05-070.

05-070. Giovanni DeSimone Small pitcher

Found on June 14, 2005 in Columbia Heights, MN.

Giovanni DeSimone

Small pitcher
DeSimone Pottery
Italy, c. 1970
6 x 4.5 x 6.5"
Glazed ceramic
Hand-signed and numbered

It is funny how I seem to find items in groups. This month it has been tablecloths and DeSimone pottery. Before these past several weeks, I've only found one piece of DeSimone's work. This find makes a total of seven pieces! This little jug has some of the most interesting decorations and motifs I've found to date. Up until this point, every piece I've found has been symmetrical in their decoration. This piece, however, has different images on each side—a rooster holding a flower, a sprouting plant, a face. Tie this all together with Picasso-influenced abstractions, and you have DeSimone!

Marte Holley commented: I have a signed pitcher 10" with the number stamped in 08. It is from the 70's as well. It also have a similar design just different colors, etc. The mouth of the pitcher is the same.

I am not sure of the value of this piece and am looking to sell it on ebay, and or at an antiques site.

Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Marte Holley

  • 7.5.06

Scott commented: Marte: I don't have a whole lot of information on Giovanni DeSimone at the moment. I've sold a handful of items on eBay myself, but am far from qualified to give an auction estimate for your pitcher, unfortunately. Your best bet would be to take a quick look at eBay to see what prices for his pottery are like currently. Unfortunately that's the best I can do for you.

Diane commented: I too have a Desimone pitcher with the "eyes" on the side. It's marked: "Desimone Italy '65" and then a 65 is stamped into the clay. I thought that was the year, but now I'm thinking it was the number of the item. I'm also looking for some indication as to what it's worth, but I was wondering if you know if each Desimone piece is unique, or could two identical items be found? Thank you.

  • 7.1.08

Scott commented: Each piece is unique in that they are hand painted so no two are ever exactly the same. There are certain patterns that were used over and over again, but since each is decorated by hand even these have slight differences.

Christine Grenat commented: I was so excited to find this website! I found one of his pieces a couple of years ago at a flea market in Baton Rouge, LA. It has "Desimone Italy 39" on the bottom of it. There's also a very faint engraved number, either 06 or 90. It is a bowl with a bird on each side with a yellow head, orange body, red wing, & blue tail. It looks as if it's wearing a red, white & blue necklace. It is facing some type of upside down blue feather. It looks as if it goes with the bird pitcher on this website. Perhaps they were a set at one time.

Scott commented: Thanks Christine! Desimone produced LOTS of similar patterns, so I would be surprised if there weren't several different types of form with this kind of decoration. It certainly would make an exciting grouping if you had a set all together, wouldn't it? I am glad you found the site and are enjoying it, and I hope you'll keep coming back and keep participating.

Beth commented: We have a nice Desimone piece here that we are selling on shopGoodwill. I hope that the price is not to astronomical, but I've seen some of his pieces going for thousands!

Scott commented: Good luck, Beth. DeSimone production wares don't ever really sell in the thousands ... a few hundred is usually the absolute tops for anything of his that was mass-produced. The one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces, however, can definitely make several thousand.

Matt commented: I am an avid collector of Desimone pieces. I got my 1st fish shaped plate in 1967 from my family. I was 14. I now have over 400 pieces, and that's after I sold a HUGE matching collection of dinnerware 4 years ago! I can answer many queries about Desimone. I knew the man. Met him in Italy many times, and in London . I attended his funeral in 1991. -Matt Stevens upshot4u@yahoo.com

  • 3.13.10

bee zimmerman commented: I have found a pitcher here in NC with a lot of similarities to the rooster pticher with the eyes on the spout..I think mine isa one of a kind ...a whimsical goat on one side, a cat on the other, the handle decor is fish bones, and eyes on the spout...I bought it at an estate sale because veryone thougth it was so "ugly" I thougth it was great! I wouldlove to know more about it! bz

  • 3.14.10

Scott commented: As far as I'm aware, Bee, most of Desimone's dinnerware pieces were production designs ... meaning they were made by the thousands. That said, they are all hand decorated, so each is definitely a unique piece. I hope this helps!

Queenie commented: I have a very pretty meduim pitcher with the number 188...i would like to know more about the item that i have, its have been in my home for about 6 years..very unique and pretty piece of pottery. Now i need to know what the value of it is ...

  • 3.17.10

Scott commented: Queenie - I'd suggest contacting Esivia.com ... it is run by Giovanni DeSimone's daughters. You could also try talking to Matt Stevens, a DeSimone collector who left his contact information just a few comments before yours. They might be able to answer your questions.

Duane commented: I have a LARGE vase/oil jug with the numbers 64/16, and is signed "DE SIMONE", with letter "S"on the bottom. It has a man on one side w/big round eye,handing a bird to a woman on the other sidew/fish shaped eye. It's bright blue&deep red,over pure white. NO DEFECTS OR DAMAGE! It's 13.5 inches tall! The largest piece I've seen on the internet yet.

  • 6.30.10

Nancy Diraison commented: I purchased 9 signed De Simone espresso sets (cups/saucers) in the late 1980's and they are just unique, cozy and beautiful. They are in perfect condition and I am wanting to sell the set for a reasonable price.

  • 7.20.10

Scott commented: I appreciate the interest in DeSimone's work, but I'd really appreciate it if you would refrain from posting for sale ads. This is not a marketplace, but a discussion about design. NOTE: For Sale Ads are not welcome.

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Please note: I do not make appraisals or do evaluations through this website. To learn the value of your object, please contact a professional appraiser.