How To Identify Authentic Hand-Crafted Italian Pottery

I don’t know about you, but I love shopping at HomeGoods. You never know what treasures you will come upon. Quite often I find Italian ceramic tableware and the prices appear too good to be true. However, buyers beware!! These Italian ceramic plates, bowls and other items for sale at HomeGoods are NOT handcrafted, artisan pottery, but mass-produced industrial pottery.

What is the difference between artisan pottery and mass-produced industrial pottery?

The basic difference between the two types of pottery lies in the production process. Artisan pottery is created in small batches by small factories or workshops often run by one family. From start to finish artisan pottery is created by hand beginning with a choice of clay to model into a desired form, topped by a hand-painted décor and finished by firing in the kiln. This process requires great skill and a deep knowledge which is passed down from generation to generation to create a unique piece of pottery. Every piece of Italian pottery is unique and different and no two pieces will ever be alike.

Contrarily, the goal of mass produced, industrial pottery is to create identical products in mass quantity. These items are created on machines in large, commercial factories with little input by human hands. Since machines produce each piece of pottery in extremely short spans of time, with little human input, the time, energy and cost put into each item is a minute fraction of the process to create a piece of artisan pottery. Thus, the retail price to the consumer can be substantially lower. One other item to note, the quality of the materials used with mass production will often be much less superior to the ones used in artisan workshops.

Consumers will notice quite a difference between a piece of artisan pottery and a mass produced one.

So how do you identify authentic, handcrafted Italian Ceramics?

“Made in Italy” 

Look for a hand signed signature stating that the item was “Made in Italy” somewhere on the pottery. Some of the higher-end factories will also hand paint the name of their workshop as well as a series of numbers to help identify the piece, but this is not always the standard.  

The “Made in Italy” mark is standard on most pieces of Italian pottery primarily because U.S. and international import laws require the country of origin to be written in English. While a piece might be legally required to be marked in English "Made in Italy" for customs, authentic handmade Italian ceramics often also feature the specific town of origin (e.g., Deruta or Faenza) and "dipinto a mano" which means "hand-painted".

Superior Quality of Materials

Italian craftsmen choose high-quality materials, often local, which ensuring durability and resistance over time. One will notice authentic handcrafted artisan Italian pottery will have substantial weight compared to mass produced items. Thanks to the quality of the materials and the care in the workmanship, artisanal ceramics are often more resistant than industrial products, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Uniqueness

Every piece of handcrafted Italian pottery will contain variation in the shape, design and finish. The natural imperfections of work accomplished by hand add charm and character to the piece. Slight imperfections such as small dimples or a rough edge demonstrate the human touch. Variations will be evident in the design from one piece to the next as factories employ multiple painters. Brushstrokes in the design shoudl be evident, as authentic Italian pottery is always hand painted. Furthermore, occasionally, you will notice paint smudges, fingerprints, and looseness of lids. These variances should not be considered imperfections but proof of fine, handcrafted work.

Glaze Texture

Authentic, artisan Italian pottery has a smooth but slightly irregular surface due to hand-finishing.
Unglazed Base: Turn the piece over. Authentic handmade pieces should show an unglazed foot or circular rim, exposing the natural, brownish-orange color of the fired terracotta (bisque). If the base is white and smooth, than it is not an authentic piece of handmade Italian pottery. 

Why is authentic Italian pottery so costly?

If you are ever in Italy and have the chance to take a tour of one of the Italian ceramic factories, you will be astonished at the process to make one piece of pottery. 

A single piece of Italian pottery can take 5-7 days to complete, as each piece begins by being shaped by hand or on a wheel, transitions to the painting phase and then finished in a kiln. The painting process itself for one item can take 1-7 hours depending on the complexity and size of the item. So suddenly you release that $100-$150 per plate is actually quite a steal when you see the time spent producing the item.

Chose Authentic, Italian Ceramics!

When choosing Italian ceramics, look for a clear origin of craftsmanship. Ensure that your pottery is hand-marked that it is “Made in Italy”. Avoid mass-produced imitations that lack authenticity and durability.