History of Ceramics in Tuscany

Impruneta “cotto” - 2

The development of techniques for making jars

In the 16th century the relationship between the Florentine market and the Impruneta kilns became even more important, and while the production of manufactured objects for household use (“mezzine” and basins) was cut down the production of jars for the storage of olive oil increased. Garden terracotta objects, specially large plant pots were manufactured here, too.
The evolution of agriculture in Tuscany and in particular the increase in the cultivation of olive trees (due to the spread of sharecropping and the setting up of farms), responsible for the growing importance of olive oil jars, determined also a progressive change in their shape. The need to store a larger quantity of oil meant an increase in the size of these jars, both in height and diameter.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries these “orci” acquired a growing impressive appearance which created no small difficulty in manufacture techniques. The great skill kiln owners showed in transforming their products together with the superior quality of local clay, which made these jars more beautiful and long-lasting than those from other production centres, put the final seal on the success of Impruneta earthenware production.

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