{"product_id":"early-aldo-londi-rimini-blue-ashtray-for-bitossi","title":"“RIMINI” BLUE ASHTRAY BY ALDO LONDI FOR BITOSSI","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn great example of Aldo Londi's Rimini Blue decor applied to a decorative ashtray or vide-poche.  Created for Bitossi Ceramiche and distributed in the United States by Raymor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eALDO LONDI (1911-2003)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas one of Italy's most noted master ceramicists who spent most of his long and successful career creating exceptional works of great art and craft for the Italian ceramics manufactory Bitossi Ceramiche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLondi’s hometown just outside of Florence, Montelupo Fiorentino, has been an important center for pottery production since the Renaissance. In 1922, at the age of eleven, Londi started working for Fratelli Fanciullacci, the region’s premier ceramics workshop at the time. Following World War II—upon returning to Italy from South Africa, where he was a prisoner of war—Londi became Bitossi’s Creative Director. He would hold this position for more than 50 years and would design over 1,000 objects—ranging from jugs and vases to clocks and animal figurines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLondi employed his high-level technical expertise and vast experience in traditional artisanal methods to create distinctively expressive and whimsical forms, patterns, and finishes. Londi’s best-known collection is the 1950s-era \u003cem\u003eRimini Blu\u003c\/em\u003e (1955-1965), a now-iconic midcentury modern series encompassing over 150 designs, all glazed in vibrant blue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes. Londi created \u003cem\u003eBall Vase,\u003c\/em\u003e his first piece in Persiano Blue, in 1955. Not long after in 1959, he began to create more pieces in this proprietary chromatic finish. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted works into the modernist design conversation in Italy. Although blue was not the only color Londi utilized, it has become closely associated with his oeuvre. Londi’s last solo collection, \u003cem\u003eArkitectura\u003c\/em\u003e (ca. 1950s), was very different from his earlier work; it features elegantly minimalistic animal figures glazed in monochromatic black, white, or platinum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarting in 1958, Londi began a fruitful collaboration with legendary architect-designer Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007), who considered Londi to be an important mentor. During his time at Bitossi, Londi also collaborated with Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988), Matteo Thun (b. 1952), and Karim Radhid (b. 1960).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost of Londi’s collections, including the \u003cem\u003eRimini Blu\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAkitectura\u003c\/em\u003e, are still in production today and are widely collected by ceramics enthusiasts. Many of his original works can be seen at the MAIB–Artistic Industrial Bitossi Museum in Montelupo, which is dedicated to the history of the company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBITOSSI CERAMICHE\u003c\/strong\u003e was established in 1921 as Manifattura Ceramica Cav. Guido Bitossi \u0026amp; Figli by Guido Bitossi in Montelupo Fiorentino in Tuscany—a region with an ancient tradition of ceramics a few kilometers from Florence. The Bitossi family, documented in the area as early as 1536, had for centuries worked there as sculptors, painters, but especially as potters. In the twentieth century, under Guido's leadership, they would introduce an extraordinary stylistic and formal renewal of their craft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the late 1940s, master ceramist Aldo Londi (1911-2003) was named BITOSSI CERAMICHE's creative director. He held the position for more than 50 years and would design over 1,000 objects for the company. Himself a Montelupo native, Londi brought to BITOSSI a deep expertise in the traditional production of ceramics. Nevertheless, he keenly appreciated the streamlined forms of the mid-century moment. He is best known for his 'Rimini Blu' collection (1955-1965), an iconic series comprised of over 150 designs—bowls, vases, jugs, and animal figurines—all glazed in a vibrant azure hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes. It helped to bring expressive, hand-crafted work into the modernist design conversation in Italy. Londi’s last solo collection, 'ARKitectura,' stands somewhat apart from his earlier work and features elegantly minimalistic animal figures glazed in monochromatic black, white, or platinum. Both collections are still in production today and widely collected by enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring Londi's tenure, BITOSSI collaborated successfully with a host of famous designers, including the legendary architect-designer Ettore Sottsass. An avatar of 1960s counter-culture, Sottsass thought design should be provocative and sensual, and his avant-garde style blended well with BITOSSI’s mid-century aesthetic. Besides Sottsass, BITOSSI partnered with designers Piero Fornasetti, Karim Rashid, Arik Levy, Fabio Novembre, Benjamin Hubert, Matteo Thun, Monica Förster, and Cédric Ragot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday BITOSSI CERAMICHE is justly considered an institution. The Bitossi family and its foundation have amassed an archive of over 7,000 historical documents and materials in relation to the production of ceramics. The assemblage is housed in the Bitossi Artistic Industrial Museum in Montelupo. In 2014, BITOSSI became an official member of the Registry of Italian Historical Companies, appointed by the Italian National Union of Chambers of Commerce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"section-title\" id=\"js-heading-details\"\u003eDetails\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"js-info-details\" class=\"product-info-content collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"js-heading-details\" aria-expanded=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDimensions\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e7.5ʺW × 5.5ʺD × 1.75ʺH\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eStyles\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eAbstract\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eItalian\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eMid-Century Modern\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eBrand\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eBitossi\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDesigner\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eAldo Londi\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003ePeriod\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e1950s\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003ePlace of Origin\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eItaly\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eItem Type\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd class=\"item-type-item\"\u003eVintage, Antique or Pre-owned\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMaterials\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eCeramic\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCondition\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eVery Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, No Imperfections\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eColor\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eBlue\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdl class=\"detail-list\"\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"js-swap-sibling\"\u003e Excellent Vintage Condition. May Show Slight Signs of Previous Use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"MODERN REDUX","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42032557031611,"sku":"RIMINI BLUE ASHTRAY BY ALDO LONDI FOR BITOSSI","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2159\/9561\/products\/IMG_20211109_172806-01.jpg?v=1636502382","url":"https:\/\/modernredux.myshopify.com\/products\/early-aldo-londi-rimini-blue-ashtray-for-bitossi","provider":"MODERN REDUX","version":"1.0","type":"link"}