What period is most antique terracotta from?

The nineteenth century dominates, with "19th" or a variant of it running through a good share of titles. Of the listings carrying a clean year, the largest single group is dated no more closely than the century itself. Early twentieth-century work is well represented, particularly the 1900s, 1920s and 1930s. The dated field as a whole runs 1700 to 1950, with a small group of ancient and tomb material catalogued only as before 1700.

Why are so many pieces sold as pairs?

Garden and architectural terracotta was made for symmetry: flanking a doorway, a gateway or a flight of steps. "Pair" is one of the commonest words in the titles on Sellingantiques. Lions, urns, busts and figures are the forms that recur in twos, and they account for much of the upper half of the range.

Are Staffordshire dogs really terracotta?

No, and the heading is a broad one. Staffordshire pottery dogs, Japanese Kutani and Sumida Gawa, ironstone, slipware, majolica and porcelain all appear under it. True terracotta, unglazed or part-glazed fired red and buff clay, still carries the category. The other ceramics are a visible minority, and their share is higher in current stock than in what has sold.

Which forms turn up most often?

Two groups split the field about evenly. Garden and vessel work covers urns, planters, pots, jars and jardinieres; modelled work covers figures, busts and sculpture. Animals form a branch of their own, with lions, dogs and pugs the commonest. Country and dairy vessels are a smaller group again: oil and confit jars, salters, tians, pancheons, forcers and crocks.

Is terracotta always unglazed?

Not always. Kitchen and dairy wares are often part-glazed inside, where the vessel had to hold oil, fat or milk, while the outside stays bare clay. Glazed and painted surfaces turn up across the category. Cold painting, applied over the fired surface rather than fired on as glaze, appears on busts and animal models.

How wide is the range of origins?

Wider than most ceramic categories on a British market. France leads the named origins by some distance, followed by Italy and Austria. Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Nigeria, Peru, India, Cambodia and Persia each appear, with Nishapur and Khmer material among the least frequent.

Home > Ceramics > Terracotta > Page 10

Antique Terracotta

161 items · page 10 of 11

← Page 10 of 11 →

Fired red or buff clay, usually left unglazed, worked into garden urns and planters, dairy and kitchen vessels, and modelled busts, figures and animals.

Chinese Porcelain Bombe Commode Bough Pot Qianlong

18th century

Save

Chinese Porcelain Bombe Commode Bough Pot Qianlong

From Shaun King Antiques

£1,925

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

19th Century Trio of Large Terracotta Chimney Pots

From Gary Wright Antiques Ltd

£2,400

FOR SALE

ceramics

1900 - 1920

Save

Large Painted Terracotta Olive Jar

From Arcadia Antiques

£500

FOR SALE

ceramics

A Set of Three Large French Terracotta Pots

19th century

Save

A Set of Three Large French Terracotta Pots

From Clive Payne Antiques

£1,200

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

C19th Large Jardiniere or Log Bin

From Gary Wright Antiques Ltd

£1,750

FOR SALE

ceramics

1900 - 1920

Save

Garden Pot

From D J Green Antiques

£690

FOR SALE

ceramics

C19th Large Glazed Terracotta Garden Urn / Wine Cistern; by Lipscombe & Co

19th century

Save

C19th Large Glazed Terracotta Garden Urn / Wine Cistern; by Lipscombe & Co

From Gary Wright Antiques Ltd

£5,800

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

North Country Slip Glaze Bowl

From Baggott & Co.

£175

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

2 19th Century Staffordshire Spaniel Dogs

From Abersoch Antiques

£120

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

19th Century Terracotta Goldscheider Sculpture

From Burgett Langfield Decorative Antiques

£1,850

FOR SALE

ceramics

The most expensive terracotta ever sold on Sellingantiques was a pair of polychrome figures, an Oriental lady and an Arab soldier, sold in August 2025.

1920 - 1940

Save

Large Terracotta Urn

From French Lavender Antiques and Interiors

£285

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

Huge Ironstone Dish and Strainer.

From Donald Allison Antiques

£780

FOR SALE

ceramics

1900 - 1920

Save

Pair of Italian Terracotta Urns

From French Lavender Antiques and Interiors

£2,450

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

Royal Dux Antique "Wool Spinner" Girl Tall Figure, 19th Century, No. 466, 42 Cm

From Gillers Antiques Ltd

£600

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

C19th Terracotta Garden Urn

From Gary Wright Antiques Ltd

£850

FOR SALE

ceramics

19th century

Save

A Late 19th Century Chinese Shiwan Pottery Tiger Circa 1880

From Robert Belcher Antiques

£1,195

FOR SALE

ceramics

← 1 ... 7 8 9 10 11 →

Antique Terracotta

Chinese Porcelain Bombe Commode Bough Pot Qianlong

19th Century Trio of Large Terracotta Chimney Pots

Large Painted Terracotta Olive Jar

A Set of Three Large French Terracotta Pots

C19th Large Jardiniere or Log Bin

Garden Pot

C19th Large Glazed Terracotta Garden Urn / Wine Cistern; by Lipscombe & Co

North Country Slip Glaze Bowl

2 19th Century Staffordshire Spaniel Dogs

19th Century Terracotta Goldscheider Sculpture

Large Terracotta Urn

Huge Ironstone Dish and Strainer.

Pair of Italian Terracotta Urns

Royal Dux Antique "Wool Spinner" Girl Tall Figure, 19th Century, No. 466, 42 Cm

C19th Terracotta Garden Urn

A Late 19th Century Chinese Shiwan Pottery Tiger Circa 1880

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Period

Style

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Recently Added

Online Payments

Categories