Contributors. I was inspired by the natural, flowing lines of Greek ceramics, both classic and contemporary

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2 10 Contributors illustration: PaTriCKgeOrge PatrickGeorge Peter Scott of the PatrickGeorge studio created the cover illustration for this season s Athens & Thessaloniki edition of SHOP magazine, inspired by our feature on ceramics on page 28. I was inspired by the natural, flowing lines of Greek ceramics, both classic and contemporary Read more about our cover illustrations and the full interview with Peter Scott at globalblue.com/covers. PHOTO: Brad ClarKe PHOTOgraPHy PHOTO: KaTie WilsOn ell Sally McIlhone As SHOP s managing editor, Sally McIlhone is in touch with leading brands, designers and writers around the world to ensure she stays on top of the latest developments in style and design. Sally has written for various publications, including ShortList, Stylist and FHM in the UK. Hannah Lewis Hannah Lewis, assistant fashion and news editor at SHOP, read English literature and language at the University of Oxford before going on to study for an MA in journalism at the London College of Fashion. She has worked for Time Out in the Middle East and, more recently, has produced her own magazine. globalblue.com

3 28 FEATURES A FRAGMENT OF HISTORY Greek ceramicists are rediscovering ancient techniques and producing faithful replicas of pottery that dates back centuries. Sally McIlhone steps back in time 60 / 63 Above: Atic Black tableware

4 SHOP 29 Greece is internationally known for its ancient ceramic heritage. Traditional Grecian urns remain one of the most evocative archaeological artefacts, shedding light on life in ancient Greece. Today, most ancient Greek pottery is housed in museums around the world; yet a small number of dedicated ceramicists keep the country s national craft alive, with many paying tribute to traditional techniques while creating souvenirs for a modern clientele. The Attic Black Shop, run by chemist and archaeological scientist Eleni Aloupi, resurrects the techniques used to make classical Attic pottery in the fifth and sixth centuries BC. After the traditional manufacturing skills were lost over centuries, many famous ceramicists, including British manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood, attempted to reproduce the traditional Attic black glaze all were unsuccessful. It wasn t until 1993 that Aloupi discovered the complex processes and specific materials needed to recreate the Attic black finish. The production of Attic black glaze relies on a process known as the iron-reduction technique, a complicated method of processing, painting and firing carefully selected red clays. Aloupi s team members are rigorously trained in order to ensure the high quality of the Attic black products they make. The details of the firing cycle are just one aspect of the training, she explains. Another equally important aspect relates to the preparation of clay paint [a finishing material made from clay rather than a conventional paint] from appropriate clay sources. This can only be done in house as we do not use any modern chemicals in order to achieve the right conditions, grain size, concentration and consistency. Another skill they must learn is the preparation of the vase surface prior to decoration. Finally, the vase painters have to learn to use the correct number and

5 30 FEATURES Aloupi believes Attic black pottery has endured in popularity in the same way it has endured over time. Attic black has captured the imagination of collectors and ceramists ever since it was rediscovered in Etruria in the 17th and 18th centuries, where it had been imported from Attica during the fifth and Reinterpretations made using ancient techniques are far more affordable than antiques sequence of paint coats to achieve the desired result. The Attic Black Shop craftspeople the majority of whom are women take great pains to ensure that traditional processes are adhered to, so the brand can market its products as technologically authentic. One of the key selling points of Attic Black Shop products are that they are identical to those made in ancient times. An original large Attic black mug dating back to around the fifth century BC could cost over $4,500 the figure reached for such a product at Bonhams auction house in London in Aloupi s reinterpretations are much more afordable, yet use exactly the same techniques to the same high standard and finish. As a result Attic black pottery continues to thrive. sixth centuries BC. The ancient vases emerged in pristine condition following over 20 centuries of burial. In this sense Attic black is a precious material because it survives environmental stresses. Her latest project is to apply traditional Attic black methods to contemporary jewellery, to ensure these ancient ceramics techniques live on. At the moment we are working with a well-known jewellery designer to produce modern jewellery inspired from ancient designs, she explains. We feel that the precious aspect of the Attic black glaze can integrate well with jewellery design. Nikos Tsoupakis, owner of the Tanagrea store in Athens, has been showcasing handmade Greek ceramics, along with a host of other souvenirs, since The pottery items in his store display a Above: an artisan works on Atic Black potery