Hand-Painted Moroccan Pitcher & Cups Set from Safi, 2L

Black on white, nothing else, which means there is nowhere for a mistake to hide. Every line on this set is drawn freehand with a brush the diamond panels, the crosshatch fill, the small dotted flower that repeats on the pitcher and again on each cup. Pick up a cup and hold it next to another and the flowers are cousins, not copies. The pitcher takes two litres and stands 24 centimetres with the lid on, which is enough water for a table of six and heavy enough that you notice when it's full. Natural Safi clay under the glaze, so the weight is real. The lid sits with a conical knob you pinch between two fingers, and it lifts off with a small ceramic knock.

What Makes It

• Painted freehand in black on white no stencil and no second colour to cover a wavering line. The crosshatch fill varies in density where the brush ran dry.
• Two litres, with a lid 67 oz, enough for a full table. The lid keeps ice water cold and dust off between refills.
• Six matching cups, none identical 9.5 cm tall, 7 across. The same motif is painted on each, one at a time.
• Lead-free and food safe safe for water, juice, and cold drinks in daily use.
• Buy the pitcher alone or with cups the pitcher stands on its own as a piece. Add two cups or the full six.

The Craft

Safi is Morocco's ceramics city, its kilns on the hill above the port. The pitcher is thrown in one piece, the lid separately and sized to it, the handle pulled and joined while the clay is leather-hard. Painting is a different trade from throwing and happens after the first firing. The painter holds the piece in one hand, turns it as he works, and lays down a band that has to close where it started with no line drawn underneath. On a two-colour piece there is no correcting: the black goes on and stays. Doing it at speed, seven pieces to a matching set, is what takes the years.

Details

• Pitcher capacity: Approx. 2 litres / 67.6 oz
• Pitcher dimensions: 24 cm high × 10 cm opening / 9.4 × 3.9 in
• Cup dimensions: 9.5 cm high × 7 cm diameter / 3.7 × 2.7 in
• Material: Natural Safi clay, glazed
• Technique: Wheel-thrown, hand-painted
• Origin: Safi, Morocco
• Includes lid: Yes, matching, hand-painted
• Food safe: Yes lead-free glaze
• Microwave: No
• Dishwasher: Hand wash recommended

Care

Hand wash with mild soap and a soft cloth. No abrasive pad on the painted surfaces. Not for microwave use. Avoid sudden temperature change. Dry the base fully before stacking or storing.

What's Included

• One hand-painted pitcher with matching lid
• Two or six matching cups, depending on the set you choose
• Origin Passport card with QR code the painter's name, his workshop in Safi, and photographs of the set being painted
• Each piece wrapped separately, boxed, DHL Express, tracked to your door