Pair of White Italian Midcentury Ceramic Table Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
About the Item
- Creator:Aldo Londi (Designer),Bitossi (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.99 in (66 cm)Diameter: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Power Source:Plug-in
- Voltage:220-240v
- Lampshade:Included
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960s
- Condition:Rewired. Replacements made: new shades. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Berlin, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2170333874212
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: Berlin, Germany
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Pair of Danish Midcentury Ceramic Table Lamps by Michael AndersenBy Michael Andersen & SonLocated in Berlin, DEPair of Danish midcentury table lamps by Michael Andersen This pair of table lamps was produced by Michael Andersen & Søn in the 1960s. Beautiful sculpturally shaped base with bro...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware
- Pair of Danish Midcentury Ceramic Lamps Model 3048 by Einar Johansen for SoholmBy Soholm Pottery, Einar JohansenLocated in Berlin, DEPair of Handmade Danish midcentury ceramic lamps Model 3048 by Einar Johansen for Soholm Stunning table lamps handmade of stoneware with ceramic glazing in different tones of blue. P...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware
- Pair of Royal 7 Midcentury Table Lamps by Ingelise Koefoed for Fog & MørupBy Ingelise Kofoed, Fog & MørupLocated in Berlin, DEPair of Royal 7 Midcentury Table Lamps by Ingelise Koefoed for Fog & Mørup Tall and impressive table lamps with very decorative bold design by Danish ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Pair of Midcentury Handmade Stoneware Table Lamps by Einar Johansen for SoholmBy Søholm Stentøj, Einar JohansenLocated in Berlin, DEPair of midcentury Handmade Stoneware table lamps model 3001 by Einar Johansen for Soholm This pair of stoneware table lamps was designed by Einar Johansen and handmade on the Dan...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsStoneware, Ceramic
- Pair of Midcentury Handmade Stoneware Table Lamps by Einar Johansen for SoholmBy Søholm Stentøj, Einar JohansenLocated in Berlin, DEPair of midcentury Handmade Stoneware table lamps model 3001 by Einar Johansen for Soholm This pair of stoneware table lamps was designed by Einar Johansen and handmade on the Dan...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware
- Tall Black Danish Midcentury Ceramic Table Lamp by Holm Sorensen for SøholmBy Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Soholm PotteryLocated in Berlin, DETall black Danish midcentury ceramic table lamp by Holm Sorensen for Søholm Beautiful tall table lamp designed by Holm Sørensen and Svend Aage Jensen in 1955 for Søholm, Denmark. ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware
- Midcentury Table Lamps by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated 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
- Vintage Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated 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
- Aldo Londi, Bitossi Italian Ceramic LampsBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated 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
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi Pair of Italian Orange & Brown Ceramic LampsBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Pulborough, GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this beautiful pair of Aldo Londi lamps. Dimension: Ø 11 x H 24 cm Please carefully look at the pictures to see the condition before purchasi...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Rare Italian Ceramic Lion Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Palm Springs, CAA rare 1970s ceramic lion table lamp by renowned Italian ceramicist Aldo Londi for Bitossi. The lamp is made out of ceramic with some volcanic glazed....Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Large Midcentury Italian Ceramic Lamp Attributed to Aldo Londi for BitossiBy Aldo Londi, BitossiLocated in Chicago, ILLarge midcentury Italian ceramic Lamp attributed to Aldo Londi for Bitossi. As shown, lamp will need hardware specified with rewiri...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic