Giovanni de Simone

Update (3/22/2012): I received a comment below, identified as having come from Giovanni de Simone's widow Eliana. According to the comment and the website to which it referred me, de Simone was never a student of Picasso. At the time of his death, his factory employed 100 workers, and it closed in 1992, a year after his death. I have emailed Susanna de Simone in an attempt to verify this information.

Update (3/23/2012): I received verification from the studio of Susanna de Simone and wrote an updated post which was published on 3/24/2012.


Giovanni de Simone (1930-1991), a member of the Italian aristocracy, was a friend and student of Pablo Picasso. He opened a studio in Palermo, Italy, after World War II and became very popular during the 1950s and 1960s. His pottery designs were very similar to Picasso's, but his color palette was much more vivid.

His pottery factory usually employed four to six decorators, but they did not sign their work. However, Giovanni de Simone very often signed his own work in a prominent place where it could be seen without turning the piece over. Although his daughters Rosita and Susanna were also decorators, it is thought that they did not sign their work as long as their father was actively involved in the factory. A third daughter, Margherita, ran the office. Giovanni de Simone retired in 1981.

The factory continued operation for about 15 years after his death. Some speculate that it went out of business because of the U.S. ban on importation of its products as a result of the Food and Drug Administration's allegation that it contained lead and cadmium. The company fought the ban for years but were never successful in having it lifted. Many of their shipments were confiscated at the dock.

Experts predict that de Simone pottery, which has always been collectible, will soar in price over the coming years. Susanna de Simone still makes and sells ceramic items in the style she learned from her father. She signs her work "S. DE SIMONE."

From italianpotterymarks.freeforums.org, forum.treasurenet.com and sllab.net

Vase
trocadero.com

Bottles and vases
dualmodern.com

Vase
nyshowplace.com

Bottles
originalinberlin.com

Bottle and vase
liveauctioneers.com

Bottle
skinnerinc.com

Square plate
italianpottery.com

Square plate
italianpottery.com

Square plate
italianpottery.com

Plate by daughter Susanna de Simone
villagioceramics.com