The Barbary Story
An intimate process born of years of tradition, honed over generations.
Barbary began life back in 1991, when our grandfather Peter set out to introduce beautiful, hand-thrown Moroccan terracotta pots to the UK.
Taking its name from the North African stretch of coastline, Barbary Pots (as it was known then) gradually made its way into gardens, terraces, and shop windows across the country — from RHS Chelsea Flower Show to the terraces of Mustique, and stocked everywhere from Harrods to The Conran Shop.
For over a decade, the business thrived — a trusted name for both passionate gardeners and professional designers. Then in 2005, it quietly bowed out. Life moved on. The kilns cooled. But the pots never really disappeared — they lived on in gardens and memories, gradually becoming something of a quiet cult classic.
Fast forward nearly twenty years, and what started as a casual flick through some old photo albums turned into something much more. We found ourselves deep in the archives — unearthing designs, handwritten notes, and dusty catalogues — slowly piecing together the story of Barbary and what made it special.
Then came the turning point: tracking down the original pottery in Morocco. We met the same families who threw the first pots, their sons and daughters now creating designs and shaping clay with the same skill and rhythm as their parents. It felt less like a new beginning, and more like the picking up of an old conversation — warm, familiar, and quietly inspiring.
In May 2024, Barbary was relaunched by Peter’s grandson, Harry (pictured on the left at 4 years old) — not as a nostalgic revival project, but as a modern continuation of something timeless. Still rooted in craftsmanship. Still made by hand on the wheel. Still authentic.
Today, Barbary is here for a new generation of designers, gardeners, and collectors — those who value craftsmanship, beauty, and things made to last. Our pots are still hand thrown using traditional techniques, sun-dried under open Moroccan skies, fired in the traditional way, and crafted to feel right at home whether nestled in a garden or courtyard, or sitting quietly in the living room corner.
So join us on as we embark on our next chapter by bringing a touch of the Barbary story into your own garden or home.
“The vision for Barbary is to provide people with the chance to transform their favourite spaces with a piece of unique and eye-catching (heirloom) pottery that will be enjoyed for generations, as they have in my family. With a mix of relaunched classics and historic Moroccan designs previously unavailable in the UK, all crafted by hand and produced in the same pottery as my grandfather’s pots, Barbary will introduce this inspiring artisan craft to a whole new generation.”
Harry