Category: Ceramics

Year of the Tiger

February 3, 2022

This is the Chinese Year of the Tiger but lacking a tiger I have featured another feline, a stylised lion from my collection of mid-century ceramics. The Tiger is known as the king of beasts in China and the Tiger sign of the Chinese Zodiac symbolises strength, courage and the defeating of evil. This modernist … More Year of the Tiger

Year of the Ox

January 22, 2021

The Chinese Year of the Ox begins on 12th February, so to start 2021, here is a piece from my collection of mid-century ceramics, a very decorative modernist stylised cow by Aldo Londi of Bitossi, in Rimini Blu with incised patterns. Not quite an ox but fairly close. It’s been some time since I posted in February … More Year of the Ox

Year of the Rooster

February 11, 2017

To begin a new year on Retromode, I have chosen this colourful bottle from my collection of mid-century ceramics. It features a lively decoration of a cockerel and was produced in the 1950/60s by the DeSimone Pottery, Palermo, Sicily. It’s been some time since my last post in April 2015 and since then much has happened. I don’t think many of … More Year of the Rooster

Blackbird has spoken…

June 29, 2014

These retro, stylised black birds are some of my favourite ceramic pieces, simple elegant shapes cast in earthenware with a black, satin or matte glaze. The tallest is about 12cm high. Unsigned, they probably date from the 1950s/1960s and are similar to pieces by Midwinter and Hornsea. I’m not sure if they represent a particular species of bird but I like to think … More Blackbird has spoken…