This is a very rare piece of vintage 1960s Italian studio pottery.
It is an Aldo Londi piece - hand-made from heavy slabs of clay, decorated with a rich Rimini Blue glaze and with the rare Pesce or Fish pattern consisting of sponged and hand-painted abstract fish decorations.
Aldo Londi (1911-2003) was a painter, sculptor and ceramic artist. He was born in Montelupo Fiorentino. At the age of eleven, he started working for the influential Fanciullacci’s manufacturing, where he learned many traditional techniques in making pottery.
After the war, he became Art Director of the famous Bitossi family ceramics studio in Montelupo. He promoted the production of new high-quality objects made by using handcrafted methods. His most famous lines of pottery were ‘Rimini blu’, ‘Mondrian’, ‘Lobster’, ‘Sivilla’ and ‘Etrusca’. His pots were distributed widely by the Raymor Company, which was one of the most influential importers and distributors of modern decorative arts during the middle of the twentieth century.
These fish or pesces pieces are exceptionally rare and this is reflected in my asking price - I have as yet been unable to source another one of these - so perhaps a unique piece. Probably an item for the more specialist Bitossi collector or design museum.
It is marked with underglaze production details painted on the base, as photographed.
I have taken a lot of images for you to assess the piece fully.
I also have a large lamp in my store with a similar fish pattern on it.
Dimensions: the length is 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm). The depth is 4 3/4 inches (12 cm) and the height is just over 2 inches (5.5 cm). Weight is 1.2 kg (unpacked).
UK POSTAGE ONLY. It will cost £10 to post to you with Special Next Day Delivery post (tracked and fully insured in transit). This will be applied to your order at the checkout stage.