Ceramic box · Fayoum · Sienna and black

Striking ceramic box with sculptural bird finial, featuring rich burnished black clay base and terracotta ibis head lid, with incised geometric details—a whimsical example of Fayoum's distinctive folk art.

The Craft. Made from clay sourced from the Nile Valley in Aswan, these bowls are shaped on the potter's wheel and decorated with natural dyes that bring vibrant scenes to life. Palm fronds, birds and figures are glazed into joyful permanence using techniques revived by the Fayoum Pottery School. The artisans employ special glazes and even the Japanese raku technique, combining ancient Egyptian pottery traditions with contemporary methods. Each piece reflects the creative spirit of Tunis village, where pottery-making has been transformed from a nearly lost craft into a thriving artistic tradition.

The Heritage. Although pottery-making was widespread in Egypt during Pharaonic times, by the late 20th century decreasing demand had led to the craft's near disappearance. Life in the farming village of Tunis in the verdant Fayoum oasis took a dramatic turn in the 1980s when Swiss-born potter Evelyne Porret made the village her home. Together with her husband Michel Pastore, she opened the Fayoum Pottery School, inspiring the village children to tap into their creative potential. Today, those students have opened their own workshops, exhibiting true artistic talent and reverence for their mentor whilst keeping the ancient craft alive.

Maker. Sameer el-Sattar is a master ceramist, working along his brother, Abd al-Sattar, in their workshop in Fayoum. Saleem’s functional and decorative ceramic is a blend of raw and elegant, a minimalist aesthetic that breaks away from the vivid style of Fayoum potters. The ibis bird, now extinct in Egypt, is Saleem’s feature motif; in ancient Egypt, the sacred ibis was revered as a symbol of the god Thoth, who was associated with wisdom, writing, and knowledge.