Aldo Londi Ceramic Table Lamp for Bitossi
View Similar Items
Aldo Londi Ceramic Table Lamp for Bitossi
About the Item
- Creator:Bitossi (Manufacturer),Aldo Londi (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 40 in (101.6 cm)Diameter: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Shows minor wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU97113877402
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 the famed Italian company Bitossi Ceramiche embody a creative spectrum that ranges from the playful and earthy to the high-minded and provocative. Based in Florence, Bitossi draws on craft traditions that date back to the 1500s. These find expression in Bitossi pottery that includes 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.
Bitossi 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 cats, owls, horses and other 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. After hiring Sottsass to design ceramics for his New York imports company, Raymor, American entrepreneur Irving Richards connected the Milanese design polymath to Londi, who introduced Sottsass to ceramics in the 1950s.
During that decade, 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 Italian Ceramic Bird Sculptures for BitossiBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Los Angeles, CADimensions: Large - 17in H x 3in W x 4in D Medium - 15in H x 3in W x 4in D Small - 12in H x 3in W x 4in DCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic
- Aldo Londi Italian Ceramic Penguin Bird Sculpture for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Los Angeles, CAAldo Londi Italian Ceramic Penguin Bird Sculpture for BitossiCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic
- Mid-Century Modern Italian Ceramic Table Lamp for BitossiBy BitossiLocated in Los Angeles, CADimensions 37.50in H x 9in W x 9in D Shade 12in H x 18in W x 18in D ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing h...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Gordon & Jane Martz Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp for Marshall StudiosBy Marshall Studios, Gordon & Jane MartzLocated in Los Angeles, CA35in H x 8in W x 8in D Lamp Shade: 10in H x 15in W ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Linen, Wood, Walnut
- David Cressey & Robert Maxwell "Teardrop Sunburst" Ceramic Table Lamp for EarthgBy Robert Maxwell and David CresseyLocated in Los Angeles, CATransforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsStoneware, Linen
- David Cressey Glazed Drip Texture Ceramic Table Lamp for Architectural PotteryBy Architectural Pottery, David CresseyLocated in Los Angeles, CADimensions 35in H x 10in W x 10in D Lamp Shade: 12in H x 18in W ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing histo...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Oversized Ceramic Lamp by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in East Hampton, NYThis very large Bitossi lamp designed by Aldo Londi features rich vibrant colors and a rough volcanic style textured print to the base. Labelled and in good original wiring working c...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
$2,880 Sale Price20% Off - Aldo Londi, Bitossi Italian Ceramic LampsBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in New York, NYPair of Italian hand decorated ceramic lamps feauring a light brown background and exhuberant stylized fauna and flowers in light blue, lilac, and celadon. Rewired for use in the USA...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
$5,850 Sale Price / set25% Off - Vintage Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in London, GBA stunning vintage Italian ceramic table lamp by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. It was made in Italy and dates from around the 1960’s. It is in beautiful rimini blue, with a lovely design ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Geometric Aldo Londi for Bitossi Ceramic Table Lamp, Italy 1950'sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in New York, NYAldo Londi (1911–2003). Striking ceramic “Mondrian” table lamp by Aldo Londi for historic Italian ceramics house Bitossi. With brass mounts and a ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury Table Lamps by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Karlstad, SEPair of Mid-Century Modern ceramic table lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, manufactured in Sweden. Condition: Very good/excellent. Original shades with signs of age. Measures: Heigh...Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
$3,848 / set - Tall Aldo Londi for Bitossi Orange & Yellow Ceramic Table Lamp, 1950sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Bainbridge, NYStatuesque Aldo Londi for Bitossi Studios Vibrant handcrafted Ceramic Table Lamp. Featuring a textured gloss glazed Orange cylindrical column with a bulbous Bright Yellow ball top and White enameled...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal