Taya Hand-Painted Fayoum Pottery Platter

At first glance, the Taya Hand-Painted Fayoum Pottery Platter has an almost modernist quality. Her simplified features, strong geometry and bold linear decoration feel remarkably contemporary. Look more closely, however, and her origins lie firmly in the expressive faces and decorative portraiture of ancient Coptic textiles. For Taya, we pared the palette right back. The entire design is hand-painted in a single deep blue against the warm, natural colour of the pottery. Without additional colour, the line itself becomes the decoration: her stylised face, elaborate geometric headdress and rhythmic border come together as one strong graphic composition. Designed in-house, Taya is individually hand-painted in Fayoum by Sarah, whose confident painterly hand gives the seemingly simple lines their character. Each is drawn and painted by hand rather than mechanically reproduced, so small variations naturally occur. No two Tayas are identical, but each retains the clarity and assurance of Sarah’s brushwork. Display Taya as a centrepiece on a coffee table or console, or hang her on the wall as a piece of ceramic art. While Damiana and Marina revel in colour and personality, Taya has a quieter, more graphic presence. Rooted in an ancient Egyptian artistic tradition, yet looking entirely at home in a contemporary interior, Taya is a reminder of just how modern Coptic art can feel.