Ceramic Bowl - Ictus Wave

This ceramic bowl, hand-thrown and hand-painted in Sifnos, in the Cyclades, features the ichtus motif—or ichthys, which means “fish” in Greek—paired here with a stylized wave. Drawing on ancient Mediterranean symbols, this iconic motif is rendered in a traditional blue-and-white design cherished by Nikos and his family. The wave evokes the Mediterranean Sea and its ceaseless movement, like a graphic breath surrounding the fish. Painted freehand, without a preliminary sketch, each design is spontaneous and vibrant. No two pieces are exactly alike, as if the sea, the wind, and the light had left their mark on the ceramic. One need only gaze at it to feel swept away by the Mediterranean.

Here, the tradition dates back to antiquity. Pottery made on this small Cycladic island has long been transported by boat, delivered from village to village all the way to Athens. In the workshop located in the north of the island—which has no specific address; you find it by following directions from neighbors—pottery has been a family business for over a century. In the summer, production ramps up to meet the demand from vacationers and regular customers; the rest of the year, Nikos takes the time to create pieces for Athens’s upscale neighborhoods and for La Maison de Commerce Paris.

The style of this tableware is based on subtle contrasts: a perfect balance between perfection and imperfection, simple designs, clean lines, and bright colors. Timeless—if not eternal—this bowl evokes, in its own way, the sea, the sun, and that gentle wildness that characterizes the island.

Note: Entirely hand-painted, each design is unique. Shades may vary—lighter or darker, more subtle or more pronounced—and both the wave and the fish always take on different forms, depending on the movements of the sea… or the artisan’s imagination.