Sutton Manor Nursery Terracotta Pots

This stamp is only given to Tuscan pots that are handmade in the traditional methods of cast molds and colombini. Fatto A Mano In Toscana meaning Hand Made In Tuscany.

This stamp is only given to a Tuscan Pot that has been hand-made in the traditional way of potters wheel.  The Tornio Da Vasaio meaning Hand Finished Potters Wheel.

There are many cheap imitations of true handmade Tuscan clay pots which are manufactured by machines in factories for a speedy, yet poor result. You won’t find any Stamps Of Distinction on any of those cheap pots! These types of  pots can be easily spotted by the bad quality inferior clays, one drainage hole and thinner walls which makes the pot prone to cracking.

The first is “Colombini”, which is the oldest form. This tradition is used when producing large pots, large vases and urns. It’s delicately formed by shaping the clay into lengths of “Colombini” (hand-rolled lengths of clay) and building it up from the base whilst shaping. It’s only by this method, formed by the eye of the Artisan Potter, that the pots can carry the stamp of distinction “Fatto A Mano in Toscana” (handmade in Tuscany)

The second tradition is called “Tornio Da Vasaio”, also known as “The Potters Wheel”. This method is mostly representative for round pots. The wheel for the pots is called a lathe and is very deep. The Artisan Potter builds up the clay by hand inside the mould. The potter selects by hand what is called a paddle to shape the pot as it spins on the potters wheel (lathe) to create the pot shape and fullness. Once the potter has created the pot, the mould it sits in must absorb the water from the clay. It is only after this process that the pot is very carefully removed. The true craftsmanship of the Artisan Potter truly comes to life by hand finishing the pot whilst carefully smoothing out its shape. This is also the time that the artist can add any handmade motifs on the highly decorative pots. Only by use of the traditional wheel can the pot carry the stamp of distinction “Tornio Da Vasaio Rifinito A Mano In Toscana” (Potters Wheel hand finished in Tuscany).

The third tradition is an amazing technique which uses handmade cast moulds. They are used mostly for square pots or window boxes. By hand, the clay is built up slowly onto a flat cast. After the potter builds the clay into the cast, each cast is formed together by hand to produce the shape and thickness of the pot. The potter carefully removes the cast one by one, then starts working on the outside of the pot making it truly come to life by hand smoothing and forming the pot. Only by this method can the pot carry the stamp of distinction “Fatto A Mano In Toscana” (Handmade In Tuscany)