The gold standard of terracotta comes from Italy.
Literally translating to “baked earth” in Italian, terracotta typically refers to red-tinted earthenware made from porous clay. Clay found in Italy, particularly Tuscany, is famously durable and historically was used for utilitarian ends, like roofing tiles or bricks. However, despite being coarser than other clays that are popular for tabletop ceramics (like porcelain), terracotta lends itself well to serveware, taking on glaze and shape beautifully to become heirloom quality platters, bowls and the like.