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Naxos has been at the centre of Cycladic sculpture for over 5,000 years. The island's white marble was used to carve the earliest figurines found in the Aegean, and it remains one of the finest sculptural materials in the world.
What is Cycladic Art?
Cycladic art refers to the sculpture and objects created in the Cycladic islands during the Early Bronze Age, roughly 3300 to 2000 BCE. The most recognisable pieces are the marble figurines: simple, abstracted human forms with folded arms and minimal facial features.
These sculptures were found in graves across the Cyclades, though their exact purpose remains unknown. What we do know is that most were carved from Naxian marble, which was prized for its fine grain and pure white colour.
Why Naxos?
Naxos has the largest marble deposits in the Cyclades. The stone quarried here was so valued that it was exported across the ancient Greek world. The famous lions of Delos, the unfinished Kouros statues near Apollonas, and countless temple components were carved from Naxian marble.
Today, local artisans continue the tradition. The figurines sold at Tereza of Naxos are handcrafted on the island using authentic Naxian marble, following the same minimalist forms that have defined Cycladic sculpture for millennia.
Cycladic Forms
The most common Cycladic figurine type is the folded arm figure, a standing human form with arms crossed at the chest. Sizes range from just a few centimetres to nearly life size. The faces are typically blank or feature only a nose, giving the sculptures their distinctive, almost modern appearance.
Other forms include the violin-shaped figurines from the earliest period and the more elaborate seated or standing figures from later phases.
A Modern Connection
Cycladic art influenced 20th-century artists, including Picasso, Modigliani, and Brancusi. The clean lines and geometric abstraction feel surprisingly contemporary, which is part of why these pieces work so well in modern interiors.
At Tereza of Naxos, the marble collection includes figurines, heads, and sculptural objects inspired by these ancient forms. Each piece is handcrafted in Naxos from local marble.
Browse the marble collection here.
