One day, many years ago, we were driving through the excellent Tuscan countryside looking for a few good terracotta factories for Eye of the Day.  As random chance would intervene, as it often does, behind a chain link fence we found Terrecotte San Rocco.  We had met Marcello at the Paris gift show and had never seen terracotta pottery quite like what he had to offer, so we made the trip to Tuscany to find his factory.  The pottery was even better in situ and so began a beautiful friendship.

Since that fate-filled trip, Eye of the Day has grown to include many different products from all over the world, but the terracotta containers, planters and pottery of Terrecotte San Rocco are the heart of our collection.  Marcello’s terracotta is not only beautiful, encompassing many styles and shapes, but somewhat recently he began using the highest quality clay available – Galestro clay, which is the same material that is used to manufacture pottery in the famed area of Impruneta.  The clay is found in a small region of Tuscany and has been used to produce terracotta pottery for centuries. These clay pots are fired at a very high temperature causing the elevated levels of pyrites and silica to change structure, resulting in an extremely hard material unique in its color and texture and setting them apart from other terracotta clays.

Here’s another thing about San Rocco: Marcello is not the kind of guy to rest on his accomplishments and find satisfaction in a production that is “just fine”.  Since we first met, there is a newer, larger factory, contemporary and more edgy designs and new dynamic clay colors.  He is also working with glazes to produce a different look entirely.  And, in case you don’t know this about him, Brent feels the same drive Marcello does, always looking for a way to make Eye of the Day better, more interesting, never satisfied that it is “just fine”– they make great partners.

And, ok… Marcello and his family live in TUSCANY, remember.  Food, wine, vistas.  All of them rich and full of life.  We are, in every capacity, extremely glad that we made that first trip to Tuscany.  It changed our lives and the constantly changing life of Eye of the Day as well.

Our methods MAY be slightly unusual (you’ll just have to visit and observe) but they work for us. It begins with Brent. We’ll call him “The Visionary”. He is the person from whom all ideas flow. Fearless, bold, going where most men have never even considered going. But go he does. Tuscany for a collection of old terracotta oil jars? Done. Signed, sealed, delivered. Greece to demonstrate how to load a container of traditional style pottery? Are they ready for him tomorrow?  He’s booked.  Next, he’s off to France for a visit to the antique fairs. Without his lead, Eye of the Day could NOT lead. And, Eye of the Day IS a trailblazing design center, after all, constantly growing and changing with The Vision.

 

Brent inspecting pottery in Greece.

Recently The Visionary and his sidekick, Julia trekked to Washington D.C. to the ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) Annual Meeting & Expo 2010 themed “Earth, Air, Water Fire” just for the experience of the show; should we display at the next one? (It’ll be on our home turf – San Diego, CA.) They shared ideas with others, toured beautiful garden gems in Georgetown, found some exciting new products and, by the by, took on the larger challenge of touring the city (with local wisdom offered by Julia’s pal Cathryn Kingsbury) and sampling D.C.’s fine cuisine (Try everything at Zaytinya). The conclusion as to exhibiting in San Diego? We want as many people as possible to see our treasures, especially the variety of terracotta, so YES! Off we’ll go…

Cool Find at the Expo: The Porter Garden Telescope

This marvelous telescope, first designed in the 1920s, is newly improved with suburb optics. You’ll easily gaze upon the remarkable detail of Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons. AND, you can remove the optics creating an elegant bronze garden sculpture. Each limited heirloom is handmade in Vermont and given a serial number. The company that makes them, Telescopes of Vermont, was a very cool find at the ASLA 2010 EXPO.