Ancient Greek Pottery

The Importance of Pottery

Storage containers, cookware and dishes were as necessary for the Ancient Greeks as they are for us.Without much glass and with metal expensive, clay was a very handy material.

Clay

It is easily worked and can be shaped as desired.Once fired it is quite strong and waterproof.It makes an ideal material for containers of all sorts.

Form and Function

Pots were shaped according to their function.

Form & Function

Large storage containers were called amphora and are made with two carrying handles..

Form and Function

Small storage boxes were called pyxis.

Form and Function

Small vases for perfume or oil were called Alabastron.

Form and Function

Hydria were used to carry water from wells, springs or rivers.

Form and Function

Kraters were bowls to mix water and wine in.

Form and Function

Wine was ladled from kraters into shallow wine cups called kylix.

Form and Function

It was also poured directly out of wine jugs called oinochoe.

Form and Function

Lekythos were used to store oil

Periods and Styles

Pottery is one of the oldest surviving art forms from Ancient Greece.Works and fragments survive from the 2nd millennium BC to the end of the 1st century BC.Greek pottery was traded throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond.

Periods and StylesMinoan & Mycenaean

Minoan & Mycenaean pottery is the oldest that we know of.It was exuberantly decorated.It tends have as a trait “horror vacui” or fear of leaving open space.

Periods and StylesGeometric

The next style to pervade exhibits a different sensibility.From the end of the 2nd millennium the geometric style dominates.Regular geometric patterns and shapes, not animal forms, are pervasive.

Periods and StylesGeometric

Periods and StylesGeometric

Periods and StylesGeometric

Periods and StylesGeometric

Periods and StylesGeometric

Periods and StylesGeometric

Periods and StylesOrientalizing

Contact with Asia brought new innovation in design.The next stage is therefore known as the orientalizing period.Plants and animals reappear in the bands of design.

Periods and StylesArchaic

The Archaic style existed from around 700 to 480 BC.Mythology and life became important subjects.Some artists signed their work.

Periods and StylesBlack-Figure

The Black-figure style really did not dominate until the 6th century BC.Artists painted black images silhouetted against the natural red clay background.Details were inserted by etching the black figures.White or purple paint could then be added.

Periods and StylesRed-Figure

The red-figure style appeared between 530-525 BC.It was achieved by simply reversing the manner of black figure painting.The red figures are reserved and the background is painted.This is more difficult but it allowed the design to be seen better at a distance and it leaves the contour of the pot more visible.

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