Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Terracotta pots

What is more quintessential to the Italian garden than the terracotta pot? The problem with terracotta is, of course, that a solid frost will break the pot. Dropping it will have the same effect. What I found particularly interesting in the Giardino dei simplici was to see how these pots are maintained and repaired.



Of course in winter it is preferable to empty terracotta pots and planters as they have done in the picture above. In Canada and the northern U.S., you should not only empty them but put them away in some kind of shelter (I put mine under a porch), in case a rain is followed by a sudden severe frost. 

One thing I noticed in the Gardino dei simplici was that they brace their pots with wire, as in the picture below. This might help them hold together even if they crack. It might also help them resist lighter frosts.


Even once they have cracked, all is not lost. They drill a small hole on each side of the crack and insert a wire to hold the two sides together.


With help, some veteran pots seem to have survived quite a few mishaps or frosty years as shown by their surgical scars.


Some seem also to have been glued back together, perhaps with epoxy, as, for example, this one which has also been glazed inside to slow down evaporation.



 I noticed that many of these pots had years printed on them, together with the manufacturer's name. Most were in the 1850s. It is hard to believe any clay pot could have survived this long, whether wired or not. Perhaps the year refers to when the design was patented? However, all those I saw had different years.



I tried to look it up on the Internet. I found hundreds of people selling pots, but no information that would help understand what exactly these inscriptions refer to.

Large pots also have grooves at the bottom to facilitate drainage.





At the Giardino dei simplici, they also have a type of "saucer" to put under clay pots with a raised middle part, a style I had never seen before, but which I have now noticed in many other places in Florence.



Hidden in an out of the way corner were these crippled pots.  Are they waiting to be repaired or beyond all hope of being reclaimed?



I end with two small shelters next to the pots in the first picture. In each of these is a small mattress and under the bench on the right is some food. This thoughtful accommodation is provided for the members of the mice and voles control department.




19 comments:

  1. I like the mice and voles control department!

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    1. I saw one of them. He looked rather feral, no doubt a good hunter.

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  2. What a long history for clay pots.

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    1. I can't believe they are that old. That year printed on the pot must refer to something else.

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  3. The saucers are interesting and would be ideal for providing a slug and snail moat to make life more difficult for those trying to crawl across into the pot. The pot would have to stand in water this way.

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    1. The slug deterrent is a good theory. You see lots of modern big pots in the downtown that sit on such saucers.

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  4. Merry Christmas and VERY Happy New Year Alain !
    I love this post about the pots .. I have a thing for terracotta pots even though they are tough with moisture evaporation and heat with plants..I line mine with plastic bags , but making sure the drainage hole is still open.
    I love how they wire them together and that so many of them are so old ! Amazing !!
    Joy : )

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    1. The plastic bag liner is a good idea. I might try both (the plastic bag and varnishing the inside).
      A very happy new year to you too.

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  5. They certainly go to great lengths to protect and preserve terra cotta pots. I remember seeing some pots with great character in Florence when we were there several years ago. I can't imagine going to these lengths, but I really should take better care of the ones I have.

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    1. It is hardly worth it for a small clay pot but for a large (read expensive) one, it would be worth a try (and ecological). Some of these pots, like the ones holding lemon trees, are huge.
      I noticed on Christmas morning that one of these big ones had been knocked down and broken. Out of control revelers I suppose.

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  6. I have many pots that have been passed down to me from my great grandmother so they are over a hundred years old. Although I wire the tops for strength I have never seen the stitching over a crack.

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    1. You are lucky. I have many but use them as garden decoration. They are all piled up outside the shed. The first garden I had came with many clay pots (perhaps 100) and some are at least from the 1940's. I know because the previous owners started cuttings in them and wrote the name of the plant and the year in chalk on the outside of the pot.

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  7. Having just visited my wife's son and seen plants drowning in saucers of water the raised platform style saucers might have a market here in the UK

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    1. I also think it is a good idea and, as Sue mentioned, that would stop slugs. You would not need a special saucer, just something to prop up the pot inside the saucer.

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  8. Well that was fascinating. I'd never realised terracotta pots could be repaired in such a way. The nice ones are so expensive over here they're well worth a little T&C to extend their life.
    Good to see you back Alain!

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  9. Fascinating to see how they preserve their old pots. I would suggest that if the pots looked handmade then the age on the pots could certainly be the year they were made.
    Happy New Year

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    1. Probably they are that old. Perhaps they leave them around to impress visitors and don't actually use them! I intend to go back to the garden before we leave and ask the staff about it. I will let you know.

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  10. Fascinating, the use of wires and rivets for ceramic repairs on such as tableware used to be commonplace but is now out dated by the use of modern adhesives.

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