When antiquity meets contemporary design, wonders happen.
“Cycladic Wonders” is the name of the new Maggoosh collection created by Margarita Chrysaki exclusively for the Cycladic Shop. This distinctive new series of jewelry and design objects draws inspiration from the iconic exhibits of the permanent collection at the Museum of Cycladic Art: the marble Cycladic figurines, the purity of their lines, and the timeless power of primordial symbols.
The objects and jewelry pieces of the “Cycladic Wonders” collection, crafted from precious stones and mother-of-pearl, are hand-carved and capture both the simplicity and enduring influence of Cycladic Art on the creative process. Each design by Margarita Chrysaki combines minimalist forms with subtle decorative details, reflecting the signature aesthetic that has defined the Maggoosh brand for the past fifteen years in both Greece and the international market. Through contemporary reinterpretations of prehistoric forms, Margarita Chrysaki continues to explore feminine energy and the archetypes of the goddess-woman, central themes in Maggoosh’s creative identity.
Margarita Chrysaki of Maggoosh reveals the stages behind the creative process.
Although created centuries ago, Cycladic Art remains strikingly abstract and distinctive, becoming a source of inspiration for Modern Art in many different ways. Which elements of it inspired your new collection?
Working with Cycladic forms, I realized that although they appear extremely simple, they are constructed in a truly ingenious way. Their simplicity is far more complex than it seems. Every small change in their curves immediately and completely transforms the result. They are so minimal, yet at the same time so powerful. You can feel an energy within them — a primal feminine force that touches you deeply. It was a great honor to work with them.
How challenging was it, and with how much respect must a designer approach a project connected to Greek heritage?
Throughout this project, there was a constant feeling that what I was creating was something greater than myself. The grandeur and beauty of Cycladic art go beyond words, and during the entire process I felt that I could not — and should not — take credit for it. It felt as though the work did not belong to me, but was something simply passing through me. A project like this demands absolute respect for the genius with which these extraordinary figurines were created.
What challenges did you face, and how did you achieve the desired result?
The biggest challenge was coordinating many different artisans and workshops within a specific deadline. To achieve the result I envisioned, I collaborated with eight different workshops — one for the bag’s beadwork, another for the metal constructions such as the matchboxes, others for the hand-carved stones, and so on. It was a complex choreography, but it was precisely this multiplicity of hands that gave the collection its richness.
What were your initial decisions regarding materials and technique in order to create something worthy of the original art form?
From the beginning, I wanted to use a semi-precious stone that would evoke the color of the marble used in Cycladic Art. While searching for the perfect choice, I discovered white aventurine, a material that offers exactly the off-white, creamy tone I was looking for. At the same time, wanting to give the collection a contemporary and lightweight feel, I also chose clear quartz, which brings lightness and airiness to the pieces.
Did the final result fulfill your vision?
I truly loved the final result, and what is wonderful is that even more ideas have now emerged, so I believe this project will have a beautiful continuation. I felt that this experience pushed me one step further creatively as a designer, and that excites me — I cannot wait to see where else it may lead me.
What was your collaboration with the Museum team like, and what was the process that led to the final collection?
The Museum has a wonderful team, made up primarily of women who deeply care about the country’s cultural heritage and the proper support of the institution. Their love for Cycladic art is visible and truly inspiring. The collection began with an initial meeting, where the Cycladic Shop approached me and shared some first inspirations that acted like seeds. Afterwards, they gave me the freedom to take the project wherever I felt it should go, something I greatly appreciated. Shortly after, I traveled to India, and there I entered a deep creative phase, designing the first pieces of the collection.
What would be a dream project for you in the future?
To design jewelry meant to be worn across the body — belts, body pieces — for the runway of a fashion designer I admire. The idea of jewelry as something that embraces the entire body fascinates me deeply.
In the age of AI, craftsmanship is gaining increasing value. What do you think audiences are seeking today in relation to creativity in general?
What I see is that people increasingly appreciate what is handmade. I believe that in a few years, the ultimate luxury will be precisely that: something handcrafted, unique, and impossible to replicate. Technology and AI will never surpass the beauty of handmade craftsmanship, and people with aesthetic sensitivity and discernment will always choose it.
Which is your favorite piece from the collection, and why?
The Quartz Goddess earrings. Because when you wear them, it feels as though the Cycladic figure is dancing — they have a beautiful movement. And although they reference the Cycladic form, they are so delicate and understated that they do not loudly announce that you are wearing a Cycladic figurine on your ears.
The Cycladic Wonders Collection
The collection is part of the collaborations of the Cycladic Shop with Greek and international designers, presenting creations inspired by the Museum of Cycladic Art’s collections of Cycladic, ancient Greek, and ancient Cypriot art.
The “Cycladic Wonders” collection includes necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and rings, as well as design objects such as incense holders, paperweights, and matchbox cases — all timeless objects with deep cultural familiarity. Primordial sacred symbols such as the spiral, the eye, and the dove are transformed into contemporary talismans crafted from lapis lazuli and quartz. Beyond the playful and free interpretation of archetypal symbols, certain designs in the Cycladic Wonders series recall the popular Spedos-type Cycladic figurines, the violin-shaped figurines of the early phase of the Early Cycladic civilization, as well as domestic vessels decorated with distinctive hand-carved engravings.
The iconic marble Cycladic figurine is reimagined as a contemporary relief object, carved entirely by hand from white aventurine — a rare stone symbolizing purification and spiritual clarity. In other cases, on a smaller scale, it is translated into fine jewelry pieces crafted from mother-of-pearl and diamonds. These creations symbolize the Mother Goddess, one of the oldest and most widespread archetypes across civilizations worldwide, associated with fertility and creation.
Beginning with drawing — capturing the essence of each archaic form — Margarita Chrysaki then creates small ceramic models that serve as prototypes for Maggoosh’s long-time collaborator and master carver, who subsequently hand-sculpts each object individually. The result is a collection that connects memory with contemporary desire through small objects of devotion.
The Cycladic Wonders collection is available online at:
