Tall Aldo Londi for Bitossi Patchwork Vase
About the Item
- Creator:Aldo Londi (Designer),Bitossi (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)Diameter: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950-1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good condition with no visible cracks, chips, crazing or hairlines.
- Seller Location:Garnerville, NY
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Garnerville, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Ashtray and StandBy Rosenthal Netter, Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Garnerville, NYAldo Londi for Bitossi fused glass decorated ceramic ashtray and walnut stand. Classic "peace sign" ashtray in green, yellow and blue. Overall brown glaze with a rough, textured exte...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery, Walnut
- Futuristic Mid-Century Modern Fat Lava Ceramic Tripod VaseBy Frankoma Pottery, Fulper PotteryLocated in Garnerville, NYAmazing futuristic Mid-Century Modern fat lava and flambe blue glazed tripod vase, circa 1950-1960. Glossy to mat drip glazed vessel with three splayed legs holding up a space saucer type bowl. The glaze colors range from a deep gloss blue to a grayish blue mat...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Monumental Brutalist Floor Vase, Signed IngeLocated in Garnerville, NYMonumental 1960s Brutalist slab built floor vase. This is another amazing piece of architectural pottery offered here signed by Inge. Incised decor. Good condition with no visible ha...Category
Vintage 1960s American Brutalist Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware, Clay
- Large Slab Built Volcanic Glaze Architectural Pottery Vase, 1959Located in Garnerville, NYLarge slab built architectural pottery vase. Purchased from a White Plains, NY estate that had multiple pieces by this particular artist. Little biographica...Category
Vintage 1950s American Brutalist Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic, Earthenware, Pottery
- 1970 Brutalist Studio Pottery Floor Vase by IngeLocated in Garnerville, NYHandmade slab built monumental Brutalist pottery vase. Meticulously decorated and glazed with organic and geometric patterns and shapes. Applied neck. Signed and dated, Inge, 70 a th...Category
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Vases
MaterialsStoneware
- Ebru Marbelized Ceramics GroupingLocated in Garnerville, NYA grouping of three marbleized ceramics vessels. These pieces preserve the art and technique of the old Turkish tradition of paper marbeling and other surfaces. Circa 1980-90. The la...Category
Vintage 1980s Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Midcentury Bitossi Vase by Aldo LondiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Waddinxveen, ZHMidcentury pattern Vetrata vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Italy. Black and blue on a brushed background.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Midcentury Bitossi Vase by Aldo LondiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Waddinxveen, ZHMidcentury pattern Vetrata vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Italy. Black, blue, orange, brown, grey and yellow on a brushed background.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Midcentury Bitossi Vase by Aldo LondiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Waddinxveen, ZHMidcentury pattern Vetrata vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Italy. Black, blue, orange, brown, grey and yellow on a brushed background.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Mid-Century Bitossi Vase by Aldo LondiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Waddinxveen, ZHMid-century pattern Vetrata vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Italy. Black, blue, orange and yellow on a brushed background.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Midcentury Bitossi by Aldo LondiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Waddinxveen, ZHNice vase from Bitossi by Aldo Londi. The Rimini pattern executed in glossy dark green.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic Vase, 1960sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Barcelona, ES'Rimini blu' glazed ceramic vase designed by Aldo Londi for by Bitossi. Italy, 1960s. This eye-catching vase is made of blue glazed ceramic with engraved patterns surrounding the cen...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery, Terracotta