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.
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
$913Sale Price|20% 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
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
$630
H 11.75 in W 7.75 in D 0.5 in
Antique KPM Porcelain Style Plaque "Madonna Della Sedia" After Raphael
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Atlanta, GA
Antique KPM Porcelain Style Plaque "Madonna Della Sedia" After Raphael (Italian, 15th - 16th century). A fine quality porcelain plaque with hand painted enamel surface decorated wit...
Enamel
Alain Maunier 1960s French Ceramic Coffee Set
By Vallauris
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible ceramic coffee set made by French ceramic maker Alain Maunier in Vallauris, 1960's. Set includes 1x large coffee pot with lid, 1x sugar bowl with lid, 1x creamer pot witho...
Ceramic
$227
H 10.63 in W 9.45 in D 1.58 in
Mid Century Design Ceramic Wall Tile Decoration, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1960s - Good original condition - Marked jr.
Ceramic
$799
H 8.94 in W 8.94 in D 1.11 in
Modernist West German Ceramic Wall Plate Object by Helmut Schäffenacker, 1960s
By Helmut Friedrich Schäffenacker
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Ceramic wall plate Decade: 1960s Producer: Atelier Schäffenacker, Ulm Germany Design: Helmut Schäffenacker This original vintage ceramic wall plate...
Ceramic
$17,081
H 13.39 in W 15.36 in D 2.17 in L 13.39 in
'L’Abbandonato' Antique Pietra Dura Plaque Signed Giovanni Montelatici, c 1910
By Giovani Montelatici
Located in London, GB
A magnificent and very rare pietra dura plaque made by Giovanni Montelatici in Florence, Italy, c. 1910. The painting is a mosaic of hardstones and semi precious stones and is of t...
Stone
$1,085
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
$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
Madonna and Child, Fine Berlin KPM Plaque, Signed A. Deckelmann
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Madonna and Child, Fine Berlin KPM Plaque Last quarter of the 19th century After Raphael, depicting the Madonna and child with a river and city in the dis...
$19,850Sale Price|39% Off
H 44.25 in W 51.38 in D 3 in
Italian 18th Century Oil on Canvas "Madonna & Child" - After Giovanni Lanfranco
By Giovanni Lanfranco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large Italian 18th century oil on canvas "Madonna and Child" after Giovanni Lanfranco (Italian, 1582-1647). The impressive artwork d...
Canvas, Giltwood
$1,256
H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 1.19 in
Giovanni de Simone Colored Ceramic Fish Squared Tile Plate, Italy 1960s
By Pablo Picasso, Giovanni de Simone
Located in Rome, IT
Beautiful squared wall mounted tile plate in colored ceramic representing three fishes by the Italian artisti Giovanni De Simone. Giovanni De Simone was a great Sicilian artist...
Ceramic, Terracotta, Pottery
$1,096Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in W 11.03 in D 0.79 in
Les Argonautes Ceramic Panel, France, Vallauris, 1960s
By Les Argonautes
Located in Paris, FR
Les Argonautes (Frédérique Bourguet and Isabelle Ferlay), French workshop created in Vallauris, south of France, in 1953 and active until the death of Frederique Bourguet in 1997.
Ceramic
Italian School Painting of Madonna and Child
Located in Woodbury, CT
19th century Italian School oil on canvas of Madonna and child. Gilt frame.
Canvas
$380
H 5 in W 7 in D 5 in
Italian Sgraffito Ceramic Bowl in the Style of Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in San Carlos, CA
This hand-thrown terracotta bowl was made in Italy in the 1960s, in the style of Aldo Londi's celebrated designs for Bitossi. Its gently oval form rises in three stepped registers, e...
Pottery
$571
H 8.27 in W 5.12 in D 8.27 in
1960s by Giotto Stoppino for Brambilla Italian Design Ceramic White Vase
By Fratelli Brambilla, Giotto Stoppino
Located in Brescia, IT
"Aster" series White pottery vase "Brambilla" mark impressed Excellent condition.
Pottery
$3,655Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.82 in W 18.51 in D 1.19 in
Les Argonautes Ceramic Panel, France, Vallauris, 1960s
By Les Argonautes
Located in Paris, FR
Les Argonautes (Frédérique Bourguet and Isabelle Ferlay), French workshop created in Vallauris, south of France, in 1953 and active until the death of Frederique Bourguet in 1997.
Ceramic
Woman on Majolica Tile Giovanni de Simone 1960s Italian Design
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Woman on Majolica tile Giovanni de Simone 1960s Italian design.
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...
Ceramic
Sold
H 0.4 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Original Signed by Giovanni DeSimone, Italy, Hand Painted Ceramic Tile Grapes
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Signed by Giovanni Desimone, this original hand painted ceramic tile of a man with grapes and bird is full of color and vibrancy - typical of Giovanni's work, Signed to front by Gio...
Ceramic
Sold
H 0.4 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Original Signed by Giovanni DeSimone, Italy, Hand Painted Ceramic Tile 'Fishing'
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Signed by Giovanni DeSimone, this original hand painted ceramic tile of a fisherman bringing in his catch is full of color and vibrancy, typ...
Ceramic
Sold
H 4.38 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Italian Giovanni DeSimone Hand Painted Art Pottery Decor Mug, Cup Fisherman Net
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted art pottery, decor mug or cup with a scene of a fisherman casting his net an...
Pottery, Paint
Sold
H 0.88 in Dm 8.75 in
Italian DeSimone Hand Painted Pottery Round Decor Plate Big Fish Fishermen Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni DeSimone hand painted art pottery, round decor plate depicts a scene of fishermen in a boot catching a big fish on a sunny day. ...
Pottery, Paint
Sold
H 3.75 in W 4 in D 3 in
Italian Giovanni DeSimone Hand Painted Art Pottery Decor Milk, Creamer Jug Italy
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni DeSimone hand painted art pottery, decor milk or creamer jug with a scene of a fisherman casting nets of sh...
Pottery, Paint
Sold
H 1.5 in W 9.38 in D 9.38 in
Italian Giovanni Desimone Hand Painted Art Pottery Square Decor Plate, Fisherman
By Giovanni DeSimone
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Giovanni Desimone hand painted art pottery, square decor plate with a scene of a fisherman casting his net. The pla...
Pottery, Paint