Bala is a traditional Cretan terracotta design dating back to before the Minoan period and beyond. Vessels like these were used to store everything from grain to oil and even wine. Today, the wide top lip and bulbous shape make it perfect for planting as it both holds a lot of soil and is big enough to take a specimen tree or shrub.

  • Unique terracotta pot

  • Hand crafted by traditional artists in Crete

  • Slight variation in each pot adds character

  • Withstands extremes of hot and cold without cracking

  • Made to last for many years

Dimensions

  • 50 x 45 cm

  • 70 x 65 cm

  • 90 x 75 cm

Options

  • Subsoil tanker irrigation for installation before planting

  • Fibreglass liner for interior use to eliminate the need for plastic trays

Manufacture and composition

  • Handmade in Crete using local purified clay.

  • Large pots are built in stages.

  • Decorations are added by hand using clay slips.

  • Completed pots are taken outside to dry in the Mediterranean sun before being gas fired at 1200 degrees C. This high temperature firing enables the pots to withstand extreme cold and hot temperatures without cracking.