Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Coffee Jar c.1970s – Blue & White Bird Design

Vintage Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Coffee Jar c.1970s – Blue & White Bird Design

A charming piece of vintage Italian kitchenware, this hand-painted ceramic coffee jar dates to around the 1970s and has bags of Mediterranean character.

Made from warm-toned earthenware with an off-white glazed finish, the jar is decorated by hand in rich cobalt blue with a wonderfully stylised bird, flower and scrolling border. The word “Coffee” is painted prominently across the front in flowing script, giving it that relaxed, slightly rustic look associated with mid-to-late 20th century Italian kitchen ceramics.

The underside is stamped “HAND PAINTED ITALY” and carries the handwritten number 217/14. We have not been able to confidently attribute this number to a particular pottery, so prefer to describe it simply as Italian hand-painted ware rather than speculate on a maker.

The jar would originally have had a fitted lid, which is now missing. Far from making it redundant, however, it makes a great decorative storage pot for wooden spoons and utensils, or could be repurposed as a planter, flower pot or simply displayed as a characterful piece of vintage kitchenalia.

Condition

Vintage condition with signs of previous use and age. There is some glaze loss and chipping around the lower foot rim, exposing areas of the terracotta-coloured body beneath, together with light surface wear and age-related marks. The original lid is absent. Please study the photographs, which form an important part of the description.

Measurements

13cm high

13.5cm diameter at base

10.5cm diameter at opening

Why we love it

It is the little hand-painted bird that does it for us. Slightly quirky, wonderfully informal and unmistakably vintage, this is the sort of piece that adds personality to a kitchen without trying too hard.

A lovely piece for collectors of vintage Italian pottery, blue and white ceramics, retro kitchenalia or anyone looking for an unusual utensil pot or decorative kitchen accessory.

All our vintage and antique pieces have lived a previous life and may show age-related wear consistent with their history. We describe every item to the best of our knowledge and photographs are not digitally enhanced; colours may vary slightly according to screen settings.