Avant-garde vase made of Italian ceramics

This piece is inspired by an old jug from the 1970s, found
in the Bagni archives. Its intricate decoration stylizes a blooming plant.
The outline of the pattern was hand-drawn with flowing wax, then coated with colorful enamels. After firing, a black patina is applied to highlight the details and create a unique final effect.

FROM ALVINO BAGNINI TO NUOVE FORME

Nuove Forme was founded in 1993, inheriting the legacy of the ceramic brand

Alvino Bagni.

Nuove Forme is currently managed by Gianfranco Ghiretti and Alvino Bagni’s granddaughter, Maria Chiara Ghiretti, along with several long-standing and important collaborators.

ALVINO BAGNI

A journey full of passion, technique, and creativity

Alvino Bagni was born in the village of Lastra a Signa in 1919 and became interested in ceramics as a young boy. Thanks to the teachings of artist Torello Santini, he began working in the workshop of the Arnaldo Pugi ceramic factory in Ponte a Signa. After the war, Pugi himself provided funding, enabling him to open his first workshop.
The fascinating history of Ceramiche Bagni begins with 3,500 plates bearing the inscription “I like Ike,” created for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential campaign, who became the 34th President of the United States in 1953.

Alvino involved many family members in his work, primarily his wife Gina, who accompanied him throughout his professional life.

The 1950s and 1960s were transformative for the Bagni company, which strengthened collaborations with leading figures in American design and business, such as Raymor (New York) and Rosenthal, for whom he produced highly modern items for that era.

The move to a larger, more modern factory gave the brand new momentum. Alvino surrounded himself with exceptionally talented collaborators and artists, such as E. Borgini, M. Mannori, R. Buti, M. Santonocito, and many others, with whom he achieved a perfect balance between material, technique, functionality, tradition, and aesthetic beauty.

By 1980, the factory employed over 100 people and had become synonymous with high-quality artistic production, renowned for its intricately crafted, beautiful objects made using innovative, experimental techniques.

Unfortunately, globalization brought challenges, and the company, still committed to a “craftsman’s” approach, was unable to cope with excessive cost reductions.

Despite efforts to save the workforce, the factory was ultimately closed in 1990.

It wasn’t until 1993 that Alvino returned to the forefront by founding Nuove Forme, from which he retired after eight years due to health reasons.

Alvino passed away in 2009 at the age of 90. His career was an incredibly fulfilling journey marked by humility, technique, passion, and creativity.