What is Terracotta?

Terracotta is an inorganic, non-metallic material that is highly workable in the presence of water due to its natural characteristics. Its malleability allows it to be shaped into any desired form. Terracotta is distinguished not only for its ductility but also for its reddish color, due to the presence of iron oxides. This material owes its beauty to the incredible fusion of earth and fire, two of the four primitive elements according to Aristotelian tradition. Like wood, fire, stone, and water, it is an “empathetic” element, perfectly fitting into every type of style, from modern to ancient.

Whether it's the neighbor's garden, the small courtyard in front of the house, or luxurious villas with breathtaking landscapes, these places can greatly benefit from the introduction of terracotta elements, whether as coverings, decorations, or containers. These characteristics have made terracotta one of the most used materials for making pots, various objects, and crockery.

The phases of terracotta processing are essential from the beginning. The selection of the clay is crucial, as some clays (like kaolin) are suitable for making thin ceramics, while other types of clay can create more resistant products.

Regarding firing, terracotta is baked in special kilns that reach very high temperatures. Remember, for successful firing, the object must be completely dried out to lose all moisture. Moisture could, in fact, lead to cracks or irreparable fractures during firing.

Decorating with Terracotta Pots

Have you ever thought of decorating your garden in a particular way? What about using decorated terracotta pots?

Embellishing with terracotta pots is never a bad idea, as terracotta rarely becomes excessive and doesn't overshadow other elements, always maintaining a simple and elegant appearance.

The color decoration of terracotta is done with specific materials, and there are glazes for coloring that can be used before and after firing.

If the color is applied before firing, the product will need only one pass in the kiln. Conversely, if the decoration with glazes occurs after firing, another round of firing will be needed.

Which Terracotta Pots to Choose for Your Garden?

We have talked about decorating terracotta pots, but even a simple, clean, perfect terracotta pot, empty, is considered a sculpture.

Beautifying the garden with simple terracotta pots is a good strategy to avoid a 'chaos' of colors and not detract from the visibility of certain elements. The natural appearance of terracotta itself conveys solemnity, beauty, and almost tells a story.

Another idea for choosing terracotta pots could be those with 'signs of time', like 'old' pots with small cracks, chips, graphics, broken handles, which only increase the charm of the ancient and the allure of terracotta.

Certainly, terracotta pots are beautiful even without decorations or anything else but have a structure such that they are suitable for containing almost any type of plant, managing to furnish with the simple presence of the cleanest lines. If you want to create floral compositions that suit every occasion, also consider using terracotta pots as supports.

If you already have a countless collection of pots but terracotta is the material for you, another idea is small wall decorations like stars, animals, tiles that will embellish the walls of your home.

How to Clean Terracotta Pots?

Terracotta pots are also very delicate, and to avoid irreversible staining, it's important to thoroughly clean the pots between seasons.

Firstly, the pots are cleaned with a plastic brush after being emptied and washed with water. The trick is to soak the pots in a sink with warm water and vinegar for at least two hours. After careful brushing, you'll see that the stains will disappear. For particularly stubborn stains, apply undiluted vinegar and brush again. You'll see that the color will return to its original nature, and the pots will look new!

RA-MA Selection

At RA-MA, we boast a large and carefully curated selection of terracotta objects. Don't miss out on extraordinary products crafted by the skilled hands of our staff.

Browse our selection on the website or come visit us to touch our materials with your own hands, and your homes will never be the same.