The Two-rimmed Vase: the history of an icon that spans the centuries

Follow with us a process of rare precision.

In the heart of Impruneta, where clay becomes culture, one of the most emblematic models of the terracotta tradition takes shape: the Vaso a Due Orli, also known as a lemon vase.
It is not just a container for plants, but a symbol that tells more than five centuries of Italian history and continues to inspire landscape and interior design professionals, as well as lovers of beauty and greenery all over the world.

Made entirely by hand, this vase is distinguished by its clean, unmistakable lines, capable of adapting naturally to both classical contexts and contemporary projects.
Its elegant simplicity makes it the choice of historic residences, fine hotels, representative gardens and private spaces, such as small green corners or balconies, where every detail communicates authenticity and value.

Detail of the handwork of an Impruneta terracotta vase

Detail of the rim of an Impruneta terracotta vase

Craftsmanship: an ancient ritual

The creation of the Two Rim Vase is a process of rare precision.

Each one is worked with gestures that have only been handed down in the furnace for generations.

All the operations that the master craftsman carries out are as simple as they are decisive: the precise gestures with which he shapes the earth, the obligatory waiting between one phase and the next, the unmoulding and cleaning up, the marking of the hems with a wooden stick, all to maintain perfect measurements, lines and proportions.

The process continues: the craftsman creates the first thin border at the base, an ornamental thread that adds a refined detail.
Then the actual hem is layered, smoothed and corrected several times with the help of a simple wet piece and the master’s expert eye.
This hem is not just an aesthetic affectation, but is also and above all a studied means on which to firmly anchor the hands in order to be able to move the vase when necessary.

Each curve comes to life by hand, without modern tools, and is completed with the final marking:
the Poggi Ugo stamp, a guarantee of quality since 1919, and the prestigious CAT mark – Ceramica Artistica Tradizionale di Impruneta (Traditional Artistic Ceramics of Impruneta) and, on request, also the year of production of the vase.

Here is the full video to discover every step of the process:

from raw earth to final form, weeks of workmanship summed up in two minutes. A transformation that combines technique, patience and beauty.

Press play and watch the hands shape the Two-Edged Vase.

A vase that tells the story

The Vaso a Due Orli (Two-rimmed Vase) is one of the first models created in Impruneta, introduced as early as the Medici era to house citrus fruits in monumental gardens.
It is no coincidence that its latest production was made for an exceptional client: the Boboli Gardens in Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Poggi Ugo’s terracotta has been decorating and preserving beauty since its creation.

Yet it is not only in historical locations that this vase is at its best. Thanks to its versatility, it is now chosen in international projects, from urban landscapes to modern courtyards, from exclusive hotel lobbies to the most contemporary private terraces.

There are 18 sizes to suit every need, including those of the plant.

Not everyone knows that the 18 available sizes do not only respond to aesthetic and design criteria; originally, these sizes were created to meet the real needs of plants.

For example, citrus trees have a root system that tends to occupy all available space: a pot that is too large can encourage excessive root development to the detriment of the foliage. An adequate pot, on the other hand, balances the growth and ensures a healthier and more harmonious plant.

In this way, each plant finds its ideal dimension: a choice that stems from a profound knowledge not only of the material, but also of the greenery it houses.