Bitossi - Aldo Londi ( 1911-2003 ) - Vase - Magnificent Ovoide Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi - “Rimini Blu” Series - c. 1950s–60s - Majolica - H. 25 cm - 1.8 kg

We are pleased to offer this iconic piece of mid-20th-century Italian design: a superb glazed ceramic vase from the celebrated “Rimini Blu” collection, created by art director Aldo Londi (1911–2003) around 1950–60 for the prestigious Bitossi manufactory. It is a generously proportioned, fairly substantial vase, weighing 1.8 kg and measuring an impressive 59 cm in circumference at its widest point.

The Bitossi manufactory:

Founded in 1921 in Montelupo Fiorentino, Tuscany, this historic firm revolutionized postwar modern ceramics. Launched in 1959, the Rimini Blu series became the brand’s emblem. Aldo Londi gave it this name as a tribute to the famous seaside resort on the Romagna Riviera and to the marine reflections of this renowned Italian resort, which was a major center for international tourism in Italy during the 1950s.

Description of the vase:

The vase has an elegant, generously proportioned, curvaceous ovoid shape, tapering toward a stable base and a short, rolled rim. Its all-over decoration is entirely hand-carved into the fresh clay using punches and roulette tools, revealing a geometric frieze of chevrons and crenellated motifs around the shoulder, above a lower section finely scarified with combed vertical lines. The glazed finish, characteristic of this legendary series, offers a vibrant, luminous range of turquoise and cobalt blues with changing shades, enhanced by the texture of the underlying terracotta. A timeless centerpiece, sought after by Mid-Century design collectors, it will enhance any interior and add a Mediterranean touch.

Detailed description:

• Object type: Ovoid vase with short neck

• Model: “Rimini Blue” series.

• Artist: Aldo Londi (1911–2003).

• Manufacturer / Publisher: Bitossi Ceramiche

• Designer: Aldo Londi (1911–2003)

• Origin: Italy (Montelupo Fiorentino)

• Period / Date of creation: Circa 1950–1960

• Technique: Terracotta (maiolica), geometric designs incised with a punch, glossy turquoise and cobalt-blue glaze.

• Style: Mid-Century Italian design / Vintage.

• Signature: Unsigned (consistent with Bitossi production of the period; identifiable by its shape and distinctive glaze)

• Condition: Very good overall condition. No chips, cracks, or restoration. Light signs of use inside, as expected. Please note a small raised area on the upper body: this is an original firing flaw inherent to the artisanal production of the period, not subsequent damage.

• Dimensions:

. 25 cm high.
. 11.5 cm in diameter at the neck.
. 17 cm wide at the widest part of the vase body.
. 59 cm in circumference at the widest part of the vase body.
. 9.5 cm in diameter at the base.
. 11 cm in diameter at the neck.

- Weight: 1.800 kg.

- Condition: Excellent condition, no chips or cracks. Superb state of preservation. (See photos, which form part of the description).
Please note: Small firing flaw visible on the upper part of the vase, creating a small raised area. (See the last 2 photos).

- Shipping:

Carefully and very securely packaged (new double-box packaging, thick new bubble wrap).
Shipped with signature confirmation and tracking number.

Our shipping prices include insurance, packaging, collection, and delivery against signature, and are calculated according to the parcel’s weight, the value of the item, and its destination.

- WITHIN THE E.U.: Shipping via Colissimo-La Poste within the European Union. Other carriers available on request (any additional charges, if applicable, will be paid by the buyer)

- OUTSIDE THE E.U.: Shipping outside the European Union is via Colissimo/La Poste only. However, if you would like to use a carrier other than La Poste outside the European Union, this is possible but will require a new calculation and therefore an additional cost, which may be substantial depending on the parcel’s specifications, the item, and the destination country, and will be paid by the buyer.


- The history of the Bitossi manufactory:

The manufactory was officially founded in 1921 by Guido Bitossi in Montelupo Fiorentino, a small Tuscan town near Florence renowned for its pottery tradition dating back to the Renaissance. At first, the family business (then called Maioliche artistiche Guido Bitossi) produced pieces in a traditional taste and classic style rooted in local craftsmanship.

2. The aesthetic turning point and the arrival of Aldo Londi

In 1946, a man would change the manufactory’s destiny: Aldo Londi. Appointed art director, he would spend more than 50 years of his life there. Londi was a compulsive creator who loved experimenting with materials, engraving techniques, and pigments. He was the one who brought Bitossi into the modern age and made it a leading name in the international Mid-Century Modern style. Its reputation grew further when Bitossi began collaborating in 1955 with some of the greatest architects and designers, notably the iconic Ettore Sottsass.

3. The birth of the “Rimini Blu” series

Officially introduced in 1959, the Rimini Blu series immediately became the manufactory’s absolute bestseller and emblem.
• Technique: Dense geometric patterns (chevrons, friezes, small crenellations) were engraved, punched, or combed by hand into the fresh clay.
• Color: The famous glaze combines layers of turquoise blue, seafoam green, and glossy cobalt. After firing, the finish evokes sunlight glittering on the reflections of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Name: Aldo Londi chose the name Rimini as a tribute to the famous seaside resort on the Romagna Riviera, which was a major center for international tourism in Italy during the 1950s.

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