Italian Mid-20th Century Sgraffito Ceramic Bowl, Orange and Blue, 1960s

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This hand-thrown terracotta bowl was made in Italy in the 1960s, in the style of Aldo Londi’s celebrated designs for … Read more This hand-thrown terracotta bowl was made in Italy in the 1960s, in the style of Aldo Londi’s celebrated designs for Bitossi. Its gently oval form rises in three stepped registers, each defined by bands of incised sgraffito hatching in black.

The exterior is finished in a textured white lava glaze that lets the warm terracotta body show through. Raised strokes of glossy orange and sky-blue glaze punctuate the linear pattern. Inside, a smooth glossy white glaze contrasts with the tactile surface outside. The base is hand-signed “6365 Italy.”

The bowl is a fine example of the Montelupo export ceramics that brought Italian modernism into American homes during the period. It works well as a catchall on a console or desk, or as a sculptural accent on a shelf. The maker is unattributed; the reference to Londi and Bitossi describes the style only. See less