Fez

Step right up and dive into the time-traveling world of Fez pottery, where ancient craft meets "Oops, I dropped it but it's still okay!" durability. Picture this: way back when, even before your great-great-great-grandparents thought about swiping right, the Phoenicians were dabbling in pottery. But let's fast forward to the real game-changer, the late 15th century, when Fez became the pottery hotspot thanks to some crafty artisans who got a one-way ticket out of Andalucía during Spain’s Reconquista.

These artisans, who had previously been jazzing up places like the Alhambra with their snazzy ceramics, decided Fez was the place to be. Imagine the scene: a bustling, wealthy city, buzzing with merchants who actually had cash to splash. The perfect storm for the birth of Fez pottery as we know and love it today.

Now, let's talk dirt – literally. The clay around Fez isn't your average mud. It's a fine, grey, high-society kind of clay that looks down on its terracotta cousins to the south. This clay is like the tofu of ceramics; it soaks up the white glaze and cobalt decoration like a champ, transforming into the Instagram-worthy pieces we adore.

And oh, that Fez blue – le Bleu de Fès – it's not just any blue. It's a blue that’s been around, found in the local stones and riverbed rocks, giving us that signature pop of color that would have made any 15th-century Fez household the talk of the town. Despite the world now being a buffet of commercial glazes, Fez pottery sticks to its roots, quite literally, with local minerals still playing a starring role.

Thanks to a fancy double firing process (a little technique picked up during the Reconquista), these pieces aren't just surviving your microwave and dishwasher; they're thriving. So, if you're looking for a piece of history that won't crumble at the sight of a spaghetti stain, Fez pottery is your go-to ancient yet surprisingly modern friend.