Designer: Aldo Londi (1911 – 2003)

Item: Foglie Colorate Applicate (Applied Color Leaves) Box

Manufactured by: Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: 1950s

Materials: Ceramic with glaze

Dimensions: 2 ½” x 8 ¼” x 4” (the height is to the top of the highest leaf)

Condition: Excellent, with no nicks, chips, cracks or loss of glaze.

Description: Here is a very rare Aldo Londi for Bitossi lidded box in his Foglie Colorate Applicate (Applied Color Leaves) design on a Rimini Blue base.  This design pattern is hard to find to begin with, but generally the objects with this applied leaves design are vases, and usually have some damage to the leaves.  We have only seen one other box in this design, but with the brown ground base color.  This box was imported to and retailed in the United States by Rosenthal Netter.  It is well documented that Londi’s work for Bitossi was exported by and retailed in the United States by both Raymor and Rosenthal Netter, as well as by Illums Bolighus in Denmark.  This bears the Rosenthal Netter label as shown. A great opportunity to acquire this very rare box in such exceptionally fine condition.

Aldo Londi was a painter, sculptor and ceramicist.  He started his career with Cav. G. Bitossi & Figli in 1946 serving as the artistic director from 1946 until 1976 and then staying on for the remainder of his life as a major design contributor.  He experimented extensively throughout his life with various glaze techniques and styles and some of his forms and glazes have become iconic Italian modern design classics from the midcentury period.