Bitossi (Italy)
The story of Bitossi Ceramiche originates in the heart of Tuscany, just a few kilometers from Florence, in Montelupo Fiorentino, along the banks of the Arno River, where the culture of ceramics has shaped the lives and work of people for centuries.
In 1921, Guido Bitossi founded the Manifattura Maioliche Artistiche Guido Bitossi, merging tradition with the new stylistic expressions of the time. From the very beginning, the production stood out for its attention to detail, the study of form, and a refined interpretation of classical styles.
In the 1950s, under the artistic direction of Aldo Londi (1911-2003), Bitossi inaugurated a new creative season, oriented towards research and innovation. He introduced a modern and experimental language, attentive to changing tastes and the uniqueness of each product.
Painter, sculptor, and above all ceramist, Londi lived a life devoted to art, balancing technical expertise, creative sensitivity, and a natural inclination for research. He collaborated with Bitossi for over fifty years, first as art director and later as a contributor.
The iconic Rimini Blu collection:
The ceramics in the Rimini Blu collection are characterised by graphic motifs stamped into the surface texture. It’s a fantastical round dance of geometric elements, highlighted by quick touches of colour set beneath the vibrant blue glaze, which the crystalline layer makes luminous like marine reflections.
Produced continuously since 1959, the collection reflects the stylistic and production research that led Londi to constantly experiment with new materials, techniques, and colours.
112 products
Bitossi Ceramiche FAQs
Can I date my piece of Bitossi?
Dating an item produced by Bitossi Ceramiche is possible, at a high level. Different identifiers were used across the company's production period, which aids in creating a rough timeline.
As a guide, please see below. There are many variations of signatures, stamping and labels, and the below is intended as a high level guide.
1950s to mid-1960s:
Items manufactured during this period will have a hand-written signature, often with a series of numbers.
These numbers can be sometimes attributed to a company code (distributor/reseller), model number or pattern/decor/glaze.
In some instances the word 'ITALY' may be stamped, with a hand-written number sequence.
Mid-1960s to 1976:
During this period items would have had a paper label attached, which was used at this time of production. In most but not all times, these paper labels have worn with age, wear and tear.
The paper labels often had 'MADE IN ITALY' printed on them, along with a series of numbers (as per above).
1976 to 1999:
From 1976 the company split in two, with the manufacturing of ceramics falling under the FLAVIA branding.
As such, items during this period display a stamped 'FLAVIA MONTELUPO ITALY' or a variation of such. In some cases, paper labels were also used in conjunction with this stamping.
1999 onwards:
In what is considered new or modern items from the Bitossi Ceramiche collection, these items are stamped 'BITOSSI CERAMICHE Made in Italy' or something similar.
My Bitossi isn't labelled, is it fake?
Understanding whether your Bitossi item is authentic takes more than just reviewing whether a label or stamp is present on the base.
As per the above FAQ, there were many ways of labelling and stamping Bitossi pieces over the years, based on the production period.
To ascertain whether your item is an authentic piece of Bitossi, or made by another manufacturer, familiarise yourself with a number of key details:
- the pattern, decor, glaze and colours
- the weight and quality of the item
If in doubt, ask a reputable dealer or collector forum for more information.