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Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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
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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery

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.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

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.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

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 ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Pottery, Paint

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.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Pottery

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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

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.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

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.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

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.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

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'. ...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Pottery, Paint

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Previously Available Items
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Hand-Painted Ceramic Water RareJug by Giovanni Desimone With Sangria Recipe
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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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1960s Italian Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Decorative Platter by Giovanni DeSimone
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in London, GB
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 man and the other, a woman), 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 this creation is cubism. Cubism created a new dimension to painting which abandoned traditional Renaissance era perspective. Objects and figures were portrayed from various angles. In this hand-painted ceramic, the figure is defined in segments like a coloured shard of glass outlined with bold markings. Colourful circles and other geometric shapes also figure in the work. The platter is in good overall condition. It is signed by the maker on the front. An original sticker remains affixed to the underside. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request, a video can 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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1960s Italian Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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Ceramic

Desimone Hand Painted Ceramic Pitcher, Italian Pottery circa 1960 Era Aldo Londi
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Desimone, hand painted ceramic pitcher, Italian Pottery, circa 1960 - Era Aldo Londi Very nice pitcher representing a laughting man with ...
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1960s Giovanni Desimone Italian Pottery Plate Set of 4
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Ferndale, MI
Set of four Giovanni De Simone (1930-1991) hand painted plates, Italy 1965. I appreciate the vibrant colors with accents of gray, playful style, and handmade feel of DeSimone pottery.
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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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Cups by Giovanni DeSimone, Italy, C 1960, Expresso Cups
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in New York, NY
Decorative expresso cups by Giovanni DeSimone, Italy, C 1960. Three beautiful ceramic cups. One cup has a floral motif, the other two cups have decorative...
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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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Ceramic

Giovanni DeSimone Hand Painted Fish Plate, Italy, 1964
By Giovanni DeSimone, Pablo Picasso
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Giovanni Desimone hand painted fish plate / charger / centerpiece 1964.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

DeSimone of Italy, Hand Painted Bright Red and Blue Flowers Ceramic Plate, 1960s
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Colorful hand painted blue and red flowers, large ceramic plate by DeSimone, Italy, circa 1960s A super, fun plate from Desimone Signed DeSimone to reverse, circa 1960s Measures: Hei...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

Giovanni DeSimone Signed Large Round Hand Painted Minstrel Italian Plate
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Colourful Italian Minstrel hand painted ceramic plate by Giovanni DeSimone of Italy Giovanni's unmistakable artistry makes this a great collectors piece Signed to front by Giovanni D...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Ceramic

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...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Paint, Pottery

Giovanni Desimone serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.

Giovanni DeSimone serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Bruno Munari, Ambrogio Pozzi, and Fratelli Fanciullacci. Prices for Giovanni DeSimone serveware, ceramics, silver and glass can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $154 and can go as high as $968, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $390.

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