Ceramics · Safi

Safi Painted Pottery

Brightly painted ceramics with blue, yellow, and green motifs on white backgrounds. Morocco's main center of painted pottery production.

History & Cultural Context

Safi has been Morocco's pottery capital since the 12th century. The city's potters developed a distinctive style combining Amazigh geometric patterns with Andalusian floral motifs introduced by artisans fleeing the Spanish Reconquista. The painted pottery tradition remains vibrant today.

Materials

Local clayWhite-firing clay from the Safi region
Mineral-based glazesCobalt blue, copper green, iron yellow pigments

Production Techniques

Wheel throwingTraditional
Shaped on a potter's wheel
Hand-paintingTraditional
Patterns applied freehand with fine brushes before glaze firing

Production Notes

Wheel-thrown, bisque-fired, hand-painted with mineral-based glazes, then glaze-fired. Total production: 3–5 days per batch.

Quality Indicators

Authenticity

Freehand brush strokes with slight variation

Quality

Even glaze coverage without bare spots

Red Flags

Decal or transfer patterns

Price Ranges

Budget20 – 80 MAD(~$2 – $8)

Small plates, cups, ashtrays

Mid-range80 – 300 MAD(~$8 – $30)

Medium serving bowls, decorative plates

Premium300 – 800 MAD(~$30 – $80)

Large platters, vases, matched sets

Luxury800 – 2000 MAD(~$80 – $200)

Master painter pieces, exhibition quality