This is a flower pot by Italian ceramic artist Alvino Bagni. The same decoration is featured in the reference book on Italian mid-century ceramics, "Alla Moda." This design (Pattern No. 42) was created by Alvino Bagni in 1959. It features blue and gray glazes with oval wheels and stylized floral, gear, or star-shaped motifs rendered in a pointillist style. It reflects the molecular and atomic motifs that were popular in the 1950s. The clean form, with its cylindrical shape and straight sides, matches any table or desk, whether used as kitchenware such as canisters or pots, or as planters or vases. The size of the piece is approximately 14cm in height and 11cm in width. It is hand-written "ITALY 2201" on the bottom. Alvino Bagni (1919-2009) was a renowned Italian ceramic artist who played an important role in the development of contemporary ceramics. Born in 1919 in Lastra a Signa, Italy, known for its ceramic industry, he showed an interest in ceramics from a young age. Bagni started his career as a ceramic artist, working in the workshop of Arnaldo Pugi's pottery factory in Ponte a Signa. After World War II, Pugi provided financial support to Bagni, allowing him to open his own workshop. Thus began the story of "Ceramiche Bagni." The 1950s and 60s were an important period for Bagni, and he established special relationships with numerous prominent companies in the American design and business world, such as Raymor (New York) and Rosenthal. In 1970, the company moved to a larger and more modern factory, and Bagni gathered highly skilled collaborators and artists around him. By 1980, the factory's employees reached 100, and Bagni's company gained fame for its sophisticated products and innovative techniques, but it closed in 1990. However, Bagni's activities did not end. In 1993, he launched a new business called "Nuove Forme" and continued his ceramic work until eight years before his retirement for health reasons. Alvino Bagni passed away in 2009 at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, passion, and technical skill. Alvino Bagni's career was a fascinating journey spanning several decades. He was a master of ceramics who played an important role in the development of contemporary ceramics. (Quoted from FORMES UTILES HP)