George Kokovlis &
Alda Maria Reis
In the charming old seaside town of Chania, Crete is the
workshop of George Kokovlis and Alda Maria Reis. Together
with their talent, and individual inspirations that come
from diverse backgrounds, they create and decorative line
of ceramics that are filled with unique details. George's
studies include 5 years of graphic arts in Athens, followed
by ceramic and sculpture studies in Lisbon at AR.CO (Art
Communications). His wife, Alda Maria, is originally from
Lisbon and was also a student and teacher at AR.CO. Alda
further enriched her studies with follow up work in the
United States, where she cooperated with Arnold Zimmerman
in New York and the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts in
Maine.
As a dynamic team, they have since built a strong reputation
in Greece for their excellent craftsmanship and distinct
style. The materials they use include, stoneware clay, porcelain,
gold, wood, iron and glass. George and Alda's handmade collection
begins with the first process of forming the stoneware clay.
Once the stoneware has dried and strengthened, the porcelain
inlays are added. The object is placed into the kiln and
fired until the temperature reaches nearly 1000 degrees
Celsius, at which point the object is removed for further
detailing. Together, George and Alda add their own hand
painted designs, small impressions and final glaze. For
second time the piece returned to the fire in a reduction
atmosphere using a gas kiln until the temperature reaches
1270 degrees. The final result in color and patterns is
achieved through an educated manipulation of temperature
and is always one of a kind. Wood, iron and glass are often
used as backgrounds or frames, to add dimension and structure
to their designs. The base colors used are earthy: deep
red, vibrant blue, soft black, rich brown, and natural whites.
The collection includes decorative bowls, vases, intriguing
wall hangings and unusual objects, like large discs, abacus
towers, and even a selection of hand painted porcelain and
silver jewelry!
George and Alda Maria have works available at many shops
throughout Greece, including Athens, Mykonos, Santorini,
Rhodes and Crete. (You will find a list of shops available
on this page.) George and Alda also cooperate with businesses
in Europe and the U.S. and continue to pursue further international
relationships. You may contact them directly for a full
catalog and price list or you may contact the guide through
email for general assistance.
