#Greeces #Collectibles #Ouzo #bottles #Worry #Beads #WorthPoint
Contrary to popular belief, there is more to Greece than gyros, sunshine, and ancient ruins. Today, the Hellenic Republic is a lusted-after destination for lovers, not just for island living, beaches, and history at every corner but also as a hotspot for picking up collectibles particular to this culturally rich country.
Read on to learn all about W.O.W. (WorthPoint in the Old World): Greece’s Best Collectibles, from vintage ouzo bottles to gemstone worry beads.
Introduction to Greece’s Collectibles
A lifetime ago, I spent a summer in Greece working on an archaeological dig on the island of Corfu, also known as Kerkyra. During my time there, I was fortunate enough to have some spare moments to backpack around both mainland Greece and its islands.
With my background in art history and archaeology, I was continuously baffled by the ancient ruins at every corner. It was abundantly clear that I was in a land of people who valued their cultural heritage and understood how important it was to preserve not just memories of the past but physical documentation of it as well.
True, it is fairly easy to document Greece’s rich past with so much just (literally) an inch or two beneath the surface. On the Corfu dig site alone, fellow staff uncovered a somewhat monumental floor mosaic. As for myself, I clearly recall spending days excavating an ancient Greek glass vessel. Yes, I have always been a treasure hunter.
Evil Eyes Abound
Speaking of a glass vessel, this leads me to my first recommendation for collectibles to pick up on any trip to Greece: glassware. It is hard to miss the lovely cobalt blue glass “evil eyes” for sale everywhere you go in Greece, from the form of sun catchers to jewelry. Notable by their concentric circles of blue, white, light blue, and black, these charms, known in Greek as “kako mati,” help keep the bearer safe through a silent prayer recited with the evil eye in hand.
While you might be tempted to explore antique stores in Athens, I recommend shopping from contemporary artisanal glassmakers instead. This way, you can avoid the risk of removing cultural heritage artifacts, which should remain within Greece’s borders.
Islands such as Santorini and Crete are filled with art glass studios, whose artisans often replicate ancient techniques anyway. Purchasing something to bring home from these vendors supports the artisans and the continuation of the craft itself.
Don’t Worry- Get Some Worry Beads
If you think all the “evil eye” gear in Greece indicates the country’s superstitious nature, you won’t believe all the grannies and grandpas sitting on corners or in parks with their komboloi or “worry beads” in hand. Believe it or not, traditional Greek worry beads are not so different from the “fidget” toys so popular today in every American elementary school.
Sure, some Greeks use the beads to guard against bad luck, but many simply use them to pass the time with something in hand. As a country traditionally filled with quite a few smokers, worry beads can also be an alternative to smoking.
The Ubiquitous Greek Key Pattern
While Greek art and culture have produced countless classic design elements and motifs, none is more iconic than the “Greek Key” pattern. This pattern has been around for centuries in Greece, both on monuments and temples and on smaller decorative items like vases. While some think that each piece of this geometric pattern resembles the shape of a key, the pattern’s origin may be more closely linked to the shape of the Meander River in Asia Minor (Turkey today).
In Ancient Greece, Meander meant unity and infinity, with its shape evoking the notion of eternity and the flow of human life through reproduction. It was a vital symbol, so it was a popular design element. Today in Greece, you can easily pick up everything from ceramics to linens to glassware adorned with this motif.
Olive Oil, Wood, & Olympic Crowns
Any visitor to Greece understands the importance of the olive tree to the country as a producer of products such as oil and olives themselves, as well as olive wood housewares. While today’s Olympians vie for medals in bronze, silver, and gold, ancient Olympians were thrilled to simply be crowned with a kotinos, or olive wreath, crafted from branches of the olive tree.
There is perhaps no more obvious token of Greece to bring home than something from the olive tree—if only a bottle of rich olive oil or a sturdy bowl honed from the trunk.
Ouzo: Not for Everyone
Finally, if you are seeking a Greek souvenir in the food and beverage category, you can’t go wrong with a vintage ouzo bottle. Ouzo is Greece’s national drink, made from unfermented grape juice and aniseed. It has a strong anise flavor similar to samba. No, it is not for everyone! However, some vintage ouzo bottles are quite spectacular in either glass or ceramic, with the ceramic ones frequently found in figural shapes.
At the end of the day, just like Greece is abundant in arts and culture, it is a land also abundant in collectible goodies like vintage ouzo bottles to bring home. Opa!
Amy Moyer is the proprietor of Antmuffin: Art, Antiques & Collectibles. She holds a B.A. in Visual Art from Brown University and lives in Boston.
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