Just Say Yes to Rocco Italian Terra Cotta

What is it about Italian terra cotta? Living in Southern California, we have all seen plenty of Mexican terra cotta, or should I say Mexican CLAY products (since they really aren’t terra cotta). It looks great in the California sunshine, but the clay seems to melt or disintegrate immediately with the constant spray of water from the Rainbird sprinklers working overtime throughout the summer, and winter can be even more destructive.

But not even all Italian terra cotta is created equal. Much of the pottery arriving in the United States from Italian factories is machine-made from mediocre clay found throughout the many regions of the country, but the terra cotta pottery at Eye of the Day is made from Galestro clay, found only in the Sienna Grossetto area of Italy, near and around Florence.

Most terra cotta (whether Italian,  Mexican, Greek, or French) requires a sealant to be applied at least on the interior of each pot to be planted in order to protect the integrity of the material. Terrecotte San Rocco products do not need to be sealed, the quality of the clay will hold up to extremes in temperature as well as constant contact with water.  Terra cotta from San Rocco is long-lasting and frost-proof, guaranteed to -15 degrees; the mineral content found in the clay, when combined with high firing temperatures, insures products of the finest quality and highest durability.  And it is beautiful.  Just say no to poor quality terra cotta, say yes to terra cotta for the centuries.