Ceramic bowl - Ictus Wave

On this ceramic bowl, wheel-thrown and hand-painted in Sifnos in the Cyclades, unfolds the motif of the ictus—or ichthys, meaning “fish” in Greek—here paired with a stylized wave. Inherited from ancient Mediterranean symbolism, this emblematic sign is reinterpreted in a traditional blue-and-white decoration, dear to Nikos and his family. The wave evokes the Mediterranean Sea and its constant movement, like a graphic breath surrounding the fish. Painted freehand, without preliminary sketching, each decoration feels alive and spontaneous. No two pieces are ever quite the same, as if the sea, the wind, and the light had left their mark on the ceramic. Simply letting your gaze rest inside the bowl feels like being drawn straight into the Mediterranean.

Here, tradition dates back to Antiquity. Pottery made on this small Cycladic island long traveled by boat, delivered from village to village all the way to Athens. In the workshop located in the north of the island, with no precise address—you arrive by following directions from the neighbors—pottery has been a family affair for over a century. In summer, production intensifies to supply holiday tables and loyal clients; the rest of the year, Nikos takes the time to create pieces for the elegant neighborhoods of Athens and for La Maison de Commerce in Paris.

The style of this tableware rests on gentle contrasts: a fine balance between perfection and irregularity, simple drawings, confident forms, and luminous colors. Timeless, not to say eternal, this bowl tells in its own way the story of the sea, the sun, and the gentle wildness that defines the island.

Note: Entirely hand-painted, each decoration is unique. Shades may vary—lighter or darker, softer or more defined—and both the wave and the fish unfold differently each time, carried by the movement of the sea… or by the imagination of the artisan.