Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic Rectangular Ashtray Bowl Videpoche
About the Item
- Creator:Bitossi (Manufacturer),Aldo Londi (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 1.97 in (5 cm)Width: 7.45 in (18.9 cm)Depth: 5.32 in (13.5 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor wear commensurate with age and use.
- Seller Location:Barcelona, ES
- 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 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: Barcelona, Spain
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ceramic XL Round Centerpiece Bowl AshtrayBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESBlue glazed (Rimini Blu) ceramic large ashtray designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi. Italy, 1950-1960s. It was handcrafted in Italy with hand carved geometric design ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsPottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
- Aldo Londi for Bitossi Rimini Blu Leaf Shaped Glazed Ceramic Bowl / AshtrayBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESUnusual leaf design midcentury blue glazed (Rimini Blu) ceramic bowl / vide-poche / ashtray. Italy, 1950-1960s. Designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi. Handcrafted in It...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery, Terracotta
- 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
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic Rectangular Ashtray Empy PocketBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESItalian Midcentury Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini blue glazed ceramic rectanular ashtray or bowl, Italy, 1950-1960s. Beautiful blue glazed (...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsPottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blu Ceramic Round Bowl, 1950sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, ESRimini Blue Bitossi Aldo Londi Bowl, Glazed Ceramic Italian midcentury Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini blue glazed ceramic circular bowl. Italy, 1950-19...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsPottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
- Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Ashtray for BitossiBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLVintage ashtray in signature Rimini blue glaze with leaf motif by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Marked "Italy" on bottom. Artist: Aldo Londi Manufacturer: Bitossi Origin: Italy ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-P...
MaterialsCeramic
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Square Midcentury Ashtray, Italy, 1960sBy Aldo LondiLocated in Barcelona, CatalunaDesigned by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche. Italy 1960's. Aldo Londi was born in Montelupo in 1911, and started working for a ceramics manufacturer when he was 11 years old. After being taken prisoner in South Africa during WW2, he returned to Italy and in 1946 was appointed artistic director at Bitossi. He held that position for over 50 years, and created thousand of designs for vases, jugs, animals, candle stick holders and other objects. The Rimini Blu collection of ceramics...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsCeramic
- Ashtray or Vide-Poche in Rimini Blue Ceramic, Bitossi by Aldo Londi, Italy 1960sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Roma, ITGorgeous ceramic ashtray or vide-poche in a stunning blue glazed (Rimini Blu) color. This vibrant ceramic item was designed by Aldo Londi and hand-crafted by Bitossi in Italy during ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsPottery, Ceramic
- Aldo Londi Bitossi Ashtray, Ceramic, Safety Pin, Blue, Gold, SignedBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in New York, NYAldo Londi Bitossi Ashtray, Ceramic, Safety Pin, Blue, Gold, Signed. Small to medium scale deep ashtray with three cigarette rests. Decorated with a pattern of gold glazed safety pin...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCeramic
- 1960s Bitossi Ashtray/Catchall by Aldo Londi Blue Rimini CollectionBy Aldo LondiLocated in Milano, IT1960s Gorgeous Bitossi ashtray/catchall by Aldo Londi, it's part of "Blue Rimini" Collection, and is in very good condition. Handmade, made in Italy Dimensions: 5,90" x 4,52" x 1,5...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCeramic
- Rimini Blu Catchall Ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Made in ItalyBy Raymor, Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Miami, FLItalian handmade ceramic vide-poche or catchall tray in the vibrant signature blue of Aldo Londi's iconic art pottery collection Rimini Blu, orig...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
MaterialsCeramic