5 - Roberto Rigon

Roberto Rigon Flat Vase Glazed Ceramic Bertoncella Edition, Italy Date of creation: 1970 H 18 L 22 D 4.5 cm A leading Italian postwar designer and ceramicist, Roberto Rigon began developing a body of work in the 1960s that was deeply influenced by sculptural exploration and formal experimentation. His collaboration with the Bertoncella factory gave rise to a series of ceramics that have become iconic of 1970s Italian design. This vase stands out for its openwork silhouette composed of symmetrical organic forms, characteristic of the design language developed by Rigon during this period. The form, both geometric and biomorphic, subtly plays with light and transparency, transforming the utilitarian object into a true domestic sculpture. The nuanced glaze, with ivory tones accented by reddish-brown, highlights the reliefs of the composition and emphasizes the sculptural quality of the piece as a whole. This combination of formal innovation and technical mastery attests to the essential role Bertoncello played in the renewal of postwar Italian ceramics. At the intersection of design and sculpture, Roberto Rigon’s creations are now among the most sought-after pieces from the Bertoncello factory and powerfully illustrate the experimental spirit that characterized Italian design of the 1970s. The Bertoncello factory, located in Schiavon, in the heart of the Venetian ceramics district of Nove and Bassano del Grappa, revitalized its production in the 1960s by entrusting its designs to young creators. There, Roberto Rigon developed a series of openwork vases, of which this flat model is a signature piece: symmetrical, biomorphic forms cut in such a way as to allow light to pass through the object. The ivory glaze accented with reddish-brown highlights the reliefs. A representative piece of Italian ceramic art from the 1970s, straddling the line between design and sculpture.