Ceramic Bowl by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960s

A decorative bowl designed by Aldo Londi for the Italian manufacturer Bitossi, embodying the distinctive aesthetic of postwar artistic ceramics. The vessel has a low, wide form with a rounded profile and a distinctly raised rim. The exterior is covered with a dark brown glaze featuring a grainy, irregular texture, contrasting with the intense turquoise-blue interior. The inner bottom is adorned with a band of repetitive, geometric motifs imprinted into the ceramic surface. The ornament forms a concentric pattern around a central, dark brown field. A rich blue glaze fills the recesses of the decoration, highlighting its rhythm and three-dimensional character. The juxtaposition of cool blue with earthy brown is one of the most recognizable elements of Aldo Londi’s design for Bitossi. The form and decoration draw on the aesthetic of the Rimini Blu collection, which Bitossi has been developing since 1959. Characteristic of this series are hand-crafted, stamped, or engraved patterns covered with an intense blue crystalline glaze. The bowl combines practical and decorative functions. Its shallow form and striking ornamentation allow it to be treated as a standalone ceramic object, typical of Italian Mid-Century Modern design.