Magnificent Pottery Bull 1960s-70s by Bellini, Italy

Hello again,
Please can anyone help to identify the maker of this magnificent ceramic bull? Judging by the colour and decoration, I think he probably dates to the 1960s/70s.
He is made of quite heavy, light coloured clay pottery but is hollow. He has quite stylised features and a fantastically muscular looking body. He is glazed in a vivid blue decorated with handpainted leaves/flowers in teal green and turquoise, outlined boldly in black. There are no identifying marks.
He measures almost 12" long.
Thanks, Clare

There’s one on eBay.au described as Bitossi and it’s certainly Bitossi glaze colours but then they supplied those colours to most manufacturers in Europe in the 20thC, but I’m not finding one on the Italian Ceramics and Bitossi group on FB yet

Hi Naomi, because I the colours Bitossi did cross my mind, but I couldn't find anything similar. I'll have another look and let you know if I find anything. Thanks for the suggestion.

I’ve found two red and yellow ones listed as “After A Design By Alvino Bagni For Raymor Pottery”

Thanks Naomi - I've found the ones you mean and I wonder how they decided on this description/attribution as there are distinct differences. However, while I was browsing through Italian bulls, I came across some other pieces with the same coloured glaze and very similar floral patterning - mainly cats and horses. They are by Bellini. Have a look and see what you think, but I think this may be the answer.

I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve posted the photos on the Bitossi group. Hopefully they’ll have a definitive answer.

Yes, it’s Bellini

Fantastic - thanks so much for your help. I couldn't have found it without you.

Love this Bull...i collect Retro..Midcentury Bulls

I'm surprised. Learn something every day.

I was really lucky to pick this up from a charity shop for no money. Really pleased to discover who it was made by. I can't find any other Bellini bulls so maybe it is quite rare!

An amendment to that last post - one bull like this on eBay.au as pointed out by Naomi, and two others with different glaze/colouring elsewhere, but still not many bulls.

I've found something about a Bitossi connection that probably explains the colouring of this piece. In the 1960s/70s, Arrigo Bellini, founder of this pottery, collaborated with Bitossi. So could this piece have been produced by Bitossi, or was Bellini just influenced by the Bitossi colour palette? Any Bitossi experts might be able to advise, but I'll post any more info I find.

It’s possible there was collaboration but a lot of it is just sales flim flam. The Bitossi group’s main product was clays and glazes to industry; pottery was a side line. Which is why many European Mid Century Modern ceramics manufacturers (like Bay in Germany and Jema in Holland) used the same glazes

Thanks for that Naomi - all useful information.

Clarehelen wrote:I was really lucky to pick this up from a charity shop for no money.

We used to call that stealing in the old days.

I should perhaps have said 'very little money'!!!