Vintage Italian Terracotta Garden Planter, Putti Design, Circa 1960s, by Vaserie Trevigiane

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This is a vintage Italian cylindrical terracotta garden planter made by Vaserie Trevigiane in the Treviso region of Italy, likely … Read more This is a vintage Italian cylindrical terracotta garden planter made by Vaserie Trevigiane in the Treviso region of Italy, likely dating to the mid-to-late 20th century (circa 1960s–1980s).

DÉCOR: The continuous bas-relief frieze wrapping around the cylinder depicts dancing winged cherubs (putti) carrying heavy garlands of grapes and foliage. Inspired by ancient Greco-Roman sarcophagi and Italian Renaissance sculpture, such as Donatello’s famous dancing putti panels, these figures are classical symbols of joy, vitality and abundance. Paired with grape clusters and lush garlands, the putti celebrate Bacchanalian harvest, fertility and the thriving cycle of nature, which all adds up to a traditional motif for Mediterranean courtyard and garden vessels.

ORIGIN: The ink stamp on the interior base reads "VASERIE TREVIGIANE / MADE IN ITALY / 35". Founded in the mid-20th century by Piovesan & Zago, the company translates to "Treviso Potteries" and later evolved into Vaserie Trevigiane International (with sister operations in Tuscany). The "35" next to the name indicates the mold size in centimeters (35 cm equals roughly 13.8 inches, corresponding to the 14-inch diameter measurement. It was manufactured in Quinto di Treviso, a municipality in the Veneto region of northern Italy, roughly 30 km north of Venice. This is an area historically famous for rich alluvial clay deposits along the Sile River.

MATERIAL: Terracotta is porous and absorbs minerals and moisture quickly. The white mineral deposits, soil staining on the bottom, interior pot scratches and softened facial features on the relief can develop within 10 to 20 years of outdoor exposure to rain, watering and freeze-thaw cycles—meaning the wear reflects genuine garden use rather than extreme antiquity.

PERIOD: Based on the block-letter ink stamp style, which was commonly used for export wares to North America, and the mold-pressed construction, this pot dates to the 1960s–1980s.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Interior bottom (photo #8). See less