Ceramic Bowl - Ictus

On this ceramic bowl, wheel-thrown and hand-painted in Sifnos in the Cyclades, the motif of the ictus—orichthys, meaning “fish” in Greek—is depicted. Drawing on ancient Mediterranean symbolism, this symbol is reinterpreted here in a traditional blue-and-white design, dear to Nikos and his family. Painted freehand, without preliminary sketches, each fish appears to swim freely across the glaze. 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 diving straight into the Mediterranean.

Here, the tradition dates back to antiquity. Pottery made on this small Cycladic island was once transported by boat, delivered from village to village all the way to Athens. In the workshop located in the northern part of the island—which has no specific address; you find it by following directions from the neighbors—pottery has been a family business for over a century. In the summer, production ramps up to supply holiday tables and loyal customers; 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 is based on subtle contrasts: a delicate balance between perfection and imperfection, simple designs, confident forms, and luminous colors. Timeless—if not 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 design is unique. Shades may vary—lighter or darker, softer or more defined—and the fish always swim in a slightly different way, carried by the waves… or by the artisan’s imagination.