Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions already asked by Aussies interested in Grecian Urn pots.
Of course, if you have other queries, please write asking us at
info@the-grecian-urn.com
Why should I choose terracotta pots?
What is the difference between Cretan pots and other terracotta pots?
Why should I buy pots from The Grecian Urn?
I don't like using my credit card online - can I buy Grecian Urn pots any other way?
Are your pots reproductions?
Do they look "antique"?
How can I tell they are hand-thrown (made by hand)?
I like your range, but can I order other sizes/designs?
Where can I see Grecian Urn pots before I decide to buy?
Can I make water features with Grecian Urn pots?
I come from a cold area, will my pots be OK in the winter?
Why should I choose terracotta pots?
Terracotta has been used for many millenia as the preferred material for pots for very good reasons:
It is a natural substance which is more environmentally friendly than many modern compounds;
Its appearance is pleasing to the eye and it blends harmoniously in both indoor and garden settings;
Terracotta ages gracefully if kept outdoors, or retains its pristine state if inside;
If you are planning to use your pots for planting, the terracotta allows the plant roots to breathe and it is almost impossible to overwater them;
Apart from that, they blow over much less easily than those in plastic containers...
Plastic and glazed pots do not have the same advantages, putting your precious plants at risk!
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What is the difference between Cretan pots and other terracotta pots?
Cretan pots have a well-deserved reputation and sell in large numbers throughout Europe and America because, quite simply, they are like no other.
The clay from which these pots are hand-thrown is found locally and its characteristics give the pots their unique colour, texture, strength and durability.
Add to this the thousands of years and countless generations of master craftsmen perfecting the art in Thrapsano and you can understand the demand for them.
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Why should I buy pots from The Grecian Urn?
The Grecian Urn is an Australian company with strong links to Crete.
We are dedicated to bringing you the highest quality Cretan pots and making them available throughout Australia.
Our success will depend on providing you with exactly what you want at an affordable price - the basis of any reputable company.
We comply with Australian law and respect your legal rights as buyers.
Purchasing our pots online is enabled using state-of-the-art, secure methods.
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I don't like using my credit card online - can I buy Grecian Urn pots any other way?
As mentioned above, our online payment system is absolutely secure.
If you are still unsure about this, however, you are welcome to make your payment by bank transfer into our NAB account.
Please email us at sales@the-grecian-urn.com with details of your order and we will be happy to advise you further.
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Are your pots reproductions?
Pots from The Grecian Urn have been made in the same village, using the same techniques and materials for thousands of years.
Being hand-thrown, each pot is unique.
As such, they are not reproductions - although, of course, they are made in the same classic designs
that these potters have produced throughout the millenia.
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Do they look "antique"?
New Grecian Urn pots look already have an ancient look about them because of their classical designs and traditional manufacturing methods.
However, a part of the magic of Cretan pots is that they will soon begin to "age" if left outside.
The clay from which they are made gradually releases mineral salts which mottle the outside of the pot adding greatly to that "antique" effect.
Add to this the effects of the weather over time and every pot takes on an even more unique character - something which simply cannot be achieved in pots aged
artificially in a factory.
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How can I tell they are hand-thrown?
If you examine a Grecian Urn pot, you will see no "seams" or joins around the body of the pot - only the patterns added by the craftsmen who made them
With a factory manufactured pot, you can often see a very obvious join running right through the pot from top to bottom and across the base. This clearly indicates
a pot which has been made in two halves in a mould.
Pots of this nature bear no resemblance to Grecian Urn products!
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I like your range, but can I order other sizes/designs?
Within reason, we can produce any pots you need to fit your design requirements exactly.
Generally speaking however, for practical purposes, the maximum height for any pot will be one metre seventy centimetres (about 5ft 7in).
Special orders will be made as quickly as possible, but traditional production methods and shipping schedules from Crete to
Australia necessitate plenty of forward planning!
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Where can I see Grecian Urn pots before I decide to buy?
We are currently seeking outlets throughout Australia where you will be able to both view and order Grecian Urn pots.
They are currently available for inspection at our storage facility in Fitzgeralds Valley, NSW, 2795.
Please email us to make an appointment or to ask about retailing our pots.
Grecian Urn pots can also be seen and ordered at:
Central Cafe
30 Marsden St
Boorowa NSW 2586
Telephone: (02) 6385 3002
As further outlets become available details will be added here. Please bookmark this page and check from time to time for updated information.
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Can I make water features with Grecian Urn pots?
Yes, your imagination is the only limitation!
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I come from a cold area, will my pots be OK in the winter?
The one break from tradition employed by our manufacturer is the firing process.
Heat used to be supplied by burning wood and the pips from olives once the oil had been extracted from them.
This method meant that the temperatures inside the furnace could not be kept perfectly even throughout the firing.
The end result was that some pots might be prone to spalling, or splintering, especially in cold weather.
Our pots are fired using gas so that furnace temperature of 1150°C can be controlled precisely.
This exacting process ensures pots which will withstand the rigours of severe winter frosts.
Of course, it is never advisable to leave pots full of water in freezing conditions - for obvious reasons!
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