A blue wheel plate from Grottaglie, Puglia.

The deep flavor of the glaze is one of its attractions, but what I found most appealing about this piece is the generous distortion that gives the entire piece a slight twist, something that is difficult to convey in a photograph.

It may have been the result of a number of unintentional conditions that came together during the molding or firing process.

Because these vessels were made with the assumption that they would be used on the dinner table every day, there is no artificiality in their design; the shape is simply what was left behind as a result.

Its appearance gives one a sense of the pure beauty that emerges from a vessel for its intended use.