Alvino Bagni was born in Lastra a Signa, Italy, in 1919, and from a young age he began to take an interest in ceramics. Thanks to the teachings of an elderly artist, Torello Santini, he got a job in the workshop of Arnaldo Pugi’s ceramics factory in Ponte a Signa.
After WWII, Pugi gave Bagni the financial support to help him open his own workshop. Alvino took several family members with him, including his wife Gina, who accompanied him throughout his career. The 1950s and '60s were fundamentally important for the Bagni company, which succeeded in establishing privileged relations with a number of important names in American design and business, including Raymor and Rosenthal, for whom he created extremely modern items for that time.
You can read more about Bagni, here.
THIS LISTING
A fantastic example from Bagni's fairly rare series of vice apothecary jars, produced in the 1960s. These fab pieces came in a couple of different styles, with six options available in each collection.
This particular jar is featured in a rich, deep purple and features the heroin label, hand-painted in black on white.
Measuring approx 15cm (6") tall and 10cm diameter, it's in excellent condition with no wear we can see. Some light scuffs but free from chips or cracks. It's signed to the base.
The remaining jars in the collection are cocaine, opium, marijuana, nicotine, and poison.
