In the labyrinthine lanes of Fez’ ancient medina, where the air is rich with the scent of spices and the echo of hammer against chisel, one of Morocco’s most enduring crafts continues to thrive: pottery. With its centuries-old ceramic heritage, Fez remains the epicentre of Moroccan pottery—a tradition deeply woven into the cultural and artistic fabric of the country.
Moroccan pottery dates back to the 8th century, with influences from Andalusia, Berber tribes, and Arab traditions converging to create a distinct style. Fez, in particular, became a hub for this craft thanks to its abundance of local clay and access to the Rif Mountains' raw materials. The city developed a style known for its refined detail and distinctive white-and-cobalt blue colour palette.
At the heart of this ceramic tradition is zellige—a form of geometric mosaic tilework that adorns fountains, walls, and courtyards across Morocco. While zellige is more architectural, Fez’ ceramics—bowls, plates, tagines, and vases—are equally artistic, marrying function with elaborate form.
While the essential process of pottery-making in Fez has remained largely unchanged, the tradition is evolving in interesting ways. Younger generations of artisans are blending classic methods with contemporary aesthetics. The once-dominant blue-and-white colour scheme has expanded to include softer pastels, monochromatic glazes, and minimalistic forms that appeal to global markets.
Collaborations between Moroccan artisans and international designers have also gained momentum. These partnerships have led to new interpretations of traditional motifs, helping Fez’ pottery find a place in upscale concept stores from Marrakech to Paris and New York.
Another notable shift is in gender roles. Traditionally dominated by men, pottery workshops in Fez are now slowly welcoming women, especially in the painting and glazing departments, reflecting broader social changes across Morocco.
A visit to Fez is incomplete without stepping into the workshops of the Art Naji cooperative, one of the city's most famous family-run pottery ateliers. Located just outside the medina, Art Naji offers live demonstrations that reveal the painstaking process behind each ceramic piece: clay is shaped on a foot-powered wheel, air-dried, glazed, then fired in wood-burning kilns. Each piece is then meticulously hand-painted, often with intricate arabesques, geometric patterns, or natural motifs in hues of cobalt blue, green, saffron yellow, and black.
Inside the medina, the Seffarine Square, near the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, is a bustling centre for traditional crafts. Here, artisans still work by hand as they have for generations. Though this square is better known for metalwork, nearby shops offer pottery sourced directly from local kilns.
Fez’ Rue de l’Artisanat is another hotspot. This winding street is lined with shops that specialise in everything from tagines and tea sets to modern ceramic reinterpretations, offering something for collectors and casual shoppers alike.
Knowing what sets authentic pieces apart is essential when buying ceramics in Fez. Handmade ceramics will often have minor imperfections—subtle signs of the human touch. Turn a bowl over; you may find the potter’s initials or a faint ridge from the wheel. Real craftsmanship can also be felt in the weight and texture of a piece.
Bargaining is a part of the experience, but remember that authentic, hand-painted ceramics take time and skill. While you may find cheaper factory-made replicas, investing in a genuine piece helps sustain the artisans who keep this ancient tradition alive.
Whether you're wandering through a dimly lit shop in the medina or watching a potter bring a shapeless lump of clay to life in a workshop, you’ll find that Fez’ ceramics offer something enduring in a world of the mass-produced: the beauty of the handmade, the richness of heritage, and the soul of Morocco itself.
