Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Midcentury Candle Holder Bowl, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Bitossi (Manufacturer),Aldo Londi (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3 in (7.62 cm)Diameter: 5.25 in (13.34 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.
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1015237446942
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Vienna, Austria
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Square Midcentury Ashtray, Italy, 1950sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed ashtray. Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 1950s. Handcrafted with hand carved geometric ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Very Large Round Rimini Blue Glazed Midcentury Ashtray, 1950sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed ashtray. Very large, has a diameter of 9 1/2 inches, Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 19...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Fish Sculpture Figurine, Italy, 1950sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed fish sculpture. Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 19...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
- Carl Aubock Modernist Walnut Leather Candlestick Candle Holder, Austria, 1950sBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Vienna, ATA rare midcentury candleholder from the 1950s by Carl Auböck. It is completely handmade and has a cylindrical top, made of walnut with a brass interior on leather covered stem and a ...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks
MaterialsMetal, Brass, Iron
- Richard Rohac Brass Candelabra Mid-Century Candle Holder, Vienna, Austria, 1950sBy Richard RohacLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful Austrian modernist three-arm candelabra candleholder / candlestick, made of brass, partly black-finished. Designed by Richard Rohac, manufactured by Atelier Rohac in the...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Candelabras
MaterialsBrass
- Decorative Midcentury Walnut Ball Tripod Candlestick Candleholder, Austria 1950sLocated in Vienna, ATA very beautiful Viennese modernist candlestick from the 1950s, in the style of Carl Aubock. In the shape of a ball, with a nice tripod base, made of walnut wood. Excellent condition...Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Candle Holders
MaterialsWalnut
- Large Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl, 1950sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESItalian midcentury Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini blue ceramic centerpiece bowl, Italy, 1950-1960s. Unusual large scale 14,17 in diameter Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Bl...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces
MaterialsPottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blu Glazed Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl, 1950sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESMid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Blu) round footed bowl or centerpiece, Italy, 1950s-1960s. Designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi. Handcrafted in Italy wit...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsPottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
- Midcentury Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic VaseBy 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, Terracotta, Pottery
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blu Ceramic Round Bowl, 1950sBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Barcelona, ESRimini Blue Bitossi Aldo Londi Bowl, Glazed Ceramic Italian midcentury Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini blue glazed ceramic circular bowl. Italy, 1950-1960s. Beautiful blue glazed (Rimini B...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsPottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
- Aldo Londi Bitossi, Midcentury Rimini Blue Ceramic Candleholder Incised FloralBy BitossiLocated in Rothley, LeicestershireCandleholder by Aldo Londi for Bitossi of Italy, Rimini blue ceramic jug shaped with hand incised floral decoration, circa 1970s Measures: Height 5...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks
MaterialsCeramic
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic Rectangular Ashtray Bowl VidepocheBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESItalian handcrafted blue glazed ceramic rectangular ashtray / bowl with hand-carved geometric designs in cobalt blue and turquoise colors. The 'Rim...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery, Terracotta