Rose Reverie, 1910/2024

“Rose Reverie” – A Handpainted Decorative Ceramic Tile by Anna Tsetsos
Original 1910 Ceramic Tile | Wall-Mounted Botanical Artwork | Heritage-Inspired

A graceful bridge between past and present, Rose Reverie is a handpainted ceramic tile by Greek artist Anna Tsetsos, created on a reclaimed tile originally crafted in 1910. Once part of the rooftop architecture of her grandmother’s ancestral home in northern Greece, this century-old ceramic carries with it the patina of memory and a deep familial legacy.

Tsetsos honors this personal history with a soft, romantic floral motif—a bouquet of blush-pink roses and delicate buds blooming upward against the tile’s deep, slate-black background. Painted with acrylic and enamel in fine, expressive layers, the flowers seem to rise from the past, their graceful stems and lush green foliage winding gently, as if stirred by a warm breeze from another era.

The tile’s naturally aged edges and slight curvature echo its architectural origins, while the vertical form lends it a timeless, totemic quality. Mounted with two antique-style brass hooks, it is ready to adorn a wall, offering both an aesthetic statement and a whisper of inherited beauty.

Tsetsos reflects: “This tile once watched over generations. Now, it blooms anew with their memory.”

Details:

• Medium: Reclaimed ceramic roof tile (circa 1910)
• Technique: Hand-painted with acrylics and enamel
• Size: The tile is 40.5 cm in length, 16 cm wide at the bottom tapering to 13.5 cm at the top and 5 cm deep. There is a strong cord tied from the holes from which the tile can hang (see photos). It weighs 1.155 kg.
• Mount: Wall-ready
• Finish: Matte ceramic base with satin paint finish
• Provenance: From the artist’s grandmother’s home, Greece

Rose Reverie is more than décor—it’s a vessel of lived history, transformed into a blooming homage that invites nostalgia, warmth, and continuity into any space.

Anna Tsetsos – Artist Bio

Anna Tsetsos is a contemporary Greek ceramic artist whose work bridges ancestral tradition with modern emotional expression. Born into a family of artisans in the northern Greece, Anna’s creative journey began at the intersection of folk craft and fine art. Her hand-thrown and handpainted ceramic pieces are infused with memory, symbolism, and the tactile rhythms of Mediterranean life.

Guided by a reverence for storytelling, Anna’s work draws from Byzantine iconography, mosaic forms, and floral motifs found in ancient Greek textile patterns. Each piece is a meditation on color, form, and emotion—crafted not just to be seen, but to be felt. She describes her process as “painting with instinct, sculpting with memory.”

Anna’s studio practice honors slow craftsmanship. Every plate, vessel, or tile is one-of-a-kind, made using natural materials and sustainable techniques. Her work has been featured in boutique galleries across Europe and has found a home in private collections that value authenticity, history, and soul.

Through her art, Anna invites viewers to reconnect with the sacred beauty of the everyday—transforming utilitarian objects into timeless expressions of joy, heritage, and presence.