FROM ALVINO BAGNI TO NUOVE FORME
The company, Nuove Forme, was created in 1993 from in likeness to the original pottery firm of
Alvino Bagni.
Currently, Nuove Forme is managed by Gianfranco Ghiretti and Alvino Bagni’s granddaughter, Maria Chiara Ghiretti along with some other well-known collaborators.
ALVINO BAGNI
Alvino Bagni’s story is one of passion, creativity, and skill
He was born in a hamlet of Lastra a Signa in 1919 and since childhood was interested in the pottery world. Thanks to the teachings of the artist Torello Santini, he began work in Arnaldo Pugi’s pottery workshop in Ponte Signa. After World War ended, Pugi himself would eventually finance Alvino Bagni, so that he could open his first workshop.
Ceramiche Bagni’s story begins with the production of 3500 small plates with the slogan “I like Ike” for the election campaign of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would become the 34th president of the U.S.A. in 1953.
Alvino firm heavily relied on the work of family members. The first and most important was his wife Gina that would accompany him for his working life.
50’s and 60’s were crucial years for Bagni’s firm. During those years Bagni increasingly collaborated with some of the most important personalities of the American design and business community like Raymor (N.Y.) and Rosenthal. For them, Bagni created extremely modern pieces for his time.
The firm eventually moved in a bigger and more modern factory and the business got a new impetus. Alvino surrounded himself with collaborators and highly skilled artists as E.Borgini, M.Mannori, R.Buti, M.Santonocito and many more. Using his collaborators to get a perfect equilibrium between materials, technique, functionality, and aesthetic beauty.
By 1980 the firm had more than 100 employees and had become synonymous with high-quality production. At that time, it was very well known for first-rate pieces produced with new, experimental techniques.
Unfortunately, problems came with rise of globalization. The firm was still using handcraft methods of production and it couldn’t stand excessive cost reductions needed for the industrialized world.
Despite Alvino Bagni’s efforts to save his employees the firm had to close definitively in 1990.
In 1993 he returned to pottery with a new and improved Nuove Forme. He retreated after 8 years of work for health reasons.
Alvino died in 2009 at age 90. His entire work life having remained inspired by modesty, technique, passion and creativity.
Alvino Bagni’s Collection:
a museum of unique pieces
The enormous collection of Alvino Bagni has nowadays became an authentic museum of lines and unique pieces. At the moment, this collection is scrupulously guarded by the new firm.
DISCOVER THE COLLECTION / ALVINO BAGNI
