Agresti Planters

The terra cotta urns for Seibert & Rice’s Agresti Planters are made completely freehand, without the assistance of molds, by a workshop in Impruneta, Italy, that dates back to the 1600s. The large pots are built using the coil method, in which the potter carefully builds up the walls of the pot. The process is highly time consuming and requires an extraordinary amount of skill. The result is a handmade planter that is truly a piece of sculpture.

The masks, rosettes, and garlands that adorn these planters are formed in original molds from the famous 19th-century workshop of Raffaello and Michele Agresti. There urns were originally made in the 1880s for Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C., home of the Vanderbilt family. They still remain at the estate today. Each of the large Agresti Planters is signed by the master who makes these works of art.

Discerning gardeners and designers know that Seibert & Rice terra cotta is distinguished from all other terra cotta by its unique pink color, its exquisite detail, and its durability. The high iron and calcium content of Impruneta clay give this terra cotta a warm pink color with white highlights. The clay’s chemical composition, combined with high firing temperatures and long firing times, makes this the most durable terra cotta in the world.

Seibert & Rice terra cotta pots are frost proof to -20˚F. They can be left outdoors year round, even in cold climates, without cracking or flaking, as long as they are properly drained. Be sure to lift the pots off the ground on wedges, pot feet, or wooden blocks so that there is at least an inch between the drainage hole and the ground. Do not use saucers outside in the winter, since water can collect in them and freeze. Leave soil in the pots and always make sure the drainage holes are clear.

Small 11” H x 16” D
Large 27½” H x 38” D