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.
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