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Antique Pots and Planters

Browse our collection of antique plant pots and find the perfect few to complete your garden or interiors. There’s plenty of styles to choose from, including Tudor, Victorian and earlier styles too. Add a touch of history to any room or garden.

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Antique plant pots and planters


Sometimes, the terms ‘pot’ and ‘planter’ are used interchangeably by gardeners, but actually, there are a few essential differences between the two.

Antique pots are typically round (though they can also be square or cylindrical, a bit like vases or urns) and compact. They are usually made from earthy materials. Modern pots are often finished with a glaze, but that isn’t always the case with antique plant pots. Pots are intended for indoor and outdoor use, and they’re made to contain mature plants rather than seedlings, which is why you won’t find holes for drainage in the bottom.

Antique planters are longer than pots, generally rectangular in shape, and unlike pots, they have holes for drainage in the bottom. They can be made from all sorts of materials, including wood, metal, and stone, and are designed for outside use. Hanging baskets are also a type of planter.

Planters and plant pots have been used since ancient times. The Romans, in particular, were great horticulturalists, and the word is derived from Latin. Our collection of antique plant pots and antique planters doesn’t date from quite that far back, but we still have five centuries’ worth of earthenware (and other materials) for you to choose from.

Antique terracotta pots


Terracotta is a clay-based earthenware which has been used to make pots and sculptures for thousands of years. It was first used in Ancient China and remains popular for plant pot manufacturers because it’s strong, easy to work with, and readily available to buy. Its strength makes it attractive to gardeners too, because it means it won’t crack in harsh weather conditions.

Antique terracotta pots bring a beautiful, burnt orange colour that looks great against the green of plants’ stems and leaves. Terracotta pots are best suited to indoor use. Our collection of antique terracotta pots date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Pair these with our antique terracotta sculptures for the full look.

Antique garden pots for sale UK


Antique garden pots will add a layer of history, sophistication, and interest to your outside spaces. If they’re already a little weathered, all the better; they’ll look like they’ve been there for years already. Match these with antique garden chairs, garden sculptures, and garden beds.