Vintage Italian Ceramic Cat by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s)

A charming seated ceramic cat by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s), in a rare deep green and turquoise glaze. The cat sits upright and alert, with tall pointed ears and wide, round eyes that impart a quietly watchful expression. Its body is decorated with Londi’s signature stamped motifs - rows of small circles tracing its outline, and star-like diamonds and flowers pressed into the clay across its flank. The glossy glaze pools darkly in the impressions and breaks to bright turquoise on the raised surfaces, so the pattern seems to glow. The cat sits on a lustrous black surface. Londi’s animals are amongst the most loved designs in Bitossi’s history. The Rimini decoration is most familiar in its classic blue, which makes this green example a rarer find for collectors. The piece is in good overall condition. Please enjoy the photos accompanying this listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions:

H 18 cm / 7.1"

W 15.3 cm / 6"

D 7.6 cm / 3"

About the Artist: Aldo Londi (1911-2003), nicknamed chiodo (nail), did not come from a family of potters, but showed an early aptitude for working with clay. He apprenticed at Fratelli Fanciullacci aged 11. Within a few years he had gained enough skill to work on his own and began to study decorating. His development was interrupted by military service. In 1940 he was captured by the Allies and imprisoned in South Africa. He remained there for five years, during which time he learnt English and set up a small kiln and rudimentary pottery. His brother-in-law, Marcello Bitossi, encouraged him to join the Bitossi factory. His talents became evident almost immediately, and the family appointed him artistic director, a position that he maintained for three decades until his retirement in 1976 (ref: 'Alla Moda - Italian Ceramics of the 1950s-70s', by Mark Hill).