Description
This early-1960s vase is among the rarest things to pass through a collector’s hands: number one of just twenty hand-numbered pieces, made at the celebrated Bitossi workshop in Montelupo Fiorentino under the direction of Aldo Londi. It was retailed through Rosenthal Netter, the American importer responsible for bringing Italian studio ceramics to a generation of design-conscious buyers.
The form is wheel-thrown earthenware, dressed in a deep, glossy vermilion glaze and decorated with a bold cobalt-grey floral rosette rendered in hand-painted and sgraffito technique. Red-glazed Bitossi pieces are considerably scarcer than the famous Rimini Blu line, and the pairing of vermilion and cobalt gives this vase a presence that reads equally well as a standalone sculptural object or within a larger mid-century display.
Details & Specifications:
- Designer: Aldo Londi for Bitossi | Aldo Londi on Wikidata
- Manufacturer: Bitossi, Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy | Bitossi on Wikidata
- Retailer: Rosenthal Netter
- Edition: 1/20 — first piece in a limited series of twenty, hand-numbered on the base
- Era: Early 1960s, mid-century modern
- Material: Wheel-thrown earthenware, red gloss glaze, hand-painted & sgraffito décor
- Dimensions: Height 20 cm (7.9″) × Diameter 15 cm (5.9″)
Condition Report:
- Excellent vintage condition
- No chips, cracks, or repairs
- Fine glaze freckles present — entirely typical of studio earthenware work and consistent with the hand-made nature of the piece
At 20 cm tall, it holds its own on a shelf, sideboard, or dining table without demanding the space of a larger piece. For a collector drawn to timeless Italian studio ceramics, owning the first in a run of twenty is a quiet distinction that speaks for itself. Every piece is carefully packed for safe international delivery.
