Vintage Bitossi Rosenthal Netter Yellow Owl Figurine Italy 45/5A

This striking mid-century owl figurine is an original Italian studio piece produced by Bitossi and imported by Rosenthal Netter, Inc., a partnership that brought the bold language of modern Italian ceramics to the American market from the late 1950s through the 1970s. Standing approximately 18 cm high with a base diameter of about 10 cm, the model is marked to the underside with the incised shape number “45/5A” and the word “Italy”, together with the original paper label reading “Created in Italy for Rosenthal Netter Inc.” This confirms the piece as an authentic period production rather than a later reproduction.

The figurine is formed as a stylised standing owl with a tall, slightly tapering conical body supporting a compact head. Bitossi’s characteristic hand-incised surface decoration is clearly visible: the feathers around the face are rendered as fine radiating lines, surrounding deep-set circular eyes with cog-like borders, while the beak is highlighted in a contrasting dark glaze that emphasises the sculptural modelling. Around the body, bands of impressed and punched roundels create starburst motifs and a dotted perimeter at the base and neck. These sunburst gears and dotted borders are typical of the rustic-modern aesthetic that made Bitossi ceramics so distinctive in the mid-century period.

The glaze palette is a vivid, textural yellow ochre with subtle tonal variations from lemon to mustard, enriched with darker speckling and deliberate irregularities that give a hand-crafted, almost archaeological feel. The incised details have been picked out with a darker wash that settles in the recesses, adding depth and contrast to the relief work. The interior and underside are also glazed in yellow, a detail consistent with Bitossi’s production techniques of the era, while the base rim has been left unglazed, showing the warm terracotta body beneath.

Condition is generally good and stable for a vintage studio piece, but there is a notable chip and associated loss to one ear and a smaller loss to the opposite ear, both clearly visible in the photographs. The losses expose the underlying ceramic body and slightly disrupt the otherwise smooth rim profile. There are also the expected minor manufacturing irregularities, glaze pinholes, and light wear to the extremities and base from age and handling. These points of wear are characteristic of authentic mid-century Bitossi wares and do not detract significantly from the strong decorative presence of the piece; however, the ear chips should be specifically noted for collectors who prioritise pristine condition, or for buyers considering professional restoration.

This owl belongs to a popular group of Italian zoomorphic forms produced for the export market, combining functional vessel-like construction with sculptural, almost totemic stylisation. While some examples were intended to serve as vases or candleholders, this particular model reads primarily as a decorative ornament or figurine, with its narrow top opening and deeply modelled head functioning more as an aesthetic feature than as a practical container. Displayed on a shelf, sideboard, or within a group of complementary Bitossi pieces, the bright yellow glaze and graphic texture make it an immediate focal point.

For collectors of mid-century ceramics, this object offers several desirable attributes: an unmistakable Italian provenance; an original Rosenthal Netter label linking it directly to the influential American importer; a crisply inscribed model number useful for cataloguing; and the archetypal fusion of rustic earthenware body with avant-garde surface design for which Bitossi is renowned. Despite the noted rim damage, it remains a highly decorative and historically interesting example of post-war Italian studio production and a charming addition to any collection of Bitossi, Rosenthal Netter imports, or modernist animal figurines.