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
$757Sale 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
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 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
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
Mid-Century Modern Hand-Painted Ceramic Vase by Giovanni DeSimone
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
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
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 Mid-Century Modern Hand-Painted Ceramic Vase, Turquoise, 1960s
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
$4,691
H 24.81 in W 14.97 in D 9.85 in
Vase Painted Two-handled Amphora Majolica Renaissance Vessel Italian Ceramic
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
This large luxurious amphora, in majolica handmade in Italy and hand-painted in polychrome, is characterized by a dense presence of naturalistic ornamental motifs that decorate the v...
Ceramic, Majolica
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
$540Sale Price|55% Off
H 15.13 in Dm 3 in
1950s Tall Hand Thrown Cerulean Blue Bud Flower Vase MCM Italian Pottery
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A piece of decor right out of a Giorgio Morandi painting. A hand-thrown organic wavering bottle form narrow neck vase, in high-gloss blue glaze.
Pottery
Richard Ginori Giovanni Gariboldi Vase Ceramic 1950 Italy
By Giovanni Gariboldi
Located in Milano, IT
Richard Ginori Giovanni Gariboldi vase ceramic 1950 Italy.
Ceramic
Antique Arts & Crafts Hand-Painted Art Pottery Vase by Weller Pottery
By Weller Pottery
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Antique Arts & Crafts art pottery vase by Weller Pottery features pink and white floral design on graduated sea foam green to blue ground, artist and maker signed as photographed, ci...
Pottery
$1,924 / item
H 15.75 in W 11.03 in D 6.3 in
Blue Vase Vessel Hand Painted Two-handled Amphora Renaissance Italian Ceramic
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Majolica amphora made and painted by hand, following the original Renaissance painting technique. This sumptuous vase is characterized by the elegant presence of naturalistic ornamen...
Ceramic, Majolica
Mid-Century Modern Hand-Painted Ceramic Vase by Roberto Rigon, Italy
By Roberto Rigon
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Stunning hand painted ceramic by Roberto Rigon 1970. Probably made for olive oil or vinegar to use on the Italians dinner tables of the period.
Ceramic
1950s Mid-Century Modern Hand-Painted Ceramic San Marino Vase
By San Marino Pottery, Bertoncello
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A red veraci vase designed and hand-crafted in San Marino in the Fifties, it's in perfect condition overall. It is a vibrant and eye-catching piece of ceramic art. Hand-painted in bo...
Ceramic
1960s Italian Vase Modigliani Art Pottery Hand Painted Roma
By Giovanni de Simone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1960s Italian Art Pottery Hand Painted Roma floral pattern 11 h x 5.25 diameter made in Italy Modigliani pottery from the 1960s Ro...
Ceramic, Pottery
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
Rare Large Bay Ceramic Vase, Hand-Painted, Mid-Century Modern, Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare Large Bay Ceramic Vase – Germany, 1960s This stunning and rare large ceramic vase is a beautiful example of Bay Keramik’s iconic designs from the 1960s. Made in West Germany, t...
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
DeSimone Pottery Vase Pirate Warrior Italian Raymor Picasso Style
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage DeSimone pottery vase with marauding pirates or warriors on a vibrant orange ground, circa 1960's. Measures: 12 1/4" high, 10" diamete...
Pottery
1960s Giovanni DeSimone Italian Hand Painted Ceramic Pottery Vase ITALY
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Art pottery from Italy DeSimone hand painted ceramic pottery vase. Giovanni De Simone Italian colorful vase 5.63 tall x 3.75 diameter Preowned ...
Ceramic, Pottery, Paint
Giovanni DeSimone Pottery Pitchers Collection Grouping
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Chicago, IL
Giovanni DeSimone pottery pitcher collection grouping Includes 3 pitchers and one covered box. All signed on underside. Dimensions are of tallest one.
Pottery
Desimone Hand Painted Art Pottery Flower Vase Musicians and Proposal Scene 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 proposal scene of a man t...
Pottery, Paint
Italian Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Big Art Pottery Flower Vase, Vessel Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original 1964 Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted tall art pottery flower vase, vessel. The glazed vase painting depicts a man and a woman orange ...
Pottery, Paint
Sold
H 7.38 in Dm 7.5 in
Italian Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Art Pottery Fishermen and Nets Bowl Italy
By DeSimone, Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
A glazed and colorful Giovanni Desimone hand painted pottery bowl from Italy. The painting depicts two fishermen casting their bait nets to catch fish. The bowl is 7.38 inches high...
Pottery, Paint
DeSimone Italian Pottery Vase Picasso Cubist Style Vintage
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Wilton, CT
Large vintage handmade DeSimone pottery vase with cubist portrait, circa 1960s. Nicely done, good design with striking color play. Measures: 15" high, 8" diameter. Excellent condition.
Pottery
Giovanni DeSimone for Vietri Vibrant Hand-Painted Glazed Ceramic Vase
By DeSimone, Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early, signed Giovanni DeSimone for Vietri hand-painted faience Italian vase. The painted scene depicts a capped man in boat with an underwater world pop...
Ceramic
Big Exceptional Vase Giovanni Desimone, 1950
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Big exceptional vase Giovanni Desimone, 1950, enamel casting, with Venturina powder.
Ceramic