Famous popular art, tradition and music

The sea, the natural landscape, the animals and mythology have been the inspiration for the popular art in Skyros. The island has its own authentic, popular art, despite the influence of history. Skyros is known around Greece for its small, wood carved furniture, textile industry and traditional pottery.
The houses in Skyros were small in size and therefore, due to lack of storage areas, the utensils were placed on the walls and over the fireplace. Therefore, they should also have a decorative character. For that reason, pottery became a ceramics art. Ceramics give information about the practical needs of the people in Skyros through time while they also express the aesthetics of the residents.
The most characteristic ones are pottery made by red colored clay without vitrification, with decorative white geometric designs, reminding of embroidery. The ceramics from Skyros were mixed with other pottery imported from Asia Minor, Italy and elsewhere, which had a mostly decorative character. Apart from water jugs, flower pots, crocks, we also have "lainia" , a type of water jug, "bournies", an utensil for keeping home made desserts, special utensils for "fava" and a great variety of plates. Full of decorative motifs such as flowers, ships, two-headed eagles, peacocks.
Today, there are plenty of ceramists continue this art by producing copies of the old ceramics as well as their own creations.
Mermaids, hoopoes, deers, peacocks, flowers, triremes, sirens and monsters come to life in the unique textiles and ceramics of Skyros. For the textiles, they used the loom and they were making clothes, bed covers, that they used at home and at their agricultural tasks, as well as for decorating the house. The embroidery was also used  for decorating the house and adorns the traditional costume of Skyros. The traditional costumes of Skyros are particularly interesting. The male as well as the female costume is characterized by variety, richness of embroidery and details.

Skyros is known around the country for its tradition in wood carving that can be considered an art. It has to do with ecclesiastical objects, architectural elements, wood carved household utensils and furniture. Due to the limited space in the houses in Skyros, the furniture was tiny but was so beautifully and sophisticated carved. Couches, armchairs, stools, chests, decorated with various carved motifs such as geometrical patterns, human figures and elements from nature. Today, there are handicraftsmen in Skyros that are still working on wood carving, continuing the reputation of this Skyrian art.