Iconic midcentury ceramicist Lisa Larson, in an interview in 2017 with Fishinkblog:
Can you tell me a little more behind the story as to how your cat design came to be used by Baldelli and made into a moneybox? I assume it was done with your permission?
Not at all! It is total plagiarism! I first saw it in a shop window in San Francisco in 1966. When I asked what it was, I was told it came from a Danish importer. The shop owner said: “But, we do have a genuine Lisa Larson too”, and showed me into a back room!
Shocking to hear that blatent copying of designers work was happening mid sixties too. Some have the cheek to say it’s a compliment, but I disagree and if a company wants to compliment you on your skills and creative design, they should at least pay a royalty for using it! Shame on you Baldelli and Bitossi.
