Clay flower pot in the shape of a basket - Fornace Masini

Mastello is a terracotta planter suitable for decorating gardens, terraces, and homes.

It is handcrafted by our artisans, and its shape resembles a real basket.

It is ideal for storing all kinds of flowers, plants, or shrubs. The good breathability of Impruneta terracotta combined with thermal insulation and minimal moisture release from watering keeps the roots and plants in excellent health.

Besides its function as a planter, the basket is a valuable piece of furniture that adds beauty and elegance to your garden or home.

Available in many sizes.

Like all other terracotta products from the Masini Terrecotte Artistiche series, it is weather-resistant, up to -25 °C.

Dimensions 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 techniques are the hallmarks of Fornace Masini. Their kiln has been operating since 1938, making it one of the oldest in the area. Since then, across generations, Masini has committed to offering and guaranteeing products that combine beauty and craftsmanship with functionality and durability. Each 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 mix 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 environment and colors of nature, they are most happily used in garden furniture. Our products are recognizable by the brand, which guarantees the highest quality of each item, where the artisan's touch and the vitality of tradition are clearly visible.

Impruneta terracotta has been used in major Florentine buildings such as Santo Spirito, Sant'Ambrogio, the apartments of the Grand Duke at Palazzo Vecchio, the Santissima Annunziata monastery, Santa Trinita, and hospitals Santa Maria Nuova and Innocenti. The entire “Fornace Masini” product range is resistant to extreme temperatures from –20 °C to desert heat. This durability is due to 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 excellent condition for a long time

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

2. Make sure water does not stagnate in containers 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 prevent cracks or breaks caused by 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 coverage 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 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.