A blue patterned plate from Grottaglie, Puglia, southern Italy.

Around the rim, there is a double circle drawn with brown pigment on a white background, and small blue flowers (stars) are evenly spaced and embossed using a sponge.

This was a standard design representative of the region at the time, and was widely mass-produced throughout Puglia from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century.

Although the shapes and arrangements are semi-standardized at each workshop, subtle differences occur in the impression depending on the amount of pressure applied and how the pigment is applied, giving each piece its own unique look.

Many examples still exist, and this is a representative everyday pottery from southern Italy that was and continues to be loved today as a visual memory that symbolizes Grottaglie.