The Moroccan Spiral Plate

Some objects just hold your gaze. This hand thrown Moroccan plate does exactly that, with concentric rings of chocolate brown and warm cream that pull you right into its centre. Each band was painted on the wheel by hand, so no two lines are quite the same, and that’s exactly the charm.

This is a hand thrown and hand painted plate or shallow bowl from Morocco, almost certainly from the pottery tradition of Safi or the bazaar production that builds on it (Marrakech, Fez).

Turn it over and you’ll find a glossy terracotta underside and a cream foot ring. It has lived a life before us. There’s a chip on the rim where the red clay peeks through, and some light wear on the back. We think it adds character, but we want you to see it before you fall for it.

Style it with lemons, figs or a stack of linen napkins and let it bring a little Mediterranean warmth into your home. Or place it on a sideboard or coffee table as a catchall for keys, jewellery or matches. We’d keep it decorative rather than daily dinnerware.

Details

• Handmade and hand painted in Morocco, Safi style
• Glazed earthenware (terracotta) with brown and cream concentric stripes
• Diameter approx. 28 cm
• Pierced foot ring for easy wall hanging
• Vintage, late 20th century
• Condition: chip on the rim showing raw clay, light glaze wear on the underside
• Hand wash only