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.
AB.01 Floor Lamp, Pyrion Collection by Shawn Henderson x Rupp Studio
Located in New York, NY
SHAWN HENDERSON x RUPP STUDIO AB.01 Floor Lamp, Pyrion Collection, 2025 Aged bronze finish, yaré and metallic thread shade 50" H x 15" W x 13.75" D (with shade): 42.75" H x 9.75" W x...
Bronze, Metallic Thread
Tall Ribbed Stoneware Vase by Arne Bang
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful tall ribbed vase by Arne Bang, Denmark, circa 1950. In excellent vintage condition. Arne Bang (Danish, 1901-1983) Tall ribbed stoneware vase, Denmark, circa 1950 Ston...
Stoneware
Unique, Covered Ceramic Urn by Tyra Lundgren for Rorstrand
By Tyra Carolina Lundgren
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful covered urn by Tyra Lundgren for Rorstrand, Sweden. Created for the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition that showcased Sweden’s most modern achievements in the design at that time. Cherubs with fish...
Ceramic
Stoneware and White Glaze Sculpture by Hertha Hillfon, circa 1965
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful ceramic sculpture by one of 20th century foremost Swedish artists, Hertha Hillfon. Hertha Hillfon (Swedish, 1921–2013) Ceramic sculpture, circa 1965 Stoneware, white...
Clay, Stoneware
Dining Table by Kurt Östervig for Jason Möbler, Denmark, 1950s
By Kurt Østervig
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite oval drop-leaf dining table designed by Kurt Östervig for Jason Möbler, Denmark, 1950s. Dramatic V-shaped mahogany gatelegs an...
Mahogany, Rosewood
Rare Single Lounge Chair by Carl Malmsten, Sweden, 1950s
By Carl Malmsten
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful single sculptural lounge chair by Swedish master Carl Malmsten. Carl Malmsten (1888-1972). Carl Malmsten Studio. Sweden, circa 1950. New Upholstery. Measures: 37.5” H x 27...
Upholstery
Pair of Bitossi Ceramic Lamps Gold Glaze, Italy, 1970
By Bitossi, Bergboms
Located in Bronx, NY
Bitossi lamps Italy, 1970 gold glaze, extremely elegant, these were produced by Bitossi the Italian ceramic manufacturer in the early 1970s as a limited edition made for the Swedish ...
Pair of Bitossi Table Lamps Gold and Stoneware Ceramic Italy 1970's
By Bitossi
Located in London, GB
Bitossi cylinder shape table lamps where produced in stoneware with a natural glaze. The border at the neck is gilded, the band of shiny gold emphasis the rough texture of the ceramic body. Guido Bitossi established his own ceramic workshop near Florence, in Montelupo, in 1921. Originally the works was named (Ceramaic Manufactory Guido Bitossi & Sons), the company name was later shortened to Bitossi Ceramiche. After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (1911-2003) was appointed creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, he held that position for more than fifty years. During which time he was the creator of designs for vases, jugs, animals, candle stick holders and other objects. Where he experiment with textures, surface reliefs, glazes and in the process created new ceramics...
Gold
Mid-century ceramic gold gilded pair table lamps by Bitossi for Berboms
By Bitossi
Located in Eindhoven, NL
An elegant pair ceramic table lamps designed by Bitossi for Bergboms- Sweden. These fabulous lamps are glazed and gilt. Period- ca. 1960-1970 Place of origin- Italy/ Sweden Labeled a...
Ceramic
Pair of Italian Bitossi Ceramic Cylinder Table Lamps with Gold Detailing, 1970s
By Bitossi
Located in London, GB
A pair of ceramic cylinder-shaped table lamps crafted in stoneware and finished with a warm light-brown glaze. Each lamp features a gilded band at the neck, the glossy gold providing...
Gold
Pair of 1970s Bitossi Gold Ceramic Table Lamps, Mid-Century Modern
By Bitossi
Located in Paris, IDF
pair of table lamps in gold and natural ceramic earthward made by Bitossi Italy around 1970. Price for the pair Good condition Lamp base height 26 cm excluding lampshade
Ceramic, Earthenware
Bitossi Table Lamps, Ceramic and Brass, Scandinavian Modern, Italy
By Bitossi, Bergboms
Located in New York, NY
Pair of matte gold glazed ceramic lamps with a "birch tree" off white glazed center. Rewired for use in the USA. Brass necks and hardware.
Brass
