Ceramic Sculpture by Bitossi Ceramiche Montelupo, 1970s

About This Piece

Sculptural ceramics produced by Bitossi Ceramiche Montelupo, 70s.
Gray terracotta glazed, pictorial decoration.
Each work created by Bitossi follows a very complex processing process, both in the formal and decorative part.
The creation of a ceramic work can be obtained with different land and methods, each element is made within the manufacture by specialized personnel.
The raw materials used in the production of Bitossi Ceramiche are (white or red lands, enamels, crystalline and dark).
The form, according to the needs of the project, can be performed in four different ways:
Round: used for the creation of circular forms, the operator (turning) model the material/works entirely by hand.
Crown molding: carried out with the use of plaster molds in which the white clay in the liquid state is poured inside.
Putting: made with the help of forms of plaster. The process is performed by manual pressure of the clay on the internal surface of the mold, which has a negative impression.
Modina modeling: method used for large objects. We use plaster molds (male and female) mounted on a manual or mechanical press, where the clay slab is pressed to the semi -solid state.
Drying follows the forming process, through the withdrawal of humidity in a dry environment. When the earth has reached the right hardness, the work is completed with the printing of the molding and/or the plastic decoration through the scratch, the engraving, the molding etc.

Cooking can vary from one to three burners:
The first cooking, called "biscuration", transforms the object from clay to terracotta.
The second cooking takes place after the coating and/or the pictorial decoration
The third cooking is used in the presence of several enamels and/or precious metals such as gold, platinum, silver and copper.

At the end of the production process, the product follows careful quality control for the final certification. Each work is an icon of Made in Italy style and creativity.

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Period	1970 to 1979
Year	1970
Production Period	1970 to 1979
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has been attributed based on archival documentation, such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other literature sources
Style	Mid-Century
Detailed Condition	Very Good — This vintage/antique item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use
Product Code	DXK-1658604
Materials	Ceramic, Enamel, Terracotta
Color	Grey, white
Height	44 cm 17.3 inch
Diameter	9.4 inch
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.
Returns	Returns accepted within two days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Maker

Bitossi

A descendant from a long, long line of Tuscan ceramic manufacturers, Guido Bitossi established his own ceramic craft works near Florence, in Montelupo, in 1921. Originally named Manifattura Ceramica Cav. Guido Bitossi & Figli (Ceramaic Manufactory Guido Bitossi & Sons), the company name was later shortened to Bitossi Ceramiche.

After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (1911-2003) became the creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, a position he held for more than fifty years. Londi—who was also from Montelupo—began apprenticing in ceramics at the age of eleven and brought to Bitossi a deep expertise in traditional ceramics production. He’s best known for his 1950s-era collection Rimini Blu (1955-1965). This iconic midcentury modern series contains over 150 designs, including bowls, vases, jugs and animal figurines, all glazed in a vibrant blue hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes. Londi created the first piece glazed in Persiano Blue, Ball Vase, in 1955. Shortly after in 1959, he began to create more pieces in the proprietary chromatic glaze. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted and expressive works into the modernist design conversation in Italy. Though the blue was not the only color Bitossi favored, it has become closely associated with the brand’s identity. The collection is still in production today and widely collected by ceramics enthusiasts.

Londi and Bitossi had a very successful collaboration with legendary architect-designer Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007). As a part of the 1960s counter-culture, Sottsass thought design should be provocative and sensual. Sottsass’s avant-garde style blended well with Bitossi’s midcentury modern aesthetic and generated a number of highly collectible designs. Other Bitossi collaborators include designers Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988), Karim Rashid, Arik Levy, Fabio Novembre, Benjamin Hubert, Matteo Thun, Monica Förster, and Cédric Ragot.

Now considered to be an institution in Italian ceramics, the Bitossi family and Vittoriano Bitossi Foundation have amassed an archive of over 7,000 historical documents and materials in relation to their ceramic production. The collection is housed in the Bitossi Artistic Industrial Museum, which in 2011 became a member of the Italian Association of Enterprise Archives and Museums. In 2014, Bitossi Ceramiche became an official member of the Registry of Italian Historical Companies, appointed by the National Union of Chambers of Commerce.

* All images courtesy of Bitossi Ceramiche