI
Hand-painted ceramic bowl by Giovanni De Simone, made in the 1970s Ø cm 22 h cm 5 Ceramiche De Simone represents excellence in Sicilian craftsmanship, with a history rooted in the ...
Ceramic
Franco Bucci Italian White Ceramic Bottle Vase, 1970s
By Franco Bucci
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian ceramic vase designed by Italian artist Franco Bucci, Pesaro; white glazed ceramic, marked under the base, 1970s.
Ceramic
1970s Art Pottery Blue Brown Abstract Vase by Wheeler Pottery
By Wheeler
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, 1970s Art Pottery Abstract Vase Small Vessel by Wheeler Pottery Maker stamped. Dimensions: 5" diameter x 4" H Please take a look at our listings. We have an...
Pottery
$1,850
H 14 in Dm 11 in
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
Mid-Century Modernist Hand Painted Ceramic Vase, Signed Thor
Located in New York, NY
This refined Mid Century Modern ceramic vase was realized by the esteemed maker Thor in Denmark circa 1960. It offers a cylindrical body, and dramatically sloped shoulders that curve upwards to a truncated neck and round mouth- all in a beautiful ecru hue. The body of the piece has been meticulously hand painted with a diamond motif- at points clustered, and at others represented as floating individuals diamonds- in a surprising and sophisticated tones of marigold, persimmon, chocolate and white. The grain of the ceramic substrate beneath shows through the glaze imbuing it with a sumptuous texture. With its clean modernist lines and elegant color palate, this piece embodies the qualities that discerning collectors of first rate Scandinavian Mid Century ceramics...
Ceramic
Cubist-Style Studio Stoneware Pottery Vase after Pablo Picasso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Intriguing Cubist-style studio stoneware vase with a distortion of a woman's face to both sides. Nice textural elements: mottling to the surface along with linear and geometric motif...
Stoneware
$1,305
H 14.75 in Dm 6.5 in
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
Handpainted Italian Mini Vase by Giovanni DeSimone Italy
By Giovanni de Simone
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Vibrant and colorful Italian piece of ceramic.
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
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 fruit...
Ceramic