Atsonios Ceramics

Ο Antonis Atsonios operates its kiln on Tsopos beach, just outside Vathi Sifnos. We met him in his traditional kiln and workshop, that is perhaps the only one that is fully operational, on the beach, and in full growth.

The field where the phrygana and the wood are transported for the fire of the furnaces. The grains with the precious soil, the tanks made of clay, the ovens, the drying, polishing areas, the workshop with the wheels, where he and his son, John create their works. An amazing terrace, overlooking the bay and Vathi in the background and a house for lunch rest, the kitchenette for the hospitality cafe. Here are made the small and large Sifnos tsikalia, the characteristic flares that adorn the chimneys of the houses and a series of other decorative objects.

Antonis Atsonios showed us the way he works:

"The wheel, the string, the rope that will pull the fresh ceramic from the wheel, the olive wood spatula that forms the clay and my two hands, these are my tools, and with them I give them shape. Then follows the drying in the sun, the baking, the painting, the polishing, the re-baking ".

One of the characteristics of Antonis is apart from his traditional education, his erudition and the good company he makes, he also has a modern taste, and so he collaborated with artists making very modern forms. He learned his job from his grandparents - his family has a tradition in art since 1870.

In fact, in the workshop, among hundreds of ceramics, a map with the island of Sifnos and the history of the kiln stands out. I was moved by the photos of the representatives 4 generations of Atsonia. His great-grandfather Giakoumis, his grandfather Giannis, Antonis and his son Giannis. Next to them there is another beautiful black and white photo. The loading of the tsoukali in a boat that would lead them to the boat that was in a boat, Katerina, who transported them in order to the market of Athens (the road and the electric arrived in Vathi in 1993!)

The website of the company "Ceramics Atsonios" is excellent with nice funds, one of which is the presence of its products by type. From the few times that investment plans that joined European LEADER + Programs took place.

Except for some of the traditional Sifnos ceramics (tsoukalia-jugs-lainia-mastella-pitchers-cups-gulls-canopies for chickpeas-basins-foufoudes-kneaders-armeoi-ceramic hives-smokehouses-cups) will be found in the workshop of A modern ceramics such as:

Flower Pots, Jugs, Basins, Bottles, Deep Food Plates, Regular Food Plates, Plates, Glasses, Mugs, Refractory Utensils, Salad Boxes, Cutters, Teapots, Sugar Boxes, Fruit Boxes.

All the ceramics bear the stamp with the indication ATSONIOS SIFNOS GREECE, and you can find them both in the kiln and in the family store in Vathi, which is located next to the bus departure point.