Vintage Rimini Blu Lidded Ceramic Box by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s)

Vintage Rimini Blu Lidded Ceramic Box by Aldo Londi for Bitossi (circa 1960s). A rectangular lidded box from Londi’s celebrated “Rimini Blu” series, the most iconic of all his designs. The lid is decorated with two rows of hand-stamped motifs, diamonds with star-like crosses and squared lozenges, separated by bands of fine ribbing and lines of small beads, all etched into the clay. The famous Rimini glaze does the rest. Deep cobalt and brilliant turquoise combine in the impressions and veer to bright aqua and touches of green on the surfaces, so the pattern seems to shimmer. The sides of the box appear to have a scratched, bark-like texture however, they actually are even and smooth under the same glowing blue. The interior is glazed in a smooth, intense turquoise. There are a few minor blemishes on the interior's edges but they simply add a bit of vintage character. They are not visible with the lid on. Overall, the piece is in good condition commensurate with age and usage. Please enjoy the photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video will be provided. A versatile piece for a desk, dressing table or coffee table, it’s ideal for keeping jewellery, keys or small items.

Dimensions: (with lid)

H 5.5 cm / 2.2"

W 21.2 cm / 8.3"

D 10.2 cm / 4"

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. At the age of eleven he was apprenticed to Fratelli Fanciullacci, and within a few years he had gained enough skill to work independently and began to study decoration. His development was interrupted by military service. Captured by the Allies in 1940, he spent five years as a prisoner of war in South Africa, where he learnt English and set up a small kiln and a rudimentary pottery. On his return, his brother-in-law, Marcello Bitossi, encouraged him to join the Bitossi factory. His talent was evident almost immediately, and the family appointed him artistic director, a position he held for three decades until his retirement in 1976. (Ref: Mark Hill, Alla Moda: Italian Ceramics of the 1950s–70s.)