Antique flower pot made of clay - Fornace Masini

La Paniera Smerlata is a beautiful oval terracotta planter suitable for decorating gardens or terraces.

This terracotta basket is handcrafted by our artisans and decorated with a vertical motif. The uniqueness of this basket lies in the final widening of the vase.

The planter is suitable for storing any type of flowers, plants, or shrubs. The good breathability of Impruneta terracotta combined with thermal insulation and slight moisture release from watering keeps roots and plants in excellent health.

In addition to its function as a planter, it is a valuable piece of furniture, adding beauty and elegance to your garden or home.

Like all other products made of terracotta from the Masini Terrecotte Artistiche line, this is weather-resistant down to -25 °C.

Size and color, as shown above, may vary slightly due to the handcrafted nature of each piece, making each one unique in the world.

High-quality clay and ancient terracotta-making techniques are synonymous with the Fornace Masini brand. Their kiln has been operating since 1938, making it one of the oldest in the area. Since then, from generation to generation, Masini has committed to offering and guaranteeing products that combine beauty and craftsmanship with functionality and durability. Every artifact is a unique work of functional art.

There are many terracotta processing techniques, each with its own secrets, history, and artisans. The brand crafts clay using ancient traditional methods. In the kiln, water, air, fire, and earth blend and embrace, creating unique objects of extraordinary beauty.

The entire range of “MASINI” vessels is perfect for interior decoration, but due to the natural proximity of the material to the surroundings and colors of nature, it is most happily used in garden furniture. Our products are recognizable by the brand that guarantees the highest quality of each item, where the unmistakable touch of the artisan and the vitality of tradition are clearly visible.

Impruneta terracotta has been used in the most important Florentine buildings, such as the Santo Spirito church, Sant'Ambrogio, the apartments of the Grand Duke at Palazzo Vecchio, the Santissima Annunziata monastery, Santa Trinita, and the Santa Maria Nuova and Innocenti hospitals. The entire “Fornace Masini” product range is resistant to extreme temperatures from –20 °C to desert heat. This feature results from the highly valued clay mined in the Impruneta area, a town near Florence, between the valleys of the Ema and Greve streams. The extraction area is very limited—about 200 km—making the material’s value extraordinary.

Precautions to keep products in perfect condition for a long time

1. Use small wooden or terracotta supports to keep the pot elevated and ensure the drainage hole is not blocked;

2. Make sure water does not stagnate in the pots used as cachepots or plant holders;

3. Empty and possibly invert “saucers” or containers that collect water when temperatures approach 0 °C;

4. Wall and garden fountains should be emptied during cold seasons to avoid cracks or breakage due to water freezing and expanding;

5. Do not move or lift pots when frozen and stuck to the ground, and do not use hot water to detach them—if necessary, use salt;

6. Prevent prolonged snow accumulation on products, as it may cause damage.

The color of each product is unique and differs from all others. This is due to the chemical and physical components of the Impruneta clay, which appear during firing, sometimes dominating one color, sometimes another.

The most notable chemical component is iron oxide, which gives the fired product its characteristic red hue.

Since 2005, the company has been a founding member of the Impruneta Historical and Artistic Stove Association, which is committed to promoting quality and culture. It is recognized by its brand, which guarantees the highest standard of each piece, clearly attributable to the irreplaceable touch of the craftsman and the vibrant strength of tradition. Manufacturer information