Milano Black and Blue Ceramic Teapot by Marco Zanini for Bitossi, 1980s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

A Milano black and blue ceramic teapot designed by Marco Zanini for Bitossi in perfect conditions. The tea pot by Marco Zanini is a stunning piece of functional art. It embodies the iconic style of the Memphis Group, known for its bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful designs. The tea pot has a flawless ceramic body with a glossy black and blue glaze. The surface it's smooth and lustrous, showcasing the expert craftsmanship of Bitossi, an esteemed Italian ceramics manufacturer. The black and blue color combination would create a striking contrast, adding visual interest to the tea pot. The overall shape of the tea pot it's unconventional and avant-garde, reflecting the Memphis Group's rejection of traditional design principles. The tea pot it's a visually striking and functional piece that represents the artistic vision of the Memphis Group. It would be a true collector's item for design enthusiasts and a delightful addition to any tea lover's collection. Marco Zanini graduated in Architecture at the University of Florence in 1976 and completed his studies in the United States. from 1977 he began his collaboration with Ettore Sottsass in Milan. Zanini was one of the co-founders of Memphis in 1981 and has designed works for all collections. He designs ceramics, jewellery, furniture and objects in blown glass. Founder together with Sottsass of Sottsass Associati. He works as an architect all over the world. His works are exhibited in numerous museums and private collections. Zanini holds frequent conferences on industrial design. Today he lives and works in São Paulo in Brazil.

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Creator	Zanini, Marco
Manufacturer	Bitossi
Design Period	1980 to 1989
Production Period	1980 to 1989
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has an attribution mark
Style	Vintage
Detailed Condition	Excellent — This vintage/antique piece is in near original condition. It may show minimal traces of use and/or have slight restorations.
Product Code	NMK-1672849
Restoration and Damage Details	ottime condizioni
Materials	Ceramic
Color	Black, blue
Width	25 cm 9.8 inch
Depth	11 cm 4.3 inch
Height	16 cm 6.3 inch
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Maker

Bitossi

A descendant from a long, long line of Tuscan ceramic manufacturers, Guido Bitossi established his own ceramic craft works near Florence, in Montelupo, in 1921. Originally named Manifattura Ceramica Cav. Guido Bitossi & Figli (Ceramaic Manufactory Guido Bitossi & Sons), the company name was later shortened to Bitossi Ceramiche.

After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (1911-2003) became the creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, a position he held for more than fifty years. Londi—who was also from Montelupo—began apprenticing in ceramics at the age of eleven and brought to Bitossi a deep expertise in traditional ceramics production. He’s best known for his 1950s-era collection Rimini Blu (1955-1965). This iconic midcentury modern series contains over 150 designs, including bowls, vases, jugs and animal figurines, all glazed in a vibrant blue hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes. Londi created the first piece glazed in Persiano Blue, Ball Vase, in 1955. Shortly after in 1959, he began to create more pieces in the proprietary chromatic glaze. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted and expressive works into the modernist design conversation in Italy. Though the blue was not the only color Bitossi favored, it has become closely associated with the brand’s identity. The collection is still in production today and widely collected by ceramics enthusiasts.

Londi and Bitossi had a very successful collaboration with legendary architect-designer Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007). As a part of the 1960s counter-culture, Sottsass thought design should be provocative and sensual. Sottsass’s avant-garde style blended well with Bitossi’s midcentury modern aesthetic and generated a number of highly collectible designs. Other Bitossi collaborators include designers Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988), Karim Rashid, Arik Levy, Fabio Novembre, Benjamin Hubert, Matteo Thun, Monica Förster, and Cédric Ragot.

Now considered to be an institution in Italian ceramics, the Bitossi family and Vittoriano Bitossi Foundation have amassed an archive of over 7,000 historical documents and materials in relation to their ceramic production. The collection is housed in the Bitossi Artistic Industrial Museum, which in 2011 became a member of the Italian Association of Enterprise Archives and Museums. In 2014, Bitossi Ceramiche became an official member of the Registry of Italian Historical Companies, appointed by the National Union of Chambers of Commerce.

* All images courtesy of Bitossi Ceramiche