Pair of Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s
View Similar Items
Pair of Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Aldo Londi (Designer),Bitossi (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)Diameter: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Lamps without shades are 22.5 H Lamps with shades are 38.5 H Shade Dimensions are 17.5 DIA TOP, 18.5 DIA BOTTOM, 16 IN H.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: TL-VINT-2491stDibs: LU2256310646143
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.
- Rimini Blue Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Los Angeles, CAA beautiful ceramic lamp in rimini blue by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s. Newly rewired and fitted with a custom made shade in linen.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Linen
- Midcentury Studio Pottery Ceramic Lamp, 1960sLocated in Los Angeles, CAA vintage studio pottery ceramic lamp with new wiring and new shade. Measures : 6" wide 5.5" deep and 23" high / 33.5" high with shade. Lamp shad...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Solid Teak Carved Lamp, Denmark, 1960sLocated in Los Angeles, CAA vintage 1960s solid teak carved lamp. Recently rewired and fitted with a custom shade in linen.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsLinen, Teak
$1,800 Sale Price20% Off - Post-Modern Travertine Table Lamp, Italy, 1970sLocated in Los Angeles, CAA vintage 1970s Italian post-modern table lamp in travertine. Newly rewired and fitted with a custom shade in silk. The travertine has a new honed finish.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsTravertine
- Pair of 1960s Walnut End TablesBy Lane FurnitureLocated in Los Angeles, CAPair of 1960s sculpted walnut end tables with glass tops. In overall excellent condition. Glass tops are original. Sold as a pair. Made by Lane.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsGlass, Walnut
$2,950 / set - Pair of 1960s Side Chairs in BoucléLocated in Los Angeles, CAPair of 1960s armless side chairs, newly upholstered in an Italian wool blend bouclé. The bases have been recently brass plated. In overall excelle...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy Pair of Table Lamps, circa 1960sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Peabody, MAPair of table lamps in unglazed terracotta with wraparound corded details by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, made in Italy circa 1960s. Measure 26" high to top of socket, 34" high to top of ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsTerracotta, Cord
- Vintage Italian Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Italian ceramic table lamp by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960s Italian mid-century modern table lamp in Rimini blue glace wit...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Handmade Ceramic Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Nürnberg, BayernRare model of table lamp by Aldo Londi for Italian manufacturer Bitossi. The lamp is in very good vintage condition. The lamps measure 44cm up to the socket. Please note that the s...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Pair of Italian Pottery Lamps by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Aldo Londi, Marcello Fantoni, Raymor, Bitossi, FantoniLocated in Houston, TXPair of Italian pottery lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Stunning and unusual pair of Italian pottery lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. These masterfully created glazed pottery lamps...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
MaterialsPottery
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi Italy Mondrian Design Ceramic Table Lamp, 1960sBy Aldo Londi, Bitossi, RaymorLocated in Atlanta, GAThis striking 1960s Aldo Londi for Bitossi geometric ceramic table lamp was imported and distributed in the United States by Raymor of New York. This table lamp features a "Mondrian" style design with a cylindrical geometric shape and a bright yellow semi-gloss enamel finish contrasted by a textured matte black. There is no visible maker's mark. For fifty years, Bitossi's creative director, Aldo Londi, brought the ceramics manufacturer into the modern era with his abstract motifs and vivid use of colors. The lamp does not come with the shade photographed (for in situ only purpose). The table lamp electricity was updated to fit US standards. The harp and finial are included with the lamp sale...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsFaience, Ceramic
- Italian Mid-Century Large Pottery Table Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, 1960sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Morazzone, VareseBeautiful and quite rare set of two large pieces pottery lamps designed by Aldo Londi and made by Bitossi, Italy, during the 1960s. Made of heavy pottery - ceramic and glazed in gor...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery