Italian Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Glazed Ceramic, Gold and Brass Hinged Box
View Similar Items
Italian Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Glazed Ceramic, Gold and Brass Hinged Box
About the Item
- Creator:Aldo Londi (Designer),Bitossi (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 4 in (10.16 cm)Width: 5.85 in (14.86 cm)Depth: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:North Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU809812040513
Aldo Londi
Master Italian ceramist Aldo Londi created a range of decorative objects in the latter half of the 20th century for the manufacturer Bitossi. In addition to the small-scale animal sculptures for which he is best known, Londi designed a variety of ceramics for the famed company that includes vases, bowls and desk accessories. Collectors know that vintage Aldo Londi pottery is marked by deep attention to detail and an integration of rich, alluring hues typically associated with the Mediterranean.
Londi was born in Montelupo Fiorentino, just outside of Florence, an area that has been known for its pottery since the Renaissance. Londi showed an early interest in the craft, apprenticing at the Fratelli Fanciullacci ceramic workshop when he was only 11 years old. He worked at the company until he left to fight in World War II. After returning to Montelupo Fiorentino in 1946, Londi became the creative director at Bitossi — a position he held for more than 50 years.
Londi's fresh and unique style breathed new life into Bitossi. He prioritized the production of high-quality and handmade decorative objects and created many of Bitossi's pottery lines himself. The most famous of Londi's Bitossi collections is the Rimini Blu line of animals and vases, which debuted in 1955. The collection is characterized by geometric and whimsical patterns and is recognizable for its marvelous blue color.
Londi's fame and popularity extended outside of Italy with the help of Raymor. The American import and distribution company introduced many esteemed Italian manufacturers such as Bitossi to boutiques and department stores in the United States. After Raymor founder Irving Richards hired Ettore Sottsass to design ceramics, Richards connected his new recruit to Londi. Decades before he founded a legendary postmodern design collective in Milan called the Memphis Group, Sottsass used the Bitossi kilns to create timeless works that manifest both primitive forms and modern geometries.
In 2021, Bitossi opened the Bitossi Archive Museum at its Montelupo Fiorentino headquarters. Many of the works designed by the company's most esteemed contributor and artistic director, Aldo Londi, are proudly displayed.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Aldo Londi serveware, lighting, decorative objects and more.
Bitossi
Like a Fellini movie, the ceramics of this famed Italian company embody a creative spectrum that ranges from the playful and earthy to the high-minded and provocative. Based in Florence, Bitossi Ceramiche draws on craft traditions that date back to the 1500s. These find expression in the artisanal vintage vases and animal figures by the firm’s longtime art director Aldo Londi, as well as the colorful, totemic vessels designed by the high priest of postmodernism, Ettore Sottsass.
The company was incorporated by Guido Bitossi in 1921, though the family began making art pottery in the mid-19th century. In the 1930s, Londi came aboard, bringing with him a mindset that respected time-honored craft, yet looked also to the future. On the one hand, Londi’s perspective fostered the making of Bitossi’s popular whimsical animal figures, hand-shaped and -carved and finished in a rich azure glaze known as “Rimini Blue.”
But with his other hand, Londi reached out to thoughtful, experimental designers such as Sottsass. Starting in the 1950s, some 20 years before he founded the Memphis postmodern design collective in Milan, Sottsass used the Bitossi kilns to create timeless works that manifest both primitive forms and modern geometries. In later decades, Bitossi would welcome new generations of designers, which have included such names as Ginevra Bocini and Karim Rashid. While always looking forward, Bitossi is firm in their belief that mastery of craft is the first step towards beautiful design. As you will see from the works offered on these pages, that is a winning philosophy.
Find a collection of vintage Bitossi decorative objects, lighting and serveware on 1stDibs.
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi Green Glazed Textural Hallmarked Ceramic Italian VintageBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in North Miami, FLThis unusual and rare vintage Italian Aldo Londi for Bitossi ceramic is of a woman. We have called it the lady in the car or house. The glazed green has incised textural raised desig...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Sterling Silver and Rosewood Hinged Box Mid-Century Modern Desk AccessoryLocated in North Miami, FLThis sterling silver substantial hallmarked Mid-Century Modern box has a beautiful ebonized rosewood interior. The Mayan Aztec design that is engraved and drawn is symbolic of a heri...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Vintage Enzo Mari Travertine And Brass Hinged Box ItalianBy Enzo MariLocated in North Miami, FLThis vintage Italian travertine and brass hinged box is by the architect Enzo Mari. Great desk accessory and cocktail table addition. Very well made. From the 70's.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsTravertine, Brass
- Vintage Silver Plate, Brass and Ebonized Wood Hinged Box ItalianLocated in North Miami, FLThis stunning vintage Italian silver-plate, brass and wood hinged box is a beauty. The twisted brass rope design on the bottom is an interesting element that refines and raises the b...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsSilver Plate, Brass
- Fantoni Style Salt Glaze Blue, Purple Ceramic Bowl Mid-Century Modern, ItalianLocated in North Miami, FLThe beautiful pattern and intricacies of this geometric textural Italian salt glaze ceramic vintage bowl has great influence and style of the work of the ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Vintage Hallmarked Bitossi Incised Off White Ceramic Textural Vase ItalianBy BitossiLocated in North Miami, FLThis vintage off white incised textural hallmarked vase or vessel is signed on the bottom Flavia Montelupo Italy and was the sister company of Bitossi all under the parent corporatio...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
$975 Sale Price35% Off
- Ceramic Box by Aldo Londi Bitossi, Italy, C 1960, Orange with Gold DecorationBy BitossiLocated in New York, NYDecorative ceramic box by Aldo Londi Bitossi, Italy, circa 1960. Signed at the bottom, 79/11, Italy. Organic designs on the lid with gold decorations.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCeramic
- Bitossi Box, Ceramic, Orange, Gold, Geometric, SignedBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in New York, NYBitossi box, ceramic, orange and gold, geometric, signed. Small scale lidded box decorated an alternating pattern of metallic gold triangles over a tangeri...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCeramic
- Bitossi Aldo Londi Italian Mid Century Glazed Decorative Box SignedBy Aldo LondiLocated in Los Angeles, CABitossi Aldo Londi (1911-2003) Italian Mid Century Ceramic Fuse and Glazed Decorative Box with Lid - 1960's, Signed 822B Italy Multi-colored Fused and glazed squares on top of the lidCategory
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCeramic, Glass
- Bitossi Box, Ceramic, Yellow and Orange, Geometric, SignedBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in New York, NYBitossi box, ceramic, yellow and orange, geometric, signed. Small scale box from Aldo Londi's "Torcello" series, with an orange bottom and yellow lid decorated with rows impressed ci...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCeramic
- Mid-century Modern Bitossi Ceramic and Mosaic BowlBy BitossiLocated in Waddinxveen, ZHA Bitossi bowl, ceramic and mosaic glass, various colors. Small scale white glazed rectangular low bowl with mosaic glass. Signed on the bottom with numbers and Italy.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- BITOSSI - Piastrelle Bicolore Series Lidded Ceramic Box - Italy - Circa 1960'sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Chatham, ONBITOSSI (Manufacturer) - ALDO LONDI (Designer) - PIASTRELLE BICOLORE (Series) - Rare Mid Century studio pottery arabesque pattern lidded box - hand finished - mold formed - featuring...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCeramic