Antique & Vintage Ceramics from Puglia, Southern Italy

A distinctive mid-19th-century antique ceramic yeast pot from Grottaglie, Puglia, Southern Italy, decorated using the traditional smammriato technique. Originally used to store lievito madre (mother yeast), this rustic farmhouse vessel is an evocative example of traditional Puglian pottery, where everyday objects were made with practicality and individual character in mind.

The rounded terracotta body is finished in a warm buttermilk glaze, scattered with expressive splashes and streaks of deep pistachio green. The smammriato technique creates an irregular, almost painterly pattern, traditionally achieved by applying contrasting colours with small branches or leafy brushes. Each mark contributes to the distinctive surface, making every piece unique.

With its gently rounded form, raised neck and naturally aged finish, this antique pot brings texture and understated rustic charm to an interior. Today, it can be displayed as a sculptural object or used as a vase for fresh or dried flowers, and looks particularly striking alongside other antique Southern Italian ceramics.

Details

• Period: Mid 1800s

• Origin: Grottaglie, Puglia, Southern Italy

• Found: Lecce, Puglia

• Material: Terracotta with glaze

• Original use: Storage of mother yeast (lievito madre)

• Decoration: Traditional smammriato splatter technique

• Colours: Buttermilk and pistachio green

• Dimensions: H28 × W25 × D25 cm

These are handmade antique ceramics that are perfectly imperfect and may show signs of generations of use, including cracks, chips and discolouration. Glaze variations, surface wear and other irregularities are part of the charm and unique character of each piece. Please refer to the photographs for details of the condition. If using as a vase, we recommend placing a separate watertight vessel or glass vials inside. Please note that colours may vary slightly from screen to screen.

A rare late-18th-century antique Italian confit pot originating from Basilicata, in southern Italy. Traditionally used to preserve foods such as olives, artichokes and other vegetables in olive oil, this hand-crafted earthenware vessel is a beautiful example of rural Italian pottery, rich in history and rustic character.

The pot features a wonderfully rounded, bulbous body with twin loop handles and a classic ochre-yellow slip glaze applied around the upper rim, mouth and handles. The contrast between the warm, earthy terracotta and the pastel-hued glaze gives the piece a wonderfully organic appearance, while its timeworn surface reveals the patina of generations of everyday use.

The partial glazing was practical rather than purely decorative. The glazed rim and mouth provided a smoother, easier-to-clean surface for everyday use, while leaving the remainder of the pot unglazed helped keep production costs down at a time when glazing was an expensive process.

Today, this exceptionally characterful antique makes a beautiful decorative vessel or vase, bringing the understated charm of southern Italian farmhouse into a contemporary interior. Style it with branches or seasonal foliage, or create an impactful display by pairing it with matching southern Italian pots, as seen in the images.

Details

• Period: Late 1700s

• Origin: Basilicata, southern Italy

• Material: Hand-crafted earthenware / terracotta

• Glaze: Ochre-yellow slip glaze

• Features: Rounded bulbous body, twin loop handles and partially glazed finish

• Original use: Food preservation

• Dimensions: H 25 × W 23 × D 20 cm

As with all Rivesto antique ceramics, this piece is perfectly imperfect. Having survived centuries of use, it may display cracks, chips, discolouration and other signs of age. These individual characteristics form part of its authentic character, charm and unique history. If using as a vase, we recommend placing a separate watertight vessel or glass vials inside. Please note that colours may vary slightly from screen to screen.