The Tunisian Tradition of Ceramics

During his travels, our founder and CEO Mark Werts loves finding beautiful artisan pieces to bring back to our Maison Midi family. Tradition and culture is incredibly important to Mark and to our company as a whole, especially in regards to our globally-focused offerings. The spirit of the Mediterranean pulses in every object we present to you.



We are incredibly pleased to share with you a gorgeous collection of hand-painted dishware direct from Tunisia. The ceramic arts have a rich tradition in Tunisia, specifically in the port city of Nabeul. Located in the northern part of Africa along the Mediterranean coast, Tunsia's artistic culture has been influenced through a rich vein of inspiration, specifically French, Italian and Saudi Arabian styles. Each design is unique and has its own vibrant story. Tunisia has always been active in commerce and trade, and each area of the country has produced a different style of ceramics, from water cooling jars before the time of refrigeration to stylized figurines.



The cultivation of the ceramic arts has waxed and waned over time, as colonialism and war have had a profound effect on Tunisia. Nonetheless, in recent times Tunisia's pottery is flourishing and the market is highly competitive. At present, many factories mass produce ceramics that display the influences of Europe and the West, more fitted to the tastes of tourists. However, we still believe in the importance of carrying on tradition, which is why our pieces are from a family workshop that has been hand-painting their pieces for over 40 years.